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Healthy Gift Baskets

Healthy Gift Baskets can be fun, fast and creative. Not to mention earn you many many appreciative "thank yous". You'll get loads of ideas for this easy, impressive and inexpensive gift on this page.

All you need is trip to the grocery store and dollar store for clear cellophane, ribbon and baskets.

For packing inside the healthy gift basket you can use tissue paper, or shredded tissue paper (I've carefully put some through the shredder); or a seasonal piece of material (the end of roll bins at the fabric store) or packaged "straw" you get in the craft section of the dollar store.

Gift Baskets for Snackers
Healthy Gift Baskets for Movie Lovers
Gift Baskets for Coffee and Tea Lovers
Baskets for Breakfast Lovers

Healthy Gift Baskets for Snackers

Nuts and Fruit Vase

Start with a clear glass vase - not too big. IKEA has these real cheap! Then layer in nuts and dried fruits and tie a ribbon around the vase. One layer of something dark; one layer of something light or colorful etc. Eg.

    • A layer of brazil nuts
    • A layer of dried apricots
    • A layer of cashews
    • A layer of dried cranberries
    • A layer of nuts and bolts
    • the unhealthy version can contain layers of candies, chocolate covered raisins, yogurt covered nuts, smarties etc.

The Salt Lover's Healthy Gift Basket

    Pretzels (maybe some sweet mustard for dipping).
  • Baked chips - they come in different flavors
  • Low fat chip dips
  • Nuts- these are heart healthy!
  • Bits and bites (you can buy them in the cracker aisle)
  • Popcorn
  • Popcorn flavor (you can buy at Blockbusters)

The Deli Lover's Gift Package

  • Pumpernickel bread
  • Rye bread or rye mini appetizer loaf
  • Sliced deli ham, prosciutto, roast pork (Salami if you're not worried about the fat)
  • 1-2 flavoured mustards
  • A container of coleslaw etc
  • A bottle or two of Heineken Beer

    • Cookie Lovers Healthy Baskets

    • Biscotti (the long low fat Italian cookies)
    • Dare's simple pleasures (they come in many flavors, try 8 of each flavor wrapped in cellophane).
    • Fig Newtons (come in different flavors)
    • Other low fat cookies - check the cookie aisle and local bakery
    • Bagel chips - you can buy them or make them (thin slices of bagel toasted, sprayed with pam and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon)
    • 1-2 fancifull mugs
    • Hot chocolate, or tea/coffee

    Cookies lovers basket #2:

    Home made cookies are healthier than store bought. They usually have less sugar and healthier fat. Find a favorite cookie recipe and a glass container that comes with lid (again, cheap at the dollar store). Measure out the dry ingredients and fill the jar with them - in layers - it looks nicer. Eg. e one layer brown sugar; one layer spices; one layer of the oatmeal; etc. THen write the recipe on a file card - note the ingredients to add - eg. just add 1 egg and 1/2 cup of milk, mix, bake at 350 degrees - presto! Of course, tie ribbon around the jar!

    Other Snacky Gift Baskets

    • A jar of antipasto (it's naturally low fat, low calorie!) You can tie a square of material around the lid with ribbon)
    • A small roll or box of fancy crackers
    • A small cocktail spoon or knife
    • A bottle of Italian wine

    -OR-

    • A jar of salsa.
    • Baked nacho chips
    • Colorful vegie tortilla chips
    • How about a few cans of Mexican beer

    Movie Lovers: Healthy Gift Baskets

    Put some of these items in a gift basket or ceramic bowl for the popcorn and cover with cellophane /ribbon.

    • A gift cerficate for free rentals from Blockbuster or a DVD
    • 2 packs of microwave popcorn
    • 1-2 jars of popcorn flavoring (you cant get at Blockbusters or grocery store)
    • Pretzels
    • Baked chips
    • Low fat chip dips
    • Nuts (these are heart healthy!)
    • Carrot sticks (I'm a dietitian - I couldn't resist!)
    • A few tins of various diet sodas!

    Coffee and Tea Lovers Baskets

    • Flavored coffee
    • Instant flavored coffee
    • Fat-free liquid coffee creamers (Hazelnut, vanilla, Irish Cream)
    • Of course a lovely mug or two
    • Biscotti or Dare's Simple Pleasure cookies (or both!)
    • Hot chocolate mix

    - OR -

    • Flavored herbal teas
    • Loose leaf tea (you can buy at specialty stores, sometimes grocery stores)
    • Box of their favorite tea
    • An individual tea strainer
    • A mug or tea cup with saucer (beautiful ones for 10 cents at garage sales)
    • Yup - some cookies." Dare's Simple Pleasure's" are great low fat cookies -try the spice ones!

    Healthy Gift Baskets for Breakfast Lovers

    The Tomato Lover

    • Fresh ripe tomatoes
    • Fresh dill - you can buy it in the produce aisle in a clear plastic container.
    • Low fat mayo or flavored mayo
    • A hearty whole grain bread - maybe two!
    • A small wood cutting board
    • A small knife

    The Salmon Lover's Gift Basket

    • Whole grain bagels
    • Lox - smoked salmon
    • Small jar of capers
    • Fresh dill (you get it in the produce aisle)
    • Low fat cream cheese (or no fat - Philadelphia makes both)

    MORE Breakfast Lovers Healthy Gift Baskets

    More lists of healthy breakfast yummies! Pick and choose from the groups below to make your healthy gift basket for Christmas or birthdays or Valentine's or Mother's day . . . you get the drift!

    Breakfast Grains
    • Mixed mini bagels wrapped in cellophane
    • Loaf of whole grain bread from bakery
    • Fruit scones
    • Bran or oatmeal muffins
    • Oatmeal cookies
    • Thin bagel crisps - they are bagels sliced super thin, toasted, sprayed with PAM and sprinkled with sugar or sweetner and cinammon,
    • Granola bars
    • A fancy ceramic cereal bowl with a box of Bran Buds, a small pack of walnuts and dried cranberries or blueberries. This is the ultimate heart healthy breakfast!
    • Small bag of pancake mix - for someone with celiac's you can get it gluten free (of course include syrup - could be sugar free, or blueberry, or raspberry!).

    Spreads and Toppings
    • Jam - lots of variety to choose from including no sugar added
    • Cream cheese - low fat, no fat, lots of flavors. You can also take no fat Philly cream cheese and mix in jam or berries.
    • All natural peanut butter
    • Lox - yes! Smoked salmon (of course with dill, capers and cream cheese!)
    • Kippers (yes, smoked tinned fish !)

    Breakfast Beverages
    • Mugs or Tea cup with saucer
    • Herbal teas
    • Loose leaf tea with individual tea filter/strainer
    • Coffee
    • Flavoured coffees
    • Fat free flavored coffee creamers (like Irish cream!)
    • Flavoured light specialty coffee (like International coffees in the tin)
    • Light hot chocolate
    • Fresh squeezed orange juice
    • Apple cider

    Fruit and Veg (come on, I'm a dietitian!)
    • Grapes, berries (in a small ceramic bowl), kiwis, strawberries, mandarins, oranges . . .
    • Dried fruit: apricots, apples, cranberries, blueberries
    • Fruit bars, fruit leather
    • Ripe huge tomatoes (with a multigrain bread, low fat mayo, cutting board and knife)
    • V8 "one shots"; variety of V8 juices
    • Cherry tomatoes

    Happy wrapping!

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