Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2022
This post is for those of you who are wanting to try some new things this year. You know me… I’m always trying something new. I will often put those items on my Christmas list so my family can get them for me as a gift. So this list is primarily made of products that I use and love and recommend. It’s not the ultimate shopping guide. It’s not the top products of 2022. I haven’t scoured the shelves for the best deal. This is what I know and use.
MUD/WTR
This is a product I personally love. It’s like an instant coffee/chai sort of drink. It’s packed with adaptogenic mushrooms, chai spices, and a little black tea. The result is a little boost without the coffee jitters. It’s a great way to start reducing caffeine and increasing health. This is an affiliate link that gets you 10% off your first order.
AG1 : Athletic Greens
This is like a high-quality super supplement in a drink. I like it because the taste is pretty neutral. It’s a great way to supplement a not-so-great diet and get a good start if you don’t want to swallow a bunch of vitamin pills. I like to add a little lime juice and a scoop of creatine to make it part of my pre-workout stack. (This is an affiliate link and they are giving away travel packs and a vitamin D supplement with your first order.)
Hand-blended teas from Mama-Te-a
I know the herbalist who creates these blends personally and her teas are really extraordinary. She has created blends with specific focuses on calming, immune support, allergy support, pregnancy, and more. (Not an affiliate link)
Awesome knives and kitchen shears
Cutco is the best knife company. You get a lifetime warranty on these. I prefer to buy individual knives. But I feel everyone should have a good serrated knife (I have their small shown here and large), a chef’s knife (shown here), and a paring knife. But my fav item of theirs is their kitchen shears. Never use a knife when you can use scissors!! I use these to take apart chickens and snip delicate herbs. These are a lifetime investment. (Not an affiliate link)
Programmable rice (and porridge) cooker
If you have watched my cooking videos, you’ll know I love my rice cooker. I have not one… but TWO of them in different sizes. I put my oats and chia seeds in it at night so my fam has perfect oatmeal whenever they get up in the morning. The same one can have brown rice soaking all day and ready exactly when I need it for a fun rice bowl dinner.
Oura ring
If you follow me, you know I’m a huge fan of my Oura ring. I’ve had to work hard to improve my sleep and Oura rings are the best sleep tracker on the market. They are also great for tracking HRV (stress), recovery from workouts, period predictors (no more taking your temp in the morning!!) and more. I use it to identify the best strategies to optimize my deep sleep and keep me accountable to my sleep routine.
Castor Oil Pack
I know, not your typical gift. But I’m in love with this product. Castor oil packs are totally old-school. It’s a well-tolerated treatment for constipation, better sleep, and anything liver-related (and EVERYTHING is liver-related). The oil is organically sourced and in a glass bottle (this is key when you’re absorbing it through the skin). I’ve recently discovered that it gets rid of my hot flashes! This is an awesome self-care item and the link is my affiliate code which gets you a 15% discount!
Feeding the Whole Family
This is always my top cookbook to recommend. The author, Cynthia Lair, was my culinary instructor at Bastyr University and was an important professional mentor to me. Her book does a brilliant job of combining nutrition with awesome recipes. It’s not dogmatic, it gives lots of tips for using gluten-free and dairy-free cooking, but it focuses primarily on whole and minimally processed foods and helps young families raise healthy eaters without restriction or a bunch of harsh rules. And the recipes WORK. I use them all the time. One of my favorite baby gifts.
Soup thermos
Buy a good quality food thermos. Spend the money on a good one or you’ll hate it. I paid for a Hydro Flask for my daughter this year because she loves a hearty soup for lunch and it has been the best investment. Keeps it hot, doesn’t leak, dishwasher safe. This guarantees healthy lunches get eaten in my house, which is priceless to me. The link is to the one I have because it’s on sale and we love it. I’ve got a whole playlist of hearty soup recipes if you need ideas!!
Meal kit deliveries
Meals in a box. Shipped to your home. There are so many to choose from. EveryPlate is the most budget-friendly, a friend of mine likes HelloFresh. A local PDX chef I know runs Ray2Z Cooking that I’ve been dying to try. If you’re a busy person trying to eat better, getting just your busiest 1-2 nights covered with a meal like this can be a huge help in reaching your health goals. It’s also a great way to learn some new recipes (or get your teen engaged in food prep).
Naturally Healthy Babies and Children
This is my #1 baby gift. But it’s not just for babies and children. It’s also a rare gem of a book to help you learn how to care for sick people at home. Fully indexed for botanicals and symptoms, the author gives you nutritional, botanical and homeopathic suggestions along with wise counsel on when to see the advice of a doctor. It’s what I have reached for through my years of parenting to minimize the need for antibiotics, heal quickly, boost immune function and soothe skin issues. I talk about it in my article about Caring for the Flu at Home. It’s a must for everyone with a leaning toward natural remedies wanting to learn more.
CSA Subscription
This is a gift!! Find a farm local to you with a pick-up/delivery schedule that suits your needs and sign up for a whole season. Search “Farm Finder”, ask your local extension office or Google “CSA near me”. Ask around too. The best time to get in is January through March.
Asana rebel
I love this app. I bought a lifetime access pass for myself last year and I’m so glad. I taught yoga for years. I know what to do. But sometimes I just want someone to tell me what to do so I can switch off and follow along. I pick the length and difficulty to suit my needs and go. It’s great for a home workout toolkit.
Ishq Ancestral Skin Care
Sara comes from a long line of healers from India. She creates seasonal skin care products in just about the most beautiful, ethical way I’ve seen. She has this spa in a box, and individual products, but the most amazing gift is the Ishq Seasonal Box where your friend gets fresh, seasonal products delivered every 3 months for a year. (Not an affiliate code)
Watch my reviews on YouTube
I made videos of these reviews if you’re interested in how I use some of these products… and a few more that I thought of later.