Every year I put together a list of ideas for practical and fun gifts for people who are into healthy lifestyle, food, cooking, paleo and fitness. Whether it’s Christmas, birthday or Father’s Day, this gift guide will give you plenty of ideas about what to get for your loved ones or for yourself.
As a little bonus for my readers, I have a few exclusive offers from brands I love and use. Some are great for gifts, while others will help you to stock up your pantry for the upcoming holiday season. Scroll down to the bottom to see all of the offers and feel free to share them with your friends and family.
GIFT IDEAS OVER $100 
Global Chef’s Knife - because every kitchen needs at least one really good chef’s knife. It’s versatile, precise and beautiful to hold. You can get it online or from most department stores.
UP by Jawbone is a bracelet and a smartphone app combo that will track your daily steps,workouts and sleep and you can log your meals to get an idea of energy expenditure and how much protein, fat, sodium and carbohydrates you consume daily. It’s also very stylish and comes in many colours (I have one in black). You can order it online or purchase it from your local Apple store.
Vitamix multi-purpose blender/crusher/grinder/juicer/mixer because let’s face it – it’s amazing. It’s not cheap but from what I know it is totally worth the investment. You can buy it online and from department stores.
Cuisineart yogurt, ice-cream and sorbet maker is a great gift for anyone who likes to make things from scratch. It’s not easy to find good ice-cream with no refined sugar and only natural ingredients so making your own ensures that you get the healthiest, tastiest treat for your family.
A food processor is an absolute must for anyone cooking paleo (an alternative to Vitamix). I can’t say enough about how much time it saves having one of these on a kitchen bench. I do a lot of my chopping, mixing, blending, pureeing and processing of ingredients in a food processor and I guarantee that it would be a very valuable gift. And don’t listen to anyone telling you it’s offensive to give a food processor to a woman - it will become her best friend. You don’t have to spend a fortune either, you can pick something like Cuisinart Classic 7-Cup Food Processor
Cooking course or lessons are another great gift. Individual classes and courses range from $70 to $250 depending on the duration and school/restaurant that runs it. You can find many specialised classes such as butchery 101, bacon curing, BBQ, seafood or sauce making classes. Just search online for courses and classes in your area. For Sydney folk, check out classes run by The Urban Food Market and Sydney Seafood School at Fish Markets. If anyone has recommendations for cooking courses in their area (wherever in the world you are), please share in the comments.
GIFTS IDEAS UNDER $100
Put together a few gourmet, healthy food hampers for your loved ones. Get a basket and fill it with packets of Himalayan sea salt, dried olives, tapenade, sun-dried tomatoes, sardines, olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, dark chocolate, red wine, coconut oil almond meal, macadamia nuts, raw honey, coconut aminos, coconut flour, raw cacao powder, mustard, anchovies, capers, dried seaweed and coconut water. You can also purchase a ready-made hamper online and in health food stores.Check the offers below for some yummy treats.
When it comes to cooking food, a crockpot, also known as a slow cooker, is another handy paleo kitchen asset. Slow cookers are like magic – throw a bunch of raw ingredients, herbs and spices in the morning and have a fantastic dinner waiting for you in the evening with minimal effort. This Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker is a nice crockpot with a clear lid so you can see what’s happening inside.
Kombucha brewing kits or a kimchi starter kit are the gifts that keep on giving. Kombucha Brooklyn sell home brewing kits or you can check Kombucha Tea Starter Kit here.
A lot of folks are into growing their own food these days so why not get them something for their little veggie patch. Both kids and grown ups would enjoy this Veggie Patch Kit or Herb Patch Kit from Planet Eco. Check out these guys for smaller kits that grow mushrooms, spinach, carrots and herbs. A hardware/garden store gift card is another good idea – it’s a ticket to a candy store for many! Green Thumb Gifts has lots of cool options.
For coffee lovers an addition of Chemex Coffeemaker or an aeropress and a grinder might be exciting. We own an aeropress and we take it everywhere we go. It’s compact and makes the smoothest, tastiest black coffee in a matter of minutes.
Vegetable spiralizer is a great addition to a health and wellbeing focused kitchen. You can make zucchini noodles, thin ribbons of carrots and beetroot, curly sweet potatoes and so on. It’s a great gadget to order form overseas as it doesn’t require power so there are no issues with power plugs.
A new yoga mat or accessories are a good gift for fitness loving friends and relative, as are gift vouchers to visit a yoga class or a meditation course. There are plenty of options online and your local department stores.
Eco-friendly, re-usable lunch box – I like PlanetBox lunch boxes pictured above, they are easy to clean and fun to pack and would make a great gift for both kids and grown-ups. Made out of safe, non-toxic, and recycled materials – no lead, PVC, phthalates, or BPA – this lunch box features multiple compartments so you can fit your portions of meat, veggies, fats and snacks in one neat package. It’s a massive hit with kids and although it might seem expensive, I see it as a little investment.
Speaking of food transportation, a single serve blender/smoothie maker is a perfect gift for those of us always on the run. Throw in some berries, coconut milk, nuts and some protein and breakfast is ready. You can pick one up on Amazon for $30-40 or from your local department store.
Other cool kitchen and fitness additions ideas: beautiful, rustic looking mortar and pestle, silicone baking cups and loaf tins, a set of stainless steel measuring cups, check these ones on Amazon.com
Christmas cards
I love unique Christmas cards and this beautiful and funny card is designed and letter pressed by Carla Hackett who also art directed my cookbook. I think it will give your a loved ones a few giggles! Australia wide shipping only as far as I know and you can get them here.
Edible gifts
One gift idea that is rather unconventional but is totally practical and fun in my eyes is a meat tray! Not a dodgy pub raffle kind but the one filled with fresh grass fed beef steaks, free range bacon, salt bush lamb and free range chicken sausages. Or why not get your loved on half a cow or half a lamb? You can check out these online stores specialising in pasture raised cattle meat or check with your local butcher: Urban Meat Market , Spring Hill Beef Hamper, Mitchell Grass Meats. If you’re in America, the US Wellness Meats online store even sells gift certificates.
If meat idea doesn’t rock your boat, how about a beautiful pot of fresh herbs or a collection of spices. Herbie’s Spices in Australia have lots of awesome spice kits to tickle anyone’s senses. Alternatively you can get individual paleo kits, coconut products, paleo chocolate, beef jerky, honey and coconut yogurt and wrap those as little gifts. Another option is to make your own paleo friendly chocolate, cookies, slices, pesto, granola and onion jam and use those as gifts.
For coffee and tea lovers, check out the mystery coffee delivery service from Dispatch by Decaf Sucks or pick up a gift certificate or a pack from T2 Tea or Tea Tonic. Cultured drinks and products are fantastic for our gut flora. You could pick up some fermented veggies from Kitsa’s Kitchen or make some Kombucha.
More lifestyle gift ideas
How about a hipster coffee print for your caffeine obsessed buddy or a new designer iphone cover for an animal lover.
Vouchers are always a good idea and you could get a gift card for Lululemon (chicks totally dig that), Red Balloon (for an adrenalin or experience junkie), your local spa or massage therapist (everyone needs a little me time) or you could donate money to a cause like helping out the farmers or small start-ups in Africa.
For fitness lovers, a home installed pull-up bar could be a go or you could order a set of kettle bells. For water babies, I would opt for something like a waterproof ipod shuffle or a set of snorkelling gear. For snow bunnies, you might get a new set of snowboarding gloves or some warm running gear. And then there are hiking boots, a skipping rope, a set of resistance bands,a yoga mat or perhaps a trial membership at a local crossfit gym. Or how about a new cool water bottle or tap water filter?
Books
There are so many great books that I think would make a great gift for anyone interested to learn more about paleo and primal lifestyle as well as cooking and food in general. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favourites and you can find more ideas in my Amazon store.
Eat Drink Paleo Cookbook by me (see the special offer below)
Optimum Health The Paleo Way by Claire Yates
The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet
Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle
Well Fed and Well Fed 2 by Melissa Joulwan
The Perfect Health Diet by Paul Jaminet Ph.D., and Shou-Ching Jaminet Ph.D
Beyond Bacon: Paleo Recipes that Respect the Whole Hog by Matthew McCarry & Stacy Toth
Against All Grain: Delectable Paleo Recipes to Eat Well & Feel Great by Danielle Walker
Sarah Wilson’s I Quit Sugar books are all great
Born to run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
Real Food Fermentation: Preserving Whole Fresh Food with Live Cultures in Your Home Kitchen
Whole Beast Butchery: The Complete Visual Guide to Beef, Lamb, and Pork
The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating
Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats
Full list on my Amazon store.
These are just some ideas to get you started. Of course, the gifts will depend on your budget, your location and seasonality but at the end of the day it’s the thought that counts. And perhaps this guide will become your own wish list like it has for me.
SPECIAL OFFERS for Eat Drink Paleo readers & their friends
Please check that you can get their products shipped to your area. Many of them ship internationally but some are only within Australia.
Eat Drink Paleo Cookbook 20% off
If you’re after my Eat Drink Paleo Cookbook, I am offering 20% off until December 1st (would be longer but I need time to ship from Germany). Use the voucher code below at the check out. International shipping.Voucher code: EDPXMASSPECIAL13
Limited edition Eat Drink Paleo custom designed apron
Selling my custom designed apron for only $15 (normally $25) plus $9 shipping worldwide. Get yours here, only a few left. International shipping.
Niulife coconut products 20% off
I was so happy Niulife guys could offer a special promotion for my readers because I absolutely love their products. From coconut oil and creamed coconut to coconut aminos, vinegar and nectar you will find plenty of great gift ideas. 20% off until 18th of December. Check out the range of their products here. Australia wide only. Voucher code: EATDRINKMERRYXMAS (we are having a tiny technical issue with the code at the moment but it should be fixed shortly)
OptimOZ.com.au 10% all order
OptimOZ.com.au guys are offering 10% off all orders (excludes electronics, 2.25kg bags of coffee & already heavily discounted kits). They sell Mark Sisson’s whey protein, Bulletproof upgraded coffee, MCT oil, vanilla, raw chocolate, Paleologix supplements and whole bunch of other cool things. Use this code at check out eatdrinkpaleoxmas to get your discount (after the shipping info screen). This offer expires December 15th, 2013.
Rachel’s Organics 15% off
Stock up your pantry with paleo wraps, kelp noodles, sweet potato pasta, gelatin, fish sauce, tapioca flour and much more from Rachel’s Organics online store. Voucher code: EDPXMAS
108 Nutrition 10% off
108 Nutrition guys specialise in 100% natural protein superfoods – powders, bars and mini bites for kids (nut free).
Hunted & Gathered Paleo products – FREE shipping on all orders over $99
Stock up on the most delicious paleo chocolate, grass fed beef jerky and soft bamboo socks for the whole family. Order with friends and get free shipping. Purchase here and check shipping.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links (such as Amazon), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. I recommend them because they are helpful, useful, tasty and often sought after products within the paleo/primal community, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals. I get no commission on special offers you see above (well, except for my own cookbook and aprons).