Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for the Foodie

I’m so excited to kick off my first annual holiday gift guide series with one of the things I’m most passionate about – food! Cooking is my love language. For me, it’s an opportunity to bless my family in a tangible way. I believe there is something beautiful about food that is lovingly and deliberately prepared, and keeping my loved ones happy and healthy truly brings me great joy.

So, as a self-proclaimed foodie and someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I’ve hand picked my personal favorite appliances, kitchen decor and healthy food items that I use in my kitchen on a daily basis. From smoothie essentials to salad choppers, I guarantee these are things your home chef would be excited to receive for Christmas!

KitchenAid Stand Mixer: I love my KitchenAid Stand Mixer so much, I can’t imagine my kitchen without it! Whether I’m whipping egg whites or shredding chicken breasts, it truly is the perfect aid in my kitchen. I also love that it’s easy to clean and easy on the eyes since it does take up some counter space. I have the Sugar Pearl Silver color, but am drooling over this limited edition model with ceramic hobnail bowl.

Coconut Butter Cups: I wouldn’t mind a few of these in my stocking! Eating Evolved’s chocolate bars and coconut butter cups are my go-to’s for sweet treats. I even love their Midnight Dark Chocolate bar that has zero sugar. I think that means I’m a true chocolate lover, right?

Thrive Market Gift Card: If your loved one enjoys shopping at Whole Foods or trying new organic and natural products, a Thrive Market gift card is a must! Thrive Market is an online grocery store that offers organic and natural foods, household items and other daily necessities that you need, but at wholesale prices. I purchased an annual membership of $59.95 a year (which is just $5 a month) and it’s allowed me to have unlimited access to the healthiest variety of foods and brands that aren’t always available in grocery stores. I love it!

Pretty Dish Towel: I can never have enough pretty hand towels! I love the fancy ones at Anthropologie like this one and this one or World Market for an inexpensive set.

Marble & Brass Pinch Dish: I love keeping a marble pinch dish next to my stove to easily grab some salt while cooking. The best part about this dish is that it’s quite versatile. Carved out of luxurious white marble, it has a chic brass base and matching spoon, which functions as a perfect container for sugar or salt—it even works overtime as a pretty creamer for your morning cappuccino.

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender: The question I am most often asked on Instagram is “what blender do you use for your smoothies”? While it comes with a higher price tag, the Vitamix is worth every penny! I am super passionate about this product and use it more than any other appliance in my kitchen. I’ve had mine for 4 years and I’ve had zero issues (and I literally use it every day, sometimes twice a day). I use it for anything from smoothies to soups to salad dressings. It comes with a lifetime warranty and cleans itself with just a drop of dish soap! Cannot recommend this blender enough if you love smoothies or enjoy cooking.

Stasher Bags: My mom bought me a few of these as a Mother’s Day gift and I’ve been hooked ever since. They are plastic free, reusable bags that are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. I have them in multiple sizes and use them constantly.

Le Creuset White Oval Dutch Oven: The iconic Le Creuset Dutch oven is indispensable in the kitchens of home cooks and professional chefs alike. Long recognized for its strength and durability, cast iron is the prime material for slow-cooking, braising and roasting, thanks to its ability to maintain even and consistent heat. I use this dutch oven to make dishes like my Pumpkin Taco Soup and White Chicken Chili.

Gold Stainless Steel Straws: I’m a straw girl. I pretty much drink everything out of a straw except for coffee. I love these reusable straws that are not only pretty, but non-toxic and dishwasher safe. These are awesome for smoothies as they they absorb the coldness of the ice and keep each sip super chill!

Weekly Meal Planning List: Every Sunday, I map out my menu for the week before I head to the grocery store. It helps keep me on track and within budget. This meal and grocery list planner easily lays out what you need for the week so you can focus your time on what matters most to you!

Body Love Book: This book is AWESOME! Kelly is a holistic nutritionist and celebrity health coach based in LA. Her approach to food is extremely similar to my holistic nutritionist, Barbara Gray, I see locally here in Tallahassee, and it’s been helpful to read and refer back to what I’ve learned from Barbara in Kelly’s book. She uses science to explain how your body breaks down food and what to eat to optimize fat loss and energy. She explains things in an easy to understand manner and encourages balance. This is not a diet, it’s a way of life. Her Fab 4 smoothie concept has been a game changer for my morning breakfast routine and this book is packed with tons of recipes!

Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel: The perfect compliment to my morning Fab 4 smoothie is Primal Kitchen’s Collagen Fuel. It’s one of the cleanest protein powders on the market and doesn’t contain a bunch of extra junk. The vanilla flavor is more versatile but the chocolate tastes equally delicious. I also like Bulletproof’s Vanilla Collagen Protein and Health Warrior’s Superfood Protein for a plant-based option.

Primal Palate Spices: So I haven’t actually tried these yet, but I’m hoping they might make their way into my stocking. 🙂 I love that these are not only AIP- friendly (less inflammatory), but blends anyone could use in everyday cooking.

4th & Heart Ghee Butter: I have tried several brands of ghee and this one is by far the best. I love sautéing veggies in the Himalayan Pink Salt flavor and the Madagascar Vanilla Bean smells like a sugar cookie and makes my bulletproof coffee taste like a decadent latte. I consider both to be “must haves” in my pantry!

Oxo Salad Chopper: This is one of my favorite kitchen tools! I eat a lot of salads, but cutting up all the ingredients can be quite tedious. With this, you just throw everything in the bowl and in only a few seconds, you have chopped salad perfection. In addition to the home cook, this would also make a great gift for that friend or family who has everything!