During the season of gifting, it can be overwhelming to decide what to give your friends and loved ones. Gifts in alignment with their lifestyle, with your philosophies, something useful, something pretty – the choices are endless. We have come up with a couple of our favorites to give (and receive) to the Paleo enthusiasts and beginners alike in your life.
Books We Love
Paleo By Season – Chef Peter Servold
Paleo By Season presents a chef’s approach to healthy Paleo cuisine by teaching home cooks the essential techniques for cooking any food, so they can focus not on recipes but on using the best fresh, local ingredients. With dozens of techniques, over 100 Paleo recipes, and a showcase of small farmers and ranchers across the country who are providing sustainably raised meats and organically grown fruits and vegetables, Paleo By Season offers home cooks the tools they need to think like a chef. The book focuses on delicious recipes along with the essential kitchen skills from roasting poultry to keeping your knife sharp to sautéing vegetables. Recipes and methods are all clearly explained and broken down into easy-to-follow steps.
Practical Paleo – Diane Sanfilippo
Practical Paleo has proven to be the resource people reach for again and again for information on healthy living, delicious recipes, and guidance on changing your diet to improve your health. The newly available second edition has been updated to include new information, answer common questions, and make it even easier for you to customize your diet to meet your personal health goals.
The 21 Day Sugar Detox & The 21 Day Sugar Detox Cookbook – Diane Sanfilippo
The 21-Day Sugar Detox is a clear-cut, effective, whole-foods-based nutrition action plan that will reset your body and your habits! Both the guidebook and companion cookbook contain easy-to-follow meal plans and over 200 recipes to bust a lifetime of sugar and carbohydrate cravings in just three weeks. Three levels of the program make it approachable for anyone, whether you are a beginner or follow a gluten-free, grain-free, and/or Paleo/primal lifestyle.
21 Day Sugar Detox meals are also available, ready-made, deliciously prepared and delivered right to your door with Pete’s Paleo.
Against All Grain Celebrations – Danielle Walker
Celebrations features a variety of birthday cakes, finger foods to serve at a baby or bridal shower, and re-creations of backyard barbecue standards like peach cobbler and corn bread, Danielle includes all of the classics. There’s a full Thanksgiving spread--complete with turkey and stuffing, creamy green bean casserole, and pies--and menus for Christmas dinner; a New Year's Eve cocktail party and Easter brunch are covered, along with suggestions for beverages and cocktails and the all-important desserts.
Paleo Holiday Cookbook – Dana Summers
In the Paleo Holiday Cookbook you will find everything that you need to make a festive meal that is Paleo friendly, gluten free, dairy free and delicious. Not only are there ample choices for each course, but a set menu telling you what to prepare is unnecessary. Each course contains choices that will blend beautifully with any other dish. Fresh, seasonal ingredients make shopping easy, allowing you to focus on the important things this season; sharing moments and great food with your loved ones.
Gather – Bill Staley & Hayley Mason
Gather, the Art of Paleo Entertaining shows you how to orchestrate the perfect dinner party—whether you are planning an elegant holiday feast or hosting a casual brunch with friends knowing that the true art of paleo entertaining is creating a delicious and satisfying menu that will also promote good health.
The Primal Connection – Mark Sisson
The Primal Connection presents a comprehensive plan to overcome the flawed mentality and hectic pace of high-tech, modern life and reprogram your genes to become joyful, care-free, and at peace with the present. You will discover how to make scientifically validated, highly intuitive connections across the board, emerging with a renewed appreciation for the simple pleasures of life and our most precious gifts of time, health, and love
Delicious Food
Give the Gift of Love (and by that we mean food)
What says love more than bacon? Sending someone some of Pete’s Paleo’s mouth-watering bacon is a sure fire winner! Once you try Pete’s bacon, the commercial bacon sold in the grocery stores that you once couldn’t imagine Sunday morning without, will be a distant memory. Pete’s Paleo bacon is the meatiest, most supple, melt-in-your-mouth bacon, so good it’s a game-changer.
Bone broth is not only good for you; it has become a trendy drink to sip on. It can, however, be time consuming to make and sourcing the very best ingredients can be a challenge. Pete’s Paleo Bone broth is made with only the best grass-fed beef bones and organic vegetables and filtered water, seasoned just right and packed full of flavor, minerals and gelatin. Shipped frozen right to the recipient’s door, it is good for 10 days in the fridge or up to 6 months in the freezer!
Shopping for someone else, but not sure exactly what their preferences are? Give the gift of a Pete’s Paleo Gift Card to their favorites.
Paleo Treats
Sadly, most desert and treat recipes claiming to be Paleo, really are not and often, those amazing looking pictures are the furthest thing from what your creation ends up looking like when you are done.
Paleo Treats have been making foodie-approved Paleo desserts since 2009. They are serious about flavor, texture, ingredients and Paleo. They ship around the world and are experts at both making and getting a great dessert to your door.
Kasandrinos Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Simply put, Kasandrinos is one of the best extra virgin olive oils you could get your hands on. Their olives are picked from a single (organically tended) grove in a small Greek town, pressed within hours of picking, bottled and delivered right to your door. The flavor speaks for itself and the benefits of true extra virgin olive oil are well known.
The brand has evolved and is offering small edibles and body products (olive oil soaps and lip balms) created with the same high quality olives used for their delicious oil. Gift choices abound for the foodie and non-foodie alike!
Primal Palate Spices
These are the highest quality spices available. Primal Palate Spices and spice blends are certified USDA-Organic, Whole30 Approved, Certified Gluten-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO, and Non-Irradiated. You can choose your own or simply buy a ‘done for you’ spice pack to enhance a favorite recipe or add that little bit extra.
Tin Star Foods Ghee
Tin Star Ghee is made with butter from grass-fed and pasture-raised cows. It is independently lab tested to contain no lactose (milk sugar) or casein (milk proteins), is rich in Tonalin CLA as well as Vitamins a, D and K2 as well as abundant in omega 3s, with coveted 1;1 omega fatty acid ration. Above all, it tastes delicious and adds wonderful flavor to any dish.
Paleo Christmas Gift Box Basket
The perfect gift set for those choosing the paleo lifestyle whether young or old, near or far. It can be delivered right to their door with a gift option so you can write a personalized message. Gift box contains: Stretch Island ORGANIC Grape Fruit Strip, Kale Krunch Quite Cheezy, Thunderbird Cacao + Hemp + Walnut Real Food Bar, Navitas Cacao Nibs, Plentiful Planet ORGANIC Raw Sunflower Seeds, Original ORGANIC Seasnax, Butter Toffee Fuel Snacks, Tanka Stick -- Buffalo with Cranberries, Apple, and Orange Peel, organic Dry Roasted Pumpkin Seeds by Eden.
Naked Cow All Natural Grass Fed Beef Jerky
For the jerky lover, or potential convert, Naked Cow Beef Jerky Sampler Pack Includes all 3 flavors: natural, smoke and honey. It is made from 100% grass fed beef that is minimally processed with no added sugars, MSG, nitrites, soy or artificial additives and has been continually rated 5 stars on beefjerky.com.
Black Tahini
For all your foodie friends, the newest upcoming trend is Black Tahini (organic, cold processed of course!). If you have not yet tried it, you should – a deeper, more intense sesame paste than regular tahini.
Thrive Market Membership
Thrive Market is the online grocery store to purchase all your organic, Paleo non-GMO brands and they are delivered right to your door. No crowds or line up to deal with. A membership to the site or a gift card for those who already have memberships is the gift that keeps on giving.
Household Must Haves
Instantpot
In my opinion, when it comes to kitchen tools, nothing beats the Instantpot . It cooks food 2-6 times faster while using up to 70% less energy than a conventional slow cooker, and, above all, produces nutritious healthy food in a convenient and consistent fashion. With multiple sensors and a micro-processor, the Instant Pot is an intelligent multi-cooker, capable of completely replacing pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker/porridge maker, sauté/browning pan, steamer, yogurt maker and stockpot warmer. Most importantly, Instant Pot cooks meals faster with less energy while preserving more nutrients.
If someone you know (or you) lives a fast-paced, health-oriented and green-conscious life style, the Instant Pot is the perfect gift.
Cast Iron Skillet
No kitchen should be without a cast iron skillet! It is the perfect tool for searing, sautéing, simmering, braising, baking, roasting, and frying. This form of cookware was developed over a millennia ago and remains as popular today as when it was used to prepare meals back then. Cast Iron is one of only two metals compatible with induction stovetops and produces unparalleled heat retention and even heating. Each pan is unique and need some care and seasoning but is well worth the effort.
Le Crueset Cookware
Ceramic is a safe and healthy alternative when it comes to non-stick cookware and stovetop to oven cooking. Le Crueset is by far the best ceramic product I have used. The Dutch oven is a kitchen staple. An investment and awesome gift for someone special, a piece of Le Crueset will always be appreciated by the novice or veteran foodie in your life.
A ceramic griddle is another great option for those wanting to give healthier, durable, cookware that delivers great results too!
Himalayan Salt Lamp
If you or your loved ones do not yet have a Himalayan salt lamp, you are definitely missing out. With the heat emitted by the incandescent light bulbs, the lamp emits negative ions which can help to counteract EMF pollution that comes from cell phones, computers and other sources from your home.
Essential Oil Diffuser
Essential oils were found in ancient Egyptian tombs, which proves the high level of significance, even above food rations thousands of years before agriculture became widespread. Lavender, frankincense, eucalyptus, peppermint and citrus are some of our favorite and top recommendations for headaches, nausea, upset stomach, relaxation, sleep, and more. You can add the oils to your essential oil diffuser. This is a far superior method of adding a wonderful scent to your home rather than using harmful endocrine-disrupting synthetic fragrances found in conventional air fresheners, candles and plug-ins.
KDF Shower Filter
Trihalomethanes (THM’s) are linked to various cancers. The biggest source of exposure to THM’s come from your shower. The hotter the water, the more exposure you have. It is a huge problem, but the solution is so simple that there are no excuses not to fix it! A KDF shower filter can take care of the THM’s along with the pesticide residues, fluoride and pharmaceutical drugs in the tap water supply, making your shower water safe for your skin (your largest organ after all) and even to drink.
EMF Protection Laptop Pad
We are all likely quite aware of how technology and its accompanying devices have permeated every aspect of our lives and you should be wary of all the emissions they are exposing you and your loved ones to. Laptop protection pads can reduce emissions by almost 99.9%. You can also get EMF protective cases for smartphones, but reviews on these are mixed. Some say the phone emits more EMF trying to reach the tower when blocked by cases.
Looking Good
Beauty Counter
At Beautycounter, there is a commitment to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what is required by U.S. and Canadian law: They have voluntarily banned the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals while ensuring their products perform and are as indulgent as any luxe shampoo, lipstick, or oil in the market. Treat your friends to safer skincare and cosmetics this year (especially if they have been good).
The Lengthening Mascara can only be described as awesome. It lengthens plumps and conditions lashes, stays on all day, does not flake and is easy to remove. Since trying it, I use nothing else and have gifted it over and over to all my girl friends who feel the same.
There are also some great holiday gift sets available at all price points. My personal favorite in the skin care line is the Naughty – to – Nice set containing a charcoal cleansing bar and charcoal purifying mask. Easy and fun to use, these products reveal fresher looking skin in as little as 15 minutes (and the charcoal is an appropriate nod to a ‘naughty’ gift).
Even More Ideas
The gift options are endless. If you need more ideas, we put even more of our favorites together for you here. With such great options, it truly does become a joy to give. Happy gifting!