Season’s Greetings to you all! This year, I’ve compiled a Holiday Gift Guide of my favorite books, charities, and products that are perfect for gift-giving this Holiday Season. I’m also offering an amazing GIVEAWAY of a $50 Whole Foods gift card! For more information, keep reading!
Also, this post contains affiliate links!
Homemade Gifts
1 // Chai Spiced Almond Butter | Well and Full
2 // Vanilla Cashew Butter | Well and Full
3 // Gingerbread Walnut Butter | Well and Full
4 // Spiced Vegan Christmas Cookies | Well and Full
5 // Gingerbread Advent Cookies | Wallflower Kitchen
6 // Chocolate Date Caramels | Heartbeet Kitchen
7 // Coconut Macadamia Biscotti | Faring Well
8 // Salted Maple Walnut Chocolate Cups | The First Mess
9 // Vegan Thumbprint Cookies | With Food and Love
10 // Coconut Sugar Pecans | Will Frolic For Food
The Best Cookbooks
Who it’s good for: The gourmet wellness lover in your life. This cookbook perfectly merges the two lifestyles in gorgeously photographed recipes – such as Chaga Hot Chocolate, or Tie-Dye Soup.
2 // The Flavor Bible
Who it’s good for: The ultimate foodie in your life. This book gives flavor pairings for nearly every ingredient imaginable.
3 // This Rawsome Vegan Cookbook
Who it’s good for: Anyone in your life looking for simple, delicious, and easy vegan meals.
4 // Plenty More
Who it’s good for: The person in your life who thinks that vegetables aren’t fancy enough. They’ll be proven wrong, because Yotam Ottolenghi has a way of making vegetables elegant, elevated, and above all – delicious.
5 // Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Who it’s good for: The Francophile in your life.
6 // Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids
Who it’s good for: The kiddos in your life who love animals! This cookbook has beautifully designed vegan recipes that are accessible to kids.
Who it’s good for: Anyone who would appreciate (arguably) the most popular vegan cookbook, ever.
Who it’s good for: Anyone who always has something in their fridge but no ideas about what to cook with it.
9 // Whole Bowls
Who it’s good for: The Vegetarian Bowl Enthusiast in your life.
10 // Deliciously Ella Everyday
Who it’s good for: The plant-based eater in your life who loves using whole food ingredients.
11 // Green Kitchen Smoothies
Who it’s good for: The smoothie fiend in your life. Plus anyone who would like colorful, vibrant photography.
12 // Thrive Energy Cookbook
Who it’s good for: The athlete in your life.
13 // Food 52 Vegan
Who it’s good for: The vegan who is looking for approachable dishes that will please even the most ardent of carnivores.
14 // Simple Recipes for Joy
Who it’s good for: The yoga enthusiast in your life. This cookbook was written by the owner of the super-popular Jivamukti Yoga in New York, New York.
15 // Near and Far
Who it’s good for: The world traveler in your life.
16 // The Chakra Kitchen
Who it’s good for: The holistic wellness guru in your life.
17 // The Engine 2 Diet
Who it’s good for: Your dad. Well, more specifically, my dad, who is at risk for high cholesterol but thinks veganism is for rabbits.
18 // Raw: Recipes for a Modern Vegetarian Lifestyle
This is a new cookbook purchase of mine, but I had to include it on this list. The recipes are organized by mealtime with sections of seasonal recipes, and are so beautifully photographed. Written by an Icelandic author, this cookbook is studded with stunning photos of the Icelandic countryside. It’s really a beautiful book, I highly recommend it.
Kitchen Essentials
1 // Kyocera Ceramic Vegetable Cleaver
This is literally the best knife you will ever have in your kitchen. It’s so sharp – it can cut through a sweet potato like it’s butter. I will never work without this knife ever again. I HIGHLY recommend this for anyone who cooks.
2 // Cuisinart 8-Cup Food Processor
Having a good food processor is life-changing. I was using a $30, 3-cup food processor I got from my local grocery store for almost two years, and upgrading changed EVERYTHING. You’ll be able to make falafels, nut butters, pestos, and banana ice cream as much as your heart desires. It will be amazing, I promise.
3 // Paderno Vegetable Spiralizer
There are many spiralizers on the market, but Paderno’s model is the best. I use it for many of my recipes here (like my spicy root vegetable noodle bowl or vegan pho), and highly recommend it for any kitchen.
4 // Vitamix
I’m including the Vitamix on my Gift Guide because I would love to have one in my kitchen one day. And I know that any cook would love to have it too!
Gifts for the Foodie
1 // Raw Spice Bar
This subscription service sends curated spice blends to your door for only $8 a month (what?!) – like shichimi togarashi and and peppercorn chai. Highly recommended for anyone who likes to experiment in the kitchen.
2 // For The Chef
I’ve worked with For The Chef before, and highly recommend their kitchen products. It’s not as ritzy as, say, Williams Sonoma, but they have great products at fantastic prices. My picks include this cast-iron skillet, this Dutch Oven, and these wine glasses.
Gifts for the Wellness Enthusiast
1 // Moon Juice
What I love about Moon Juice is that their products encourage you to become the authority on your own wellness. Their herbal blends (or “dusts”, rather) enable you to choose what sort of supplementation you take based on your personal needs. Plus, you can earn 20% off your first order if you use this link here!
2 // Blue Majik
Despite the funky sounding name, this all-natural supplement is one I use in my own kitchen. It’s an extract of spirulina, a nutrient-dense algae, that is full of antioxidants, complete protein, B-Vitamins, and minerals. Plus, it turns your mylks / smoothies / banana ice cream a vivid blue color (that’s 100% natural!).
3 // Sakara Life
Sakara Life is a plant-based food subscription service that is designed to make you feel amazing. But what I love most about Sakara is their online shop of goodies, like these superfood salad dressings and this plant protein granola.
Giving Back
1 // Pack Leaders Rescue of Connecticut
This is an organization that is very near and dear to my heart. I rescued my dog, Ivy, from Pack Leaders Rescue in September 2013. Rescuing an abused, malnourished animal completely changed my life. Ivy has brought so much joy and happiness to me, and asks for nothing in return. If you’re in the Connecticut area and are looking to adopt a dog, look no further than Pack Leaders Rescue. They also accept donations, no matter how big or small.
2 // American Humane Association
Right now, the AHA has a Holiday Matching Gift Challenge going on, where every dollar you donate will be matched one for one. This is the time to give!! Plus, they are one of the top rated animal rights charities on Charity Watch.
3 // The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides a 24-hour suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, for free. Especially in today’s uncertain political climate, organizations like this one are more important than ever. Please share The Trevor Project on Facebook, Twitter, wherever, to spread awareness for this cause – you never know who you could help.
4 // Rainforest Alliance
2,000 trees per minute are cut down in the Amazonian Rainforest – a truly unsustainable rate. The Rainforest Alliance is a top-rated charity on Charity Watch (allocating the majority of the money they receive to the actual cause) and are very worthy of your consideration.
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