By Marley Archibald
Over the course of winter, it is so easy to start feeling… bleh. The weather can be dreary, time spent outside is limited, and the food– while delicious– oftentimes leaves you feeling sluggish and weighed down. If you’re stumped trying to think of more intentional, nourishing gifts for your loved ones, look no further; We here at The Elderberry Co think that there is nothing like the gift of good health, so we have compiled this list of health-conscious gifts. After all, what better time to put your best foot forward and start taking care of your body inside and out than when you are stuck inside with not much else to do?
1. Elderberry Syrup
Starting off with our best-selling, small-batch Elderberry Syrup, winter is the perfect time of year to start giving your immune system some extra support. Our Elderberry Syrup is made fresh right in our kitchen almost daily– talk about handcrafted! It contains only organic ingredients, and uses elderberries and aronia berries to provide maximum antioxidant benefit. If you know anyone who is a natural medicine aficionado, or just dipping their toe into natural remedies, this gift is perfect!
2. Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Just because your loved ones are trying to be healthy doesn’t mean they can’t still enjoy this classic Christmastime treat! However, this October Consumer Reports published that 4 out of the 6 grocery store hot chocolate mixes tested contained concerning levels of lead. Yikes! As a healthier alternative to the store-bought versions, this is the perfect opportunity to provide a gift that is not just healthy but also homemade. Hot chocolate mix is extremely easy to throw together– just combine the ingredients, pour into a jar, and decorate into a lovely, thoughtful gift!
3. Tallow Balm
It goes without saying that our skin needs some extra TLC throughout the colder months. Finding a clean moisturizer free from phthalates, dyes, and parabens can present a challenge, though. Enter Tallow Balm. You may be thinking, “what even is tallow?” Tallow is a purified form of fat sourced from cows. It may sound scary, but hear us out– due to the lipid structure of tallow, it is particularly bioavailable. This means that our skin soaks all of the good stuff right up, including vitamins A, B12, D, E, and K. These vitamins help to reduce inflammation, boost collagen production, repair damaged tissues, and are generally rich in antioxidants. Talk about a powerhouse!
4. Nutrient Dense Cookbooks
If your loved one is a chef at heart, a cookbook is a great option for a gift. Even if they like to bend the recipe a bit, cookbooks are a source for infinite inspiration! Plus, the options are endless. For the vegan/vegetarian in your life, you can find a plant-based cookbook; for the family, you can find a large-batch cookbook. Hopefully, they will even use the cookbook to cook a meal for you, wink wink!
5. Beeswax Wraps
After whipping up some delicious, nutritious food using the cookbook, next they can store the leftovers using beeswax wraps! Beeswax wraps are a wonderful sustainable alternative to plastic wrap and plastic bags. Ate half an apple? Beeswax wrap. Taking a sandwich to work for lunch? Beeswax wrap. The fact that they can be used again and again means less money spent compared to single-use plastics.
6. Organic Percale Sheet Set
The average person spends a whopping ⅓ of their life asleep in bed. That is why organic bedding, free from the chemicals and detergents often found in conventional bedding, is the perfect gift that somebody may consider too much of a luxury to purchase for themselves otherwise.
7. Melatonin-Free Sleep Well Gummies
The holidays can be a stressful time. We typically find ourselves going to various holiday events all over the map, cooking large meals, and spending more money than we would in an average month. In times of stress, unfortunately our sleep takes a hit. So, gift your loved one with some restful sleep. Our Sleep Well Gummies are free from melatonin so that the body’s natural hormone production is unaffected; plus, there is no lingering groggy feeling the next day! Pair these gummies with the organic bedding and a lavender heating pad for a relaxing combo sure to please.
What are some of your go-to gifts for the health-conscious person in your life? Let us know in the comments!