Tis’ the season for gift giving, how about saving some money with edible gifts from the kitchen?
The holidays can be a tumultuous time with all of the traveling, shopping, baking, and festive gatherings. There is nothing like a little something from home to calm the chaos. Homemade gifts are a great way to show others you care, but often do require some extra time. The gift ideas and recipes below are easy on the pocket book, waist line and can be tailored to the recipient.
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Toss together the following ingredients and portion into several small spice jars. Wrap them up with a lovely holiday mug and candy canes or cinnamon sticks as stirrers. This sugar-free chocolate treat is sure to be a hit!
- 3 Cup Non-fat dry milk powder
- 1 Cup Granulated Sucralose (Splenda®)
- ½ Cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 small package fat-free, sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
100% Whole Wheat Quick Bread Mix
There is not much that can beat homemade bread! This quick bread mix is a great substitute for cookies in a jar. Layer the following ingredients in a mason jar and include a tag requesting the edition of 1 cup of milk before being baked at 450°F for 20 minutes. Toss the jar, a prepared loaf and perhaps a jar of natural nut butter and jam in a basket for an old fashioned PB&J.
- 1 Cup Oats
- 1 Cup Whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Whole Grain Pancake Mix
A quick and healthy breakfast is the best way to start the day. Share this delicious pancake mix with those you love, which has more than 3 grams of fiber per serving. Find a clear jar and layer the following ingredients. Place the jar in a basket with 100% Maple syrup and perhaps a few cookie cutters for fluffy pancakes in seasonal shapes. Be sure to remind the recipient to stir the jar’s contents with ½ cup of milk, buttermilk, or kefir and 1 egg.
- 2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 Cup White flour
- 2 Cup Oats
- 1 ½ Tablespoon Sugar
- 1 ½ Tablespoon Baking Powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
Homemade Fruit and Nut Granola
Most store-bought granolas are high in both fat and sugar. You can help your loved ones to stay fit through the holiday season with this blend of rolled oats, dried fruit and heart healthy nuts. Lighten up the recipe by using a sugar-substitute such as sucralose, or Splenda® Brown Sugar. This recipe can be made a head or jarred with directions to combine ingredients and lay flat on a baking sheet. Bake mixture for 15-20 minutes at 325F. Be sure to stir mixture every 5 minutes when baking. This nutritious cereal will look beautiful next to two cute cereal bowls:
- 2 Cup Rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 3 Tablespoon Canola oil
- ¼ Cup Honey or Maple Syrup
- 2 Tablespoon Splenda® Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2/3 Cup Nuts of your Choice
- 2/3 Cup Dried Fruit of your Choice
Other ideas for family-friendly gift baskets include:
- Pasta is for dinner with 1-2 boxes of whole grain pasta, a jar of tomato sauce, a zucchini, an eggplant, and fresh basil
- It’s a Movie Night with Popcorn kernels, salt-free seasoning blends, and the latest DVD
- Make it a Poker night with delicious snacks, including lightly salted nuts, chocolate dusted almonds, dried fruit, a deck of cards, and your sugar-free beverage of choice
- Don’t miss Tea-Time! Provide a mug or two with a variety of herbal teas and perhaps some homemade tea cookies.
Get creative this holiday season! Give gifts that can be made in your very own kitchen and help you and yours to watch your wallet and waistlines this holiday season!
For a limited time, view my interview regarding Healthy, Homemade Gifts on NBC-15.
Written by Cassie Vanderwall, MS RD CDE CD CPT
