These days, everyone is very aware of the benefits of eating properly and the consequences of excess. This is one of the reasons why a healthy gift basket is a fantastic idea for a present. Going ‘healthy’ does not mean that the gift basket cannot be fun, personal and beautiful. If your loved one likes nuts, then buy nuts, but unsalted ones in their shells. You see? It only takes a little lateral thinking.
Children may seem hard to please on the topic of healthy gift baskets, because children love sweets and sugar, but there are many healthy snacks, which have a little less sugar. For instance, jam-filled biscuits contain sugar, but they also contain fruit. The same goes for oatmeal raisin cookies.
Toss in a few energy bars from the health food shop made from grains, fruit, honey, raisins and nuts and you may not have cut down on the calories, but you have increased the goodness of the foodstuff. An unusual fruit from the Indian Supermarket, like a passion fruit, a star fruit or a papaya might go down well too and impart extra vitamins.
If you are looking at giving a healthy gift basket to a teenager, you may do well to keep in mind that teens are anxious about their appearance. The get spots and acne. So you could prepare a healthy gift basket which contained fresh fruit, pimple cream and skin cleanser with rose-scented bath bags for girls, and shaving kits for boys (or vice versa).
If you are giving a healthy gift basket to an elderly person, then bear in mind that many older people often put up with dietary problems and aches and pains, so the older you get, the more you appreciate healthy treats. Gourmet chocolate, fine quality drinking chocolate, bath salts and peppermints would definitely be appreciated. Single leaf tea is also an idea, say, Lapsong Suchong.
If you are thinking about giving a healthy gift basket to your parents, why not? Mum may well appreciate a variety of anti-wrinkle skin creams, cocoa butter or glycerin soap and bath salts. Many shops stock oils beneficial to mature skin. Gourmet chocolate will also be appreciated as will rarer nuts and fruits. Rose water is a good addition too.
And Dad? Well, you know him best. Is he sporty and health orientated or is he into work and relaxation? Does he take pleasure in fishing or golf? Does he like bar-b-queing? Does he enjoy expensive, single malt whisky – the non-guzzling variety? Does he like the occasional beer? If so, you could get him a few foreign beers that he has never tried before. Chocolate liqueurs are usually a firm favourite as well. Stem ginger is a popular luxury with those men who are aware of its existence.
Perhaps a few magazines on his favourite subject (no, not Penthouse) or a couple of tickets to a game. A joint basket for Mum and Dad is probably easier and then you can send them to the theatre or/and a restaurant too. A healthy one, naturally.
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets. If you have an interest in romantic gifts, please go over to our website now at Romantic Gifts Ideas