What to get your paleo, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, toxin free, nut free, everything free, health crazed friend for Christmas!
For so many of us out there that don’t have any issues with any or all of the above, it can be hard to understand what people with such strict dietary restrictions or lifestyle choices are going through. Sometimes they just seem like they are trying to be a right pain in the butt! So it’s no surprise that shopping for your ‘pain in the butt’ friend at Christmas can feel like an impossible task! I know, I am one of those painful friends barre the veganism!
Our top tip to overcome this Christmas gifting struggle is to create your own gift boxes, mugs or hampers with handmade goodies that are perfectly vegan, paleo, dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free and everything else free, just for them. They will be floored with surprise that you went to so much effort and excited to finally receive a gift they can actually enjoy. The other surprising thing is it really doesn’t take much effort at all!
With so many people trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle, why not do your part in creating less waste and being mindful of the environmental impacts of mass consumerism. Why give unwanted gifts that will be added to the op-shop pile? I can guarantee these gift suggestions will not go to waste.
Vegan / Dairy-Free:
Your vegan friend does not consume or use anything to do with animals or animal bi-products. Therefore anything that contains meat, dairy, eggs, leather, beeswax or other products of animal origin are out. Basically your friend is probably against the exploitation and cruelty of animals. They may be trying to leave a lighter environmental footprint or could actually have a health condition that is best treated with a plant based diet. Yes, I know what you are thinking, they pretty much live on lettuce leaves! So how do you combat this given most Christmas fancies contain one or all of the above?
Why not make some homemade dairy free chocolates in a silicone Christmas themed mould. You can display them in a vintage dish or glass from your local op shop and make them into something quite special. It’s so quick and easy and with only a few ingredients, you may even make a batch for yourself! Check out the recipes below:
Easy 3 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate
Perfected Creamy Vegan Chocolate
These Pure Cacao Melts are amazing for making your own chocolates as well- Ready to melt and mould! Why not add them in to these Salted Inca Inchi Chocolate Bites!
Don’t feel up to baking or don’t have time? Luckily our vegan friendly friends at Flora & Fauna have you covered with chocolate gift packs ready to go. They also have a wide range of other vegan friendly products including makeup, beauty and more if you want to throw in a little extra something into your gift hamper.
Gluten Free:
Gluten free eating is generally a dietary requirement rather than a choice to combat Coeliac disease. But some do choose to be gluten free for overall health benefits as well. Foods containing gluten are generally wheat, oats, barley, rye and derivatives of these products. This means a lot of the baked goods at Christmas are no go zones for your gluten free friend. I know, sad right?
Fortunately, there’s so many delicious gluten free alternative cooking ideas out there these days. You can literally have your cake and eat it too so to speak. Why not bake up some goodies like these delicious gingerbread men from Changing habits. Or perhaps some raw treats like these Easy Chocolate Cashew Balls or Coconut, Apricot and Chia Balls by All For Herself. Seriously, you don’t have to be on a gluten free diet to enjoy these (as she presses print on the recipe button!).
Paleo:
Ok, so you have a Paleo friend who found this great diet and now doesn’t eat any of the naughty foods. They live in their own little low carb, sugar free society, munching on turkey drumsticks like cavemen and you have no idea what on earth they can eat ;-).
Again, you’re in luck because paleo has taken off and there are more of us weirdo paleo’s out there than you might realise. So, why not make them some gluten free, dairy free paleo chocolate cupcakes, or these simple Healthy Bounty Bites instead? I am loving how these recipes taste so naughty but they are actually quite good for you – there’s a winner right there!
Everything Free:
Ok, so you have a friend that has to have ‘everything free’. We’re talking nut free, refined sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, paleo or vegan would be great, thanks for coming! Don’t worry, we all have one. But as we touched on before, sometimes it is not by choice, so we can’t get too antsy about it. There are so many amazing alternatives to the traditional treats around now and ways to still enjoy the good life whilst living a healthy life too. Depending on their allergy or intolerance, almost all of the recipes above will be suitable. Just skip the cashew balls for this particular friend and everyone will be happy!!!
Do you have a favourite recipe you’ve found in your travels or a winning Christmas combination for gifting? We’d love to hear it, comment below and share the love.
