Top Gifts for Your Clean Eater
How can you tell when someone's a clean eater? Don't worry... they'll tell you.
Looking for the perfect gift for someone who eats clean or follows a "special diet"? You know those gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, low-carb, caveman, paleo, zone, vegetarian, vegan, people? Who wants to eat "normal" anyway? You'll get type 2 diabetes! If you're looking for a great gift for someone who likes to cook or eat clean I would suggest some of the things on my own list this year which include a Chop Magic and a J.K. Adams 48-Carousel Spice Rack, but those things aren't funny, so I can't write about them. You are welcome to mail them to me though. Any of the items below are sure to actually be used (unlike decorative soap) and will make you look super knowledgable about eating clean... even if you think Lean Cuisines are healthy (cough cough Aunt Betty!)
For the record, I don't have an Aunt Betty, but she sounds like someone who eats Lean Cuisines, so I threw her in there to make an example out of her.
Can’t keep your hands out of the cookie jar? No worries! These gems are “created to help the Paleo Inspired foodie Satisfy their Caveman Cravings.” It's like they know me. All of their kookies are hand crafted and made with the finest natural ingredients. The perfect guilt free treat!
2. Trader Joes Almond Butter
This stuff just flies off the shelves. My coworker Ryan asked me at least 10 times if this was going to make the list. When I finally said yes he started doing THIS right on the office floor. Based on the amount of fan mail I'm guessing TJ's gets from Ryan alone, Almond Butter has got to be their hottest item, like ever. I have noticed they have recently amped up their stock and variety – chunky, creamy, salted, unsalted. And they moved the supply down a couple shelves. They must have seen me struggling on camera. Grab some at your local Trader Joes store!
3. Quest Bars
These boys are gluten-free, low carb, high protein and contain a good balance of macros, but enough about that! The important thing is they come in a plethora of delicious flavors like Cookie Dough, Banana Nut Muffin, and White Chocolate Raspberry to name a few… that I’ve ate... already today.
If the zombie apocalypse strikes you’re going to need “real food, right now.” You could live off of Fuel Packs and be totally content because they are convenient and totally good for you to boot. Each pouch contains 10 grams of protein, real fruit, and nothing funky what-so-ever. Gluten-free, Paleo and Zone friendly, Kosher and contain no added sugar. I’m still waiting for these to pop up in a stockpile on an episode of Doomsday Preppers. Maybe the preppers don’t want to let the rest of the world in on their secret... Fuel Packs have a shelf life of a year for guilt-free hoarding.
5. Whole Foods Plantain Chips
It’s probably not the best idea to eat all of these in one whole sitting, but you could. And you would feel a lot better than if you ate an entire bag of potato chips in one sitting. I like em’ plain, with guac, or crushed over baked chicken (I actually just made that last one up, but it sounds like a crazy good idea, right?) Grab some at your local Whole Foods store!
6. Steve’s Paleo Dressings, Sauces & Marinades
NO high fructose corn syrup is not a vegetable! That’s why I use Steve’s PaleoChef dressings, sauces & marinades. OK I have to admit I’ve only tried the Maple Mustard but it goes good on EVERYTHING. I was so impressed with it that I ordered several more flavors which should be arriving any day now to bathe in my CrockPot!
7. Clean Cook Books
Top three in no order “Primal Cravings: Your Favorite Foods Made Paleo” By Brandon and Megan Keatley of Health-Bent.“Omg. That's Paleo?” By Juli Bauer of PaleOMG and “Everyday Paleo” By Sarah Fragoso of Everyday Paleo. You can't go wrong with any of these cook books. And you don't want to go wrong, do you?
8. Wheat Flour Substitute
Honeyville’s Blanched Almond Flour is the best gluten-free, low-carb, paleo substitute for wheat flour I’ve found. Great taste and texture. Bonus- there’s a delicious recipe on the back of the bag for cookies that has made some people I know at CrossFit New England famous. Go ahead and pretend you came up with it yourself, too. Everyone's doing it. NOTE:Some people prefer Coconut Flour (especially people with nut allergies) in this case check out Bob's Red Mill Coconut Flour.
9. Vosges Mo’s Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar
Ok you caught me. This isn’t “clean.” But it has bacon in it. Bacon > everything. This bar made the list because its freakin’ delicious and your clean-eating-friend definitely indulges when they think no one’s looking. If you’re gonna’ cheat this is the way to go. Just slip one in their stocking so no one has to know. If no one saw it, it didn't happen. #wordstoliveby
Can’t... type... fingers… covered… in… coconut butter… these flavored coconut butters are gluten and dairy free and made with organic coconut. Guilt-free fun for your fruit, gluten free bread, rice cakes or my personal favorite, your spoon!
11. LÄRABAR
Delicious real food bars made of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices. All are gluten-free, low-carb and kosher. Many are paleo, low glycemic, soy-free, vegan/vegetarian. My favorite is Blueberry Muffin… it tastes like blueberries and cake made a love child. A healthy love child.
12. Brad’s Raw Leafy Kale and Raw Chips
Gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, vegan veggie snacks. They’re cute too. My top picks are the Nacho Vegan Cheese kale (dairy free) and Indian raw chips. Just don't breathe on anyone after.
Jerky without the junky. Their Daisy’s Primal Smoke Beef Jerky contains no sugar, soy, or preservatives. When I googled an image for this the caption said "Hot Chicks Eatin' Spicy Chips." #winning
14. Paleonola
Cereal used to be my favorite but since I can’t have it without an upset stomach I sub it with this gluten-free granola. Sayonara tummy ache! The Apple Pie flavor with milk of choice… it’s as if heaven is swimming in your bowl. Also goes great on top of home baked gluten-free or paleo muffins, or yogurt, if you're into yogurt.
15. Six Pack Bags
Lunch boxes for the serious clean eater. You can carry several meals, sports nutrition products, shakers, supplements, AND MORE in these things. It's like Bed, Bath and Beyond, I don't know if we'll have enough time. They are the monster trucks of lunch boxes (even the pink ones.) These lunch boxes will make your clean eater look super intense and scare away ANYONE trying to steal their lunch, even THESE GUYS!