My favourite gift ideas are those that are handmade, homemade, artisanal, food gifts and experiential in nature keeping the environment at the forefront! If you’re still looking for a gift (that won’t clog the landfill) here are a few ideas:
1) Give the gift of fitness: Know someone who could get into better shape or get healthier for the new year? Sign a beginner up for a 5km race, belly dancing class, bootcamp or beginner’s skiing lessons. The idea of having a goal to work at a few months down the road is always helpful for motivating someone to get into better shape–and they may realize they’ve discovered a brand new hobby as well! I discovered trail running which helped both my physical and mental well-being–fitness is life-changing and life-saving! Try The Running Room running or walking clinic gift certificates.
2) Give the gift of experience: Whether it’s cultural, food-related or topic-specific, any activity that will make for a memorable day will be welcomed especially for someone who is busy and could use a day to let their mind wander in another direction. An OCAD painting class, a Henry’s photography course or A Taste Of The World’s Neighbourhood Bicycle and Walking Tours or Afternoon Tea at The Windsor Arms Hotel. Arvinda’s offers a cultural and food Little India Walking Tour ($65) that is perfect for any Indian food lover–we say it’s like traveling to India in your own backyard!
3) Give the gift of food – pantry raid!: Trying to encourage someone to do more cooking at home for better health? A pantry basics boost may be all that they need to help motivate delicious home-cooked meals which is healthier than eating out and cost-effective on the budget. A good olive oil, a nice balsamic vinegar, high quality dried herbs and spices, different flours, lentils, beans and hard to find ingredients like kafir lime leaves or organic coconut milk. For the Indian food lover pantry items may include:
Spices – mustard seeds, cumin seeds, green cardamom pods, whole cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, star anise, ajwain seeds, whole cloves, Arvinda’s Curry Leaves, whole kashmiri chilies, asafoetida, a premium quality pure saffron. I can’t forget turmeric powder!
Flours – chick pea flour, whole wheat chappati flour, sorgham flour, duram flour.
Lentils & Beans – dried chick peas, moong beans, red lentils (masoor), kidney beans, black-eyed beans, moong dal, channa dal.
Oils – coconut oil, peanut oil. I recommend making clarified butter (ghee) from scratch at home.
Misc. – Tamarind pulp or concentrate, coconut milk.
Basic Masalas – good quality Garam Masala, Tandoori, Madras and Curry Masalas.
4) Give the gift of cooking: Those who love to cook (and eat!) could value a cooking class experience that can revolutionize meal-times, expanding one’s repertoire of dishes – it’s a gift that keeps giving throughout the year! For the newly turned vegetarians (or meat-lovers alike!), try cookbook author Nettie Cronish’s amazing vegetarian cooking classes–you’ll walk away with a wealth of knowledge for healthier eating. For Indian food lovers, Arvinda’s has a line-up of regional, home-style Indian cooking classes that offers both a breathe of Indian culinary knowledge and technique mixed in with Indian culture – a memorable, heavenly scented experience!
5) Give the gift of charity – Nothing feels better than helping others in need. I’m a fan of WWF Wildlife Adoption gifts or make a donation in someone else’s name to a favourite charity. Instead of an expensive dinner out, make a date to volunteer at the food bank or charity event.
I would never spend crazy amounts of money on a chimney big enough for Santa to get through…instead that money could go to charity!
In the end, it’s not about gifts themselves but the genuine expression of caring, warmth, love and gratitude!
Any other ‘feel-good’ last-minute gift ideas to share?
A teaspoon of: Sam Roberts Band. Listening to: Stripmall Religion.
I appreciated the gift ideas and the health ideas. I try to eat mostly vegetables and fruits and grains, although it’s not always easy, especially when traveling. I finally got to an Indian restaurant last year. I liked it a lot!
You’re welcome! Indian cuisine has a lot of variation throughout the subcontinent, so you’ll find that as you try it more and more, you can grow accustom to certain dishes…happy Indian eating and cooking!
Thanks!
Great minds think alike! I picked up a Henry’s gift card and Arvinda’s Madras Masala for my Dad for Christmas.
Thanks for your continued support Dani, much appreciated! Merry Christmas!
Hey Preena, I love your blog and your recipes- especially how you use Indian spices to flavour cakes, cookies and beverages! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Please do check the link here
Now I’m going to head to the kitchen to test out the coconut chai hot cocoa for my Christmas dinner! Happy Holidays 🙂
Thank you Meenakshi for passing on the Versatile Blogger Award onto A Teaspoon Of Turmeric! Much appreciated and happy Christmas!