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Happy Holidays!
In my book, nothing beats a heartfelt card or a gift that includes special time with the people you love. The next best thing: practical, well-made items that promote healthy living! And I have you covered. I’ve also included a section with ideas for homemade gifts that can be done on a very low budget.
These are some of my favorite items that I use every day. I’ve received and given many of them as gifts and feel confident that you and your loved ones will enjoy them too!
I hope this collection gives you some inspiration and takes a bit of stress out of your holiday shopping. You may even get some ideas for your own wish list! 🙂
XO Jess
Gift Guide
Jump to a section!
Pantry Makeover + Thrive Market Membership
(virtual consultation & shipped to your door)
Tell me what you like to eat, whether you have dietary restrictions and who’s in your household, and I’ll help you revamp your pantry with delicious and healthy options – shipped directly to your door from Thrive Market.
Cost: $250. Includes:
- 15 minute pre-shopping consultation or the option to provide info via email (I’ll send you a form)
- Hand-selected shopping cart full of healthy snacks, kitchen staples and pantry items
- 30 minute phone consultation to review cart options
Kitchen Upgrades
This section is all about convenience and thoughtful design. Here are a few of my favorite kitchen upgrades that any home cook would appreciate:
- Double-sided bamboo cutting board – one has a slot for a phone or tablet (great for recipes…but I’ve also used it to Facetime while cooking!); the other has a channel, perfect for carving juicy meat.
- Silicone oven and BBQ mitts – Wirecutter by The New York Times called these “the best combination of good looks and good coverage” on the market. Hands down the best mitts I’ve used.
- Five Two Saucepan with built-in strainer, measuring lines, stay-cool handles and more. “The only saucepan you need” —Florence Fabricant, The New York Times.
- The Ultimate Apron – complete with built-in pot holders, a conversion chart cheat sheet and other thoughtful details.
Sustainable Household Solutions
All of these products reduce unnecessary household waste (single-use plastic in many cases) and also reduce exposure to unwanted toxins and chemicals:
- Silicone Lids – they sub in for saucepan lids, store leftovers, and keep dinner warm from oven to table.
- Wool Dryer Balls – for fluffier towels, softer sheets, and less-wrinkly shirts while also cutting down on drying time by 25% and avoiding the toxins in conventional dryer sheets.
- Compostable sponge cloths – I posted a whole video about how much I love these! So convenient, durable and much better than paper towels.
- Reusable silicone storage bags – cut single use plastic and keep chemicals from leaching into your leftovers.
Home Fitness
- Rumi natural yoga mat, made of natural rubber and cotton. 100% biodegradable and no chemical off-gassing. Also available in an extra thick 4.3mm option.
- Orbsoul Cork Massage Roller. No petroleum-based foams or harmful chemicals and a great practice for people of all ages.
- LEEKEY Resistance Bands made of natural latex.
- Foldable mini trampoline / rebounder. Easy to store, fun to use, and fantastic for the lymphatic system. Also available with a handle.
- Klean Kanteen TK Wide 32oz water bottle (w/twist cap) – I’ve tried dozens and this is my favorite water bottle.
Dry Farm Wines: Natural + Eco Friendly
Premium Teas + Plastic-Free Water Boiler
- Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle (beautiful design and no interior plastic).
- Rechargable Handheld Electric Milk Frother – I use one of these to blend protein powder into my morning coffee and for my matcha lattes.
- Pique Teas: pure, certified organic, bagless (convenient & microplastic-free) and screened for toxins like pesticides, mold and heavy metals. Highly potent to deliver maximum health benefits because of the cold-brew extraction process. Take a look at their special holiday set or you can create your own bundle. My personal favorites are the Sungoddess Matcha (tin or individual sachets), the Ginger Digestion Elixir, Mint tea, and Passion Fruit Green Tea. These links get you a 15% discount at checkout.
Clean Beauty
Every makeup-wearer appreciates fresh new products once in a while (and most of us tend to keep cosmetics longer than we should!). Better yet if it’s consciously made with clean ingredients. Here are a few of my favorites that are extremely versatile, regardless of complexion:
Cookware
High quality cookware is a game-changer. Staub’s enamel-coated cast iron pieces are my absolute favorite for many reasons. They cook beautifully, are a non-toxic and time-tested material, extremely durable, and don’t need to be seasoned like a typical (un-coated) cast iron. They are heirloom pieces that can last a lifetime. They’re made in France, very comparable to Le Creuset, but I prefer the black enamel inside over the white. Here are some of my favorites as well as the non-toxic ceramic nonstick that I use for eggs.
- Fry Pans – the most used pans in my kitchen – the 12″ is my go-to for one-pan-meals)
- Round Cocottes / French Ovens
- Ceramic Baking Dishes – beautiful enough to be serving pieces as well
- Cast Iron Grill Pans
- Five Two nonstick pan – diamond-infused ceramic coating (toxin-free: no PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, or cadmium)
Fermentation Kit
Prepare to board the fermentation bandwagon armed with this foolproof jar. It’s made from non-toxic, non-porous glass and includes a lid, two ceramic stones to keep your veggies submerged, and easy instructions to get you started. From sauerkraut to pickles to spicy kimchi (sky’s the limit, really) this jar lets you make your own probiotic goodness.
Instant Pot + Accessories
The Instant Pot remains one of my favorite pieces of kitchen gear. I also wanted to share a few accessories I really like:
- Instant Pot available in a 6-QT, or 8-QT
- Silicone lid – turns the metal pot into a storage container (make sure to pick the size that matches the pot)
- Silicone trivet / sling / lifter – unlike a metal trivet, this won’t be too hot to lift out a batch of eggs, artichokes, spaghetti squash etc. as soon as they’re done cooking
Homemade Gifts: Spice Blends or Infused Olive Oil
Create your own handcrafted gifts. Here are some recipes for infused oils and spice blends to check out:
- My Turmeric Latte Spice Blend (can be used on food as well!)
- Awesome Spice Blend
- Magic Spice Blend
- Chai Spice Blend
- Tuscan Infused Olive Oil
- Garlic Infused Oil
- Sicilian Infused Chili Olive Oil
Books: Wellness & Wholesome Cooking
These are some of my favorite books that cover wellness, nutrition, and wholesome, practical cooking.
- Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
- Eating on the Wild Side
- Ready or Not
- Deep Nutrition
- Genius Foods
- The Genius Life
- Ketotarian
- A New Way to Dinner (strategic, seasonal meal planning. Not necessarily “health” food, but delicious, wholesome and adaptable if you do have a specific eating plan)
Gifts for Kids
Movement & Outdoor Fun
- Skip training wheels and get your toddler or preschooler started on a balance bike. These have been great for our kids! The Retrospec Baby Beaumont Kids’ Balance Bike is as cute as it gets. For a sportier look: the ultra-light Croco balance bike.
- The Burley bike trailer and stroller is our favorite pieces of gear. We love family bike rides and use it as a double stroller / jogger with room for lots of gear in the trunk.
- All natural cork and rubber yoga mat for kids. No toxins or chemical off-gassing like mats made of PVC, PER, or TPE.
- Backpack Explorer Book and a set of binoculars.
- Mini trampoline with handle – a great way to get out some energy and lots of health benefits!
Little Chefs & Eaters
Play
- Milton & Goose Essential Wooden Play Kitchen – handcrafted by second-generation toymakers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, using sustainably sourced Baltic birch and North American maple wood.
- Brain Blox Wooden Building Blocks (100 Pieces) – all natural and chemical free, made of New Zealand pine.
- Piece Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks (24 piece set)
- 75 Piece Wooden Castle Building Blocks made of natural pine wood.
- Piggy Paint – truly non-toxic, low-odor nail polish (the only brand I’ll let my daughter use)
Books & Mindfulness for Kids
- Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere
- Buddies in my Belly – a story about probiotics
- New Alphabet for Humanity: words to inspire compassion, kindness and positivity
- Bedtime Meditations for Kids: Quick, Calming Exercises to Help Kids Get to Sleep
- WeeSprout Organic Cotton Weighted Blanket for kids with duvet cover.
