It is never too early to make that list and check it twice when it comes to shopping and holiday gift giving. While it may seem difficult to come up with a good gift for your friend or loved one following a gluten-free diet, the possibilities are limitless. Here are our top six ideas for gluten-free gift giving.
1. Meal-delivery subscription
For those of us who don’t like or have the time to cook, these meal-delivery services provide delicious and convenient certified gluten-free meals:
- Freshly is certified gluten free by the Gluten-Free Food Services (GFFS) Certification Program. This subscription service delivers healthful and fully prepared meals directly to customers’ doors, each ready to eat in only three minutes.
- Green Chef’s meal kits are certified gluten free with Paleo, keto, vegan, vegetarian and carnivore meals. Signing up is easy. Choose either a two-person or family plan and specify protein choices and delivery time. All ingredients are premeasured and largely prepped to keep time in the kitchen to 30 minutes or less. And there is no commitment, so you can skip weeks or cancel at any time.
- Paleo On The Go’s certified Paleo, dairy-free, non-GMO meals are made in a certified gluten-free kitchen and include autoimmune protocol (AIP), keto and Strict30 meals. Buy that special someone a gift certificate to pick out whatever tickles his or her fancy.
2. Drinks
Celebrate the gluten-free way with a bottle of wine or champagne…and maybe one of these recommendations.
- Founder Peter Smith spent two years in Spain developing a vegan and nut-free liqueur that blends Spanish brandy and tiger nut milk-based horchata. Available in two flavors, Besos de Oro and Besos de Chocolate, this cruelty-free liqueur delivers a rich and smooth flavor that the owner says rivals Baileys Irish Cream.
- Created by bartenders from a short list of ingredients, these cocktail mixers from Barcoop Bevy can turn anyone into a cocktail champion. Available in refreshing flavors like piña colada, Ginger Smash, cucumber mojito, Spicy Strawberry and grapefruit margarita, they require you to simply add a spirit of choice and ice to mix your way to the perfect cocktail.
- Bom Bom’s approach to blending Caribbean rum with chocolate, cookies and brownies takes adult beverages to a deliciously creamy level. Consumers can “have your cake and drink it too” with the Coco Mochanut coffee liqueur, Nilli Vanilli almond milk liqueur and Fully Baked hemp milk liqueur creations. All are low in calories with no artificial flavors or preservatives. Can you say boozy sweet tooth?
3. Gift cards
They are not lame and really are your best friend. Here are some of the best ways to approach a gift certificate purchase:
- Buy one to a chain restaurant with a gluten-free menu, such as Outback Steakhouse, P.F. Chang’s, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Wildfire Restaurant, Legal Sea Foods and Maggiano’s.
- Most dedicated restaurants and bakeries sell them because they allow the receiver to pick out their favorites.
- Another option is picking up gift cards for a favorite grocery or health food store. Your loved one might be more likely to splurge on something he or she otherwise wouldn’t when shopping on a budget.
4. Send sweets
There isn’t always enough time for holiday baking, so why not take advantage of these options:
- The gorgeous gift towers from Cheryl’s Cookies are filled with their signature gluten-free brownies and soft cookies. Their snickerdoodle and frosted sugar cookies are sinfully delicious and can push away all that holiday stress. We promise!
- Choose from more than just fruit and cheese at Harry & David. This well-known brand has added prepared gluten-free cookies, muffins, cakes and pies to its selection that are sure to impress.
- Cookies and brownies and blondies, oh my! Let Tate’s Bake Shop craft a gift tower full of tasty goodness. With five flavors of buttery crunchy thin cookies, customize a sweet gift tower that no one will suspect is gluten free.
5. Gadgets
A new kitchen gadget or a good knife with a cutting board makes a great fit. Some of the more interesting gadgets we have seen are:
- The Whisk Wiper can be used on a standard whisk or an electric mixer to save 95 percent of the batter. It doubles as a bowl scraper and whisk holder to keep it off the counter, making clean up a breeze.
- Eco-friendly reusable straws are not just trendy but also a nod to ridding the environment of single-use plastic that won’t decompose in our lifetimes and harms the environment. The FinalStraw, available in November, is the first collapsible straw that comes with a compact carrying case and a tiny squeegee for cleaning. It is dishwasher safe and BPA free.
- Reusable cutlery isn’t just for camping anymore. Made from bamboo or stainless steel, it is great for everyday use, sturdy, dishwasher safe and available in a variety of colors. Some even come with their own carrying case. Preserve On The Go’s 24-piece cutlery set is made from recycled plastic and includes eight knives, eight forks and eight spoons.
6. A tax-deductible donation
Make a donation to a national organization in the name of your favorite person with celiac. There are several organizations raising awareness and research funds, including Beyond Celiac, Celiac Disease Foundation and the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America.
Remember, it’s the thought that counts, and each of these ideas shows how much thought and care you put into finding something special for your loved one.
