It's the most wonderful time of the year! And if you're anything like me you've already hit the ground running with holiday shopping, searching for the best deals on stocking stuffers and other special gifts for your friends and loved ones.
We've searched high and low to bring you some fantastic gluten-free holiday gift ideas, so if you're looking to pamper someone's kitchen, satisfy their sweet tooth, or spoil some kiddos with holiday cheer, we've got you covered! We've separated out our suggestions by category and have provided you with a few of our favorite options for each.
Magazine Subscriptions
Magazine subscriptions are the gift that keeps on giving, and there are some great options that cater to the celiac and gluten-free communities. Gluten-Free Living not only includes recipes, but lifestyle articles, news, health advice, and more. Living Without's Gluten Free & More is a bit more recipe heavy, and pays special attention to the fact that people who eat gluten-free often times need to avoid other allergens such as dairy and eggs. They provide handy guides and tips for cooking, as well as general medical advice and happenings on the gluten-free scene. Simply Gluten-Free is also a popular option that covers all the bases. They frequently have subscription discounts and also offer a free digital magazine with your purchase!
Kitchen Gear
For those recently diagnosed, they will need to replace various contaminated kitchen appliances like toasters, cutting boards and pizza stones. It's also a good idea to toss any non-stick cookware, which could be loaded with gluten residue. Replacing so many kitchen items can cost an arm and a leg, so anything in this category would surely be highly appreciated as a holiday gift! We love the Heritage ceramic pizza stone — just be sure to only use it with gluten-free dough as it is porous! Additionally, fancy kitchen appliances like rice cookers (our favorite), bread makers and mixers can make gluten-free home cooking and baking much easier (and tastier)! This bread maker from Zojirushi even has its own gluten-free bread setting.
Handy kitchen gadgets also make great stocking stuffers and can make cooking a bit easier and less stressful. I've recently fallen in love with the Vegetti vegetable noodle maker that creates pasta out of veggies like zucchini, carrots and squash, as well as these reusable toaster bags that keep your bread safe from pesky gluten crumbs!
T-Shirts & Mugs
For the gluten-free jokester of the family, pick up a cute mug or t-shirt. We love this "No Wheat & Barley & Rye & Gluten Free" shirt from Celiac and the Beast and MugMojo of Etsy has an adorable "Badass Gluten-Free Celiac Chick" Mug!
Gluten-Free Reading
There's no getting around it - cooking gluten-free meals often requires some extra attention in the kitchen. Luckily, there are plenty of fantastic gluten-free cookbooks available to help! Some of my personal favorites are the Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam of Elana's Pantry, Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, and Gluten Is My Bitch: Rants, Recipes and Ridiculousness for the Gluten-Free. Another great cookbook that is especially relevant during the holidays is The Everything Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Cookbook - this is one that I frequently turn to for easy one pot meals that can be thrown in the crockpot in the morning and will fill my home with delicious smells when I come home at the end of the day.
In addition to cookbooks, there are some great books out there for those looking to connect with the journeys of others who are living with celiac disease. Some great choices are Jennifer Esposito's Jennifer's Way: My Journey With Celiac Disease, What Doctors Don't Tell You and How You Can Live Again, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck's The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide.
Gift Baskets
Gift Baskets are a great way to let people try out a variety of gluten-free products and indulge in some tasty snacks. They are also a great way to send a basket of delicious, gluten-free baked goods without having to do any of the work!
Gluten Free Palace lets you choose which size gluten-free gift tower you'd like to purchase (choose between 1 pound, 2 pounds and supersize), which they fill with gluten-free biscotti, cookies, dried fruit, jellybeans and other goodies. My personal favorite is from Gourmet Gift Baskets, and includes ranch multigrain chips, sea salt & cracked pepper potato sticks and cranberry pomegranate nut clusters among many other treats! It is reasonably priced and is perfect for grabbing a late night snack.
Harry & David offer a variety of yummy gluten-free baked goods gift packages, including gluten-free holiday sugar cookies, gluten-free cupcake assortments, and gluten-free pies. Also Williams Sonoma sells really delicious gluten-free mixes (the cinnamon apple quickbread is my favorite!) that can be used to create your own gift basket which can be filled with some of your own baked goods, little kitchen gadgets or other goodies!
Something for the Kiddos
Getting diagnosed with celiac can be a new and confusing time for many kids, and the holidays provide a great opportunity to combine gift giving with products that will help ease this transition and even add a bit of fun! Some great holiday gifts for kids with celiac include Soy-Yer Gluten-Free Play-Doh and children's books like The Celiac Kid or Eat Like a Dinosaur.
Allermates has an entire line of products geared towards creating fun wearables and accessories that kids love and are also helpful and informative for adults. From wristbands to dog tags to lunch boxes to sticker labels, Allermates even makes a "I'm Gluten-Free" lunchbox!
Gluten-Free Beer
Have a friend or loved one who is still devastated about having to give up beer? Get them a gluten-free beer sampler! Spirited Gifts makes a gluten-free craft beer sampler pack (just make sure you indicate whether you want 100% gluten-free or would also appreciate gluten-sensitive beers). If you're gift hunting for someone who prefers cider, Woodchuck, Angry Orchard, and DownEast all offer gluten-free cider variety packs in cases of 12 that you can pick up at your local liquor store.
Hope we've given you some great ideas to help you along with your holiday shopping! What gifts are you thinking of getting your gluten-free loved ones this holiday season? We would love to hear your ideas as well!
From all of us at CeliAct, have a wonderful, safe, healthy, and gluten-free holiday season!
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