Holiday Gifts With A Theme
This week’s focus is all about inspiring you to put together the perfect gift basket. At Valley Natural Foods we have plenty of unique items for creating the perfect basket, well almost… Although we do not sell baskets, we do sell great basket substitutes, like our Valley Natural Foods Reusable Rag Bags or Golden Road Imports Fair-Trade purses and backpacks.
To me, gift baskets (or themed gift bags) are a great way to make a gift more personal, and it’s easy to cater to your budget. Here are some ideas to create a cohesive gift with items available at Valley Natural Foods:
For the Bloody Mary Enthusiast
My recent acquired taste for Bloody Mary’s inspired this gift basket idea. It all began when we started carrying Suckerpunch Gourmet Bloody Mary Mix. The name alone drew me in, and as I took a closer look I found out it is made with all natural ingredients and no additives or preservatives. This mix is so tasty and it can be consumed with or without your favorite spirit. Next throw in some meat sticks (we carry Primal Strips Vegan Meatless Jerky too), Suckerpunch pickles, stuffed olives and for the rim salt add Applewood smoked sea salt, pepper and dill seed powder and you’re set.
For the College Student
With college students constantly on the go and swamped with schoolwork, they’re going to need some stress relief, snacks and energy. To help them stay calm during test weeks we have some great wellness products that target stress, like Veriditas Mental Clarity and Bach Flower Remedies’ Rescue Remedy. Keep them warm while walking to class and throw in a pair of Rising Tide fingerless gloves or slippers.
For food items think of things that are shelf stable and that can be eaten as is, or cooked in the microwave. I remember living off of protein bars, energy drinks and microwavable popcorn. Of course I have a sweet tooth so K’UL’s energy chocolate bars are at the top of my list, with combinations meant for endurance, stamina and power you know they’ll have the energy to carry on with tests. Another personal favorite is Pro Bar’s Bolt Organic Energy Chews; they come in various fruity flavors and actually work! Trust me; they’ll be happy to get any food that didn’t come from the dorm cafeteria.
For the Aspiring Chef
For the aspiring chef, fill their basket with various cooking essentials like whisks, rubber scrapers, dish towels, an apron, and a cookbook. After you have filled it with the essentials you can add some unique cooking ingredients like Riojana’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Bare Honey’s Hot & Spicy Honey or Eden Selected Ume Plum Vinegar – one of our staff favorites that can be added to most dishes to take the flavor profile to the next level. You could even create this gift to be cuisine specific – for instance my dad loves experimenting with homemade pizzas so I bet you can guess what kind of gift items he will be receiving this holiday season.
For the Fitness Guru
I can think of a few people in my life that would enjoy some fitness must-haves. Fill their basket with shaker bottles, protein bars, and divided food containers for their meal prepping needs. We carry a great selection of plant-based protein powders that come in individual packets or larger tubs to fit their needs. Klean Kanteen water bottles are durable and keep you drinks hot or cold longer than the average water bottle and are great for hiking and camping. Then throw in a candle to help them relax after a grueling workout.
These are just a few ideas to help you put together a unique gift basket/bag. Come in and see what Valley Natural Foods has to offer for your gifting needs. Our staff would be more than happy to help you find these items or offer suggestions of other items available at Valley Natural Foods.
