Thoughtful Food Gifts for Thoughtful Eaters

Reel in a gift fit for royalty with wild caught king salmon. Also known as Chinook, these king salmon fillets — besides being good for you, with all the omega-3s and other nutrients — are MSC-certified sustainable seafood. What does that mean? Well, the Marine Stewardship Council protects the oceans and ensures that wild seafood is available for consumption. This salmon is just that.

Do you have a friend who’s always talking about their latest hiking adventure? “Oh, man, I have to take you on this awesome trail,” they constantly say. Whether you take them up on their offer or not, let them take new trail mixes from Vital Choice. They’re vegan, organic, and gluten-free; no added salt, artificial ingredients, or hydrogenated oils; and they’re sustainably sourced. The nutty by nature collections is a good source of protein, and its heart-healthy fats help lower bad cholesterol. Which is good. 

For the true adventurers, there’s an even greater option.

Dark chocolate is shown to have certain antioxidants that may help lower cholesterol and improve blood flow, which protects against heart disease. Let Vital Choice’s line of dark chocolate bars help you potentially live longer! 

Satisfy their deepest cravings with a guilt-free treat studded with crystallized ginger, dried blueberries, or Himalayan sea salt. Made with direct-trade cacao beans from small organic plantations in South America, these dark chocolate bars are produced in small batches without alkali, dairy, soy, gluten, or emulsifiers. Let them indulge in chocolate they can feel good about.

Give the gift that keeps on giving...vitamins and nutrients! Send a cornucopia of smart and sweet flavors from the legendary Harry & David Fruit-of-the-Month Club collections. The array of fruit in the myriad clubs include a taste of juicy Florida citrus, pears from Oregon, and exotic and sweet fruits picked from soil-rich fields all over the globe, from Chile to New Zealand. There's also an organic option that is carefully harvested and packed in accordance with the USDA National Organic Program.

You’ll rake in a bountiful harvest of appreciation when you send a box of seasonal vegetables. Stemming from the aforementioned Fruit-of-the-Month Club, the Veggie-of-the-Month Club ships produce like Chinese eggplants in April to tomatoes in August to candy cane beets in December. A gift like this plants the seed for the recipient to cook and incorporate new ingredients and flavors into healthy dishes.

Know someone who loves the booze but not the buzz? They’re not alone: Non-alcoholic imbibing has grown exponentially, according to a Nielsen survey. Splash some cash on the gift of excessive drinking without the annoying threat of a hangover with Mocktails Uniquely Crafted Sampler Pack. These alcohol-free yet colorful and creative concoctions allow your loved ones to take part in the social aspects of drinking without any of the drawbacks. Plus, if they're watching their weight, these are typically lower in calories than alcoholic drinks. They’re the best gift you can give — bar none!

A plant-based diet is nothing new. What do you think cavemen were gathering in between hunting? Renegade Foods, a renowned California-based artisanal vegan food producer, is taking plants to a whole new level, artfully creating mouthwatering, plant-based charcuterie like soppressata, salami, and chorizo that look and taste as good or better than the real thing. Combined with premium herb-infused vegan cheese and traditional mini toasts, the texture-defying Deluxe Vegan Charcuterie Meat and Cheese Assortment will delight vegans and meat eaters alike with its deceptively authentic deliciousness — without the cholesterol.

Are they deserving of a treat but don’t want the baggage they bring to their body? A Sugar Free Cookie Sampler is a sweet solution to their calorie challenges. They’ll savor every bite of an assortment of six different cookies: chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, lemon, buttercream frosted, triple chocolate, and cinnamon oatmeal treats. And they’ll enjoy these even more with the knowledge they’re as sinfully sensible as they are delicious.