Let's reclaim the spirit of the season with these gifts that help us live healthier, are good for our planet, and support our communities. I've included links so you can find them online and can spare yourself a trip to the mall.
1. Malie Kauai Soy Candles
From Kauai, Hawaii's lush garden island, comes these gorgeous Malie Kauai soy candles. Soy is a healthier alternative to paraffin wax candles. These candles are also made with hydrosols, natural scents distilled from Hawaiian flowers and fruit such as plumeria, pineapple, gardenia, and piyake. Malie Kauai relies on local family businesses, and gives back to the Island through donations and sponsorships.
2. FoodGoods.com T-Shirts
Stylish, sweatshop-free cotton shirts with messages with meanings, such as "Grass fed", "Free range" "Eat local produce", "I dig beets", and "You got to know your chicken". They also have a "May the spice be with you" shirt, with all proceeds going to the Share Our Strength’s Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.3. One Bite at a Time Cookbook
Most of us know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. Rebecca Katz, chef at the Commonweal Cancer Help Program in California, has written this beautiful cookbook for people with cancer, survivors, and their caregivers. It has over 85 healthy recipes to invigorate the appetite and boost the body's immune system. The recipes aren't too complex, the photos are beautiful, and Katz writes with a caring and comforting tone.4. TreeTubes
Help the earth's climate by dedicating a tree. These TreeTubes contains a certificate you can complete with a special message and a map of the forest your tree is planted in so it can be visited. They even have "celebrity forests", so you can have the tree planted in Leonardo di Caprio's chosen spot of Chiapas, Mexico and send a certificate that was designed by him. Other celebs include Mel C. from the former Spice Girls and Simply Red.5. Art Bar Chocolates
Art Bars are 100% organic, fair trade Swiss chocolate bars. The chocolate is slowly blended for 78 hours and sweetened with whole, unrefined cane sugar, which gives a rich, almost caramel character. Inside the wrapper, each Art Bar has an art reproduction by a contemporary adult or international child artist. Ten percent of profits are donated to art education.6. Peace Lily
Not only is this popular plant beautiful and meaningful (it was traditionally thought to encourage harmonious energy and good communication), but the peace lily is one of the top five plants for improving indoor air quality. Peace lilies have been found to absorb some of the most common indoor air pollutants that can adversely affect our health and environment. (Lilies are very toxic to cats though, and shouldn't be given to cat owners.)7. Kitchen Table Wisdom
An inspiring and uplifting book recommended for anyone living with a chronic illness. Author Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, (who herself has lived with chronic illness for much of her life) uses stories to examine spiritual issues such as love, faith, miracles, and suffering. A New York Times bestseller.8. Healthy Grass-fed Beef, Chicken, and Wild Game
Meat that has been pasture raised is better for our health, our environment, and for the animals. This website helps you locate local venders of grass-fed beef, lamb, goat, bison, and poultry. Why not order some organic, grass-fed meat for a health-conscious loved one, slip it into his or her freezer, and then write in the card to open their freezer to find their gift? Or, go to your local health food store and create your own healthy gift basket.9. Personal Smoothie Blender
This smoothie blender, which retails for under $20, provides on-the-go nutrition. It doubles as an environmentally-friendly reusable mug with a twist-on, sip-top lid so that you can just blend and go. Print some of our fabulous healthy smoothie recipes to include with your gift!10. Shiatsu Fitness Ball
Shiatsu stimulates the natural flow of energy along the body’s meridians, or energy pathways. This fitness ball does double duty as a shiatsu massager, with massaging nodules that stimulate muscle knots and acupressure points on the body.
