Healthy Food Gift Basket Ideas

If you are looking for a healthy gift to give a loved one consider a healthy food gift basket

For under $50 you can create homemade food gift basket that is filled with healthy non-perishable foods that are delicious and cost-effective.

Select a pretty wicker basket, grab some clear cellophane and ribbon and let's get started.

Your first stop should be your local grocery store to check out the variety of nutritious food items they have on their shelves.

The following healthy foods not only look beautiful but are full of essential vitamins, minerals and fats. The good new is they also possess anti-aging properties.

Herbal teas

Nothing beats a nice herbal tea blend on a cold wintry day. Herbal teas help to both warm the soul and soothe minor aliments with their natural therapeutic benefits. If you know someone is feeling stressed put in a box of chamomile tea to help them relax. And if your gift recipient has digestive problems consider including a box of delicious mint tea to soothe an irritable bowel.

Herbal teas are available in a multitude of flavours ranging from fruity lemon, cranberry and blueberry blends, to spicy cinnamon, chai or vanilla teas which may help curb a sweet tooth and offer a substitute for dessert.

Extra-virgin olive oil

Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat with countless health benefits. For starters it helps to protect against heart disease by lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL). It is also known to help with the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Olive oil is very heat stable and as a result is suitable for cooking at low, medium or high temperatures.

You are best to select a virgin, unrefined olive oil that has been extracted from the first pressing of the olive. Organic oils are also nice and available in many speciality shops.

Another suggestion would be a flavored olive oil. It can add a nice touch to your healthy food gift basket. Consider oils flavored with chili peppers, lemon or basil.

Nut butters

If you have a nut lover of your gift list be sure to include a nut butter in your healthy food gift basket. An all natural nut butter is much healthier than commercial peanut butters which are loaded with sugars and fat.

There are a wide variety of natural nut butters on the market to choose from. Varieties include almond, soy, cashew, hazelnut and peanut butter. In addition to being a good source of protein, natural nut butters are high in antioxidants and low in saturated fat and sugar. They also contain no trans fatty acids.

Dark chocolate

For a great antioxidant don't forget to include some dark chocolate in your healthy food gift basket. Studies have shown that eating a small amount of dark chocolate each day may help to prevent heart disease.

Sparkling apple cider

Complete your healthy food gift basket with a bottle of sparkling apple cider. In addition to its sweet, bubbly taste, organic apple cider made from whole, ripe apples is also a good source of vitamin C.