HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
These gifts are perfect for your favorite at home chef, food blogger, or someone looking to get into a healthier lifestyle! I have arranged them from more expensive to more cost effective depending on your budget. I hope this helps give you some inspiration for someone special this holiday season!
ON THE EXPENSIVE SIDE: $$$
This is definitely a must have in your kitchen if you want to be a plant-based chef! From blending creamy soups to sauces to cashew creams to plant based milks, I use a stand mixer at least once a week. The most important part is that it is a high speed blender like the Vitamix so it can handle whatever plants you throw at it. While this mixer may seem a bit pricey you get what you pay for- something that will last! They range in price depending on the model but I think anything from this company will do you well.
This is another one of my kitchen essentials and is key for all of my bakers out there! As long as I can remember we have always had the same Kitchen Aid in our kitchen (that means about 22 years of baking!) This beast of a machine can make cookies, roll out pasta dough (with the proper attachment), and whip up just about anything you need. Once again this is a pricier item but will last a lifetime in your kitchen.
This may be an obvious one but some Lululemon never hurt! While leggings are always a classic option I actually like their accessories too. Something like a nice quality gym bag can help inspire a little trip to the gym or a workout class or even be great for travel! I actually found one on Poshmark that I bought for myself that I love. If you are looking to be a bit more cost effective a pair of their winter gloves or ear covering headbands are great options for someone who likes to walk or run even though it is freezing outside!
This has to be my most used kitchen item that I own. From soups to sauces to baking bread a Dutch Oven is a must have in your kitchen. It is a cast iron ceramic coated pot that can withstand high temps in the oven and is perfect for simmering soups and stews. There are many different sizes you can purchase but I have the 5qt. Staub in Grenadine and find it's the perfect size as I often cook for 1-3 people. If you are cooking for a larger family I do recommend sizing up. Where-as if you only cook for your self the 4qt may be enough for you! My family and I range in our preferences for Staub vs. Le Creuset. While we grew up with our mom only using Le Creuset and absolutely loved it I have since made the switch to Staub with my sister, while my brother remains a die hard Le Creuset fan. The key differences that I note are that on a Staub you have a metal handle (meaning it can get hot, so use an oven mitt!) and it has a cast iron interior that is incredibly non stick! The Le Creuset's have a ceramic coated interior and a rubber handle (so that it doesn't get too hot, but it also can't take as high of temperatures in the oven for extended periods of time). Both are incredibly great options for your kitchen. Alternatively if you want to start with something more basic, Magnolia has a nice Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven at Target for a fraction of the cost. I also usually find a bunch at TJ Maxx or HomeGoods.
Chef's Knife
I actually recently received my first high quality chef's knife from my brother and his wife for my birthday! Thanks Bill & Ana! This is definitely another game changer in the kitchen and honestly makes me enjoy chopping veggies a bit more. While it is a bit scary having such a sharp knife it is actually safer than using a dull knife as you have to apply much less pressure. I think that a chef's knife is always a great knife to start with but if you are looking for a smaller gift idea a pairing knife would be a great idea as well! This knife is from a Japanese brand called Shun Cutlery and has treated me very well so far! My other favorite quality knife brands include Messermeister (my sister's favorite) who makes very beautiful wood handles and Wusthof who are very popular for their utility.
IN THE MIDDLE: $$
Ok, so I may be impartial to the ambience that Anthropologie sets every time I walk into their stores but man, it just makes me feel some sort of way! I have a few Anthropologie aprons that not only keep my outfit clean when cooking but actually make my outfits better! Company is always impressed by how gorgeous they are too. While you can get a pretty basic apron anywhere I think that one as beautiful as these is not something someone would often splurge on for themselves. I know I would love a gift like this! Not to mention you can easily add on matching oven mitts, dish towels, a beautiful mug or candle or literally anything from this store!
Third Love is a company I didn't know much about but now am obsessed! They make beautiful undergarments that would be a wonderful gift for a significant other in addition to high quality workout attire. I always loved the idea of workout sets but have never actually bought one myself and now that i have I completely understand why people love them! It just makes you feel more confident. They have such a wide variety of products that you can definitely find something within your price range that will match whoever you are shopping for.
Use the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS to get 20% off your purchase!
Cookbooks + Cookbook Stand
Cookbooks are always on my Christmas list as they are a great way to stay inspired and find new favorites! Find out what kind of food your friend/ family member likes or is trying to get into and see what you can find, there is pretty much a cookbook for everything these days! A cute little addition to a cookbook would be a nice stand to prop it open in the kitchen.
Here are a few of my favorite plant based cook books:
Nutrition Books
Getting someone books may seem overrated or like a last minute thought, but if it can lead to an improvement in someones health and quality of life I don't think that is overrated at all. I have made a pretty extensive list of some of my favorite books that discuss the health benefits of adopting a more plant based diet. Now I understand that not everyone will be so open to recieving one of these if they have never given a plant-based diet a thought. So for those people who you just want to introduce to the idea I think that The Blue Zones, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and Diet for a New America would be great options to get someone thinking! If you want to know more about these books leave a comment below.
Finding Ultra by Rich Roll *would be great for an athlete
PRICE FRIENDLY OPTIONS: $
Ceramic Handmade Mug
A beautiful ceramic mug is an amazing gift for anyone to enjoy their coffee or tea in each morning. I prefer a handmade or unique ceramic mug to something with labels on it as I feel like it would go with more styles than not. Now if you want you go to a little pottery class and make one I think that would be an unbelievably special gift!
However, I was thinking more along the lines of visiting your local artisan shop or doing what I do and thrifting/ antiquing! This way you will have a one of a kind item that you found specially for them and you can get it at a fraction of the cost. Pair it with a nice ceramic dish or bag of their favorite coffee beans!
Homemade Brownie Mix
This is an idea I actually got from my brother when he made it for me for my birthday a few years ago! When you are plant-based it is difficult to find a store bought brownie mix. Now I know we can just make them from scratch... but sometimes there is just something nice about using a box mix! So my brother used this recipe from Serious Eats to make me the best fudgy brownie dry mix so all that I had to do was add hot water and vanilla. You can add it to a cut jar with instructions and a little note and I think just about everyone will enjoy this delicious gift! You can also gift it with a pretty ceramic baking dish and dish towel to complete the gift!
This may seem like an interesting idea but again, I feel like it is one of those things that people want but don't want to buy for themselves. This is a great way to help someone be a bit more sustainable. Beautiful linen napkins are a great option for your friend who loves to host so they don't need to keep buying paper napkins and can use them to decorate his/her table. You can also find these in a wide range of prices as well.
Gifting these with beautiful napkin rings or with the apron mentioned above would make a lovely option for your host you love the most!
This is an idea I got from my sister when I saw these in her house and she soon gifted me some for my birthday! They are a great option for someone who loves to make iced coffees and are a nice change of pace to the metal straws since you can easily see through them and you know that they are clean. I also like the fact that they don't get ice cold in your drink or give off a metal taste and are much more sustainable than plastic! A gift to go with these would be a nice canvas carrying pouch if someone wants to bring them on the go or a beautiful set of glassware!
I hope you guys enjoyed my holiday gift guide and now have some ideas about what to get that special someone to kickstart their cooking/ health journey!
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