When it comes to holiday gifting, there’s pretty much two types of people: those that have their shopping system down PAT (“You mean you don’t have your list checked off by December?”), and those that are nervously checking the last day companies offer guaranteed shipping as we speak. For those of us in the latter category, there’s still one great option outside of the picked-over sweater pile at the mall, or the pervasive-scented candle. Yes, I’m talking homemade!
Truly, there’s an infinite number of DIY gifts you can create for the loved ones on your list that won’t break the bank, take up too much of your time, and are guaranteed to delight. Show off your healthy prowess with these fun ideas that are sure to make well-loved, extra unique gifts that you can really feel good about giving!
Personalized Superfood Smoothie Mix: Have an up-and-coming smoothie-ist on your list? Make life easy on them by creating a simple, scoop-able, superfood smoothie mix! Find a superfood smoothie recipe that you love – maybe it’s one from the Superfood Smoothies cookbook, or maybe it’s your own best-ever recipe – and measure out 10-12 servings of all of the powdered and/or dry superfood ingredients in a big bowl. Mix very well. Weigh the ingredients and divide the weight by the number of servings (so you know how much to use for one smoothie), and put in a mason jar or container for gifting. Complete the gift with the directions of how to use (aka “just add a banana and a cup of almond milk to 2 tablespoons of smoothie mix, and blend”).
Gourmet Herb Basket: Fresh herbs make absolutely anything you cook more special – they can instantly invigorate even the most blah of recipes, in the healthiest of ways! Head over to your local nursery and pick up a collection of organic edible live herbs, a cute pot and some organic soil. Try including a couple herb essentials like parsley and thyme, as well as one or two more exotic and fun herbs like chocolate mint or purple sage. Include a copy of a couple of your favorite healthy recipes that infuse your living ingredients for extra inspiration!
Superfood Truffles: Truffles are just excitingly fancy from the get-go, and making them from superfoods is a wonderful way to create seriously extra-special edibles. This year, my superfood to get onto everyone’s list is Hawaiian Spirulina. It’s so versatile in terms of benefits, from offering premium energy for my fitness-oriented friends, to allergy-relief for my mom who loves to travel. As a blue-green algae, it’s not the most instinctual ingredient to put into food, so mixing it incognito into a batch of Chocolate Mint Superfood Truffles is a wonderful way to make the introduction as irresistible as possible. Give a bottle of spriulina, a batch of freshly-made truffles, and my holiday recipe below for a gift that’s truly giving in every way. Bonus: you can use code SFJULIE at Nutrex-Hawaii.com to receive 20% off up to $75, 30% off up to $149.99 and 40% off above $150 on all your spirulina orders!
Chocolate-Mint Superfood Truffles
Soft and decadently chocolatey (with a hint of mint!) these nutritious truffles keep their beneficial inclusion of spirulina a secret.
Makes 2 dozen truffles
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon cacao powder, divided
2 tablespoons coconut sugar, divided
½ cup coconut butter, melted and stirred
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon agave syrup
½ teaspoon mint extract
1/3 cup Medjool dates (about 6 large), pitted
1 teaspoon Nutrex Hawaii Spirulina
Pinch sea salt
In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon cacao powder and 1 tablespoon coconut sugar. Set aside.
In a food processor combine the coconut butter, coconut oil, agave, mint extract and Medjool dates, and puree. Add ½ cup cacao powder, spirulina, sea salt, and 1 tablespoon coconut sugar, and process until a thick chocolate dough has formed. Transfer dough to a small bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 45 minutes to 1 hour to partially solidify.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator – it should be hardened but still pliable. A rounded teaspoon at a time, scoop up the dough and shape into a ball. Roll the ball in the powdered cacao-sugar mixture to dust the surface, and set on a plate. Repeat with remaining dough to form 2 dozen truffles. Return the truffles to the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour longer. Covered, truffles may be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 1 week.
