Here is a curated list of awesome and (mostly) non-toxic gifts for the people in your life who love food! From my favorite non-toxic kitchen gear to must-have cookbooks to delicious eats, you're sure to find a gift or few in the list below!
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Non-Toxic Gift Ideas for Foodies!
Welcome to the Nourish & Cherish Non-Toxic Gift Ideas for Foodies! These are all items I've researched, LOVE and use currently in my own kitchen. I have a son with Down syndrome so choosing non-toxic/low-toxic items for our kitchen is a big priority. I also LOVE cooking and eating so these are all items any foodie will appreciate!
Browse the list and start shopping!
Non-Toxic Kitchen Items for Foodies
This is likely the most-used kitchen item we own. We use it at least once per day to make smoothies, electrolyte drinks, salsas and more. Yes, it has plastic, but we don't let the food sit in there long. It's SUPER EASY TO CLEAN! They now have a stainless steel container which I have not seen nor used, but it would make another excellent non-toxic gift. Vitamix makes some other great blenders, but for our needs the 750 professional blender has been going 8 years strong with tons of use and phenomenal performance. You can grab one here!
Who doesn't love a good set of sharp knives?! These knives are loved by professional and home chefs alike. I love my Zwilling knives more than any others-- even more expensive knives! These feel great in the hand-- not too heavy nor too light-- and get the job done fast. A fabulous gift for foodies and home cooks.
Looking for the perfect non-toxic foodie gift? This is it! This non-toxic, cast iron baking sheet doubles as a non-toxic pizza pan! It can also be used as stovetop griddle. From pancakes to bacon to quesadillas to cookies to baked meatballs to pizza, this pan has you covered! This 14" high-end cast iron baking sheet does it all. Lodge makes some of my favorite modern non-toxic cookware. This classic pan makes the terrific gift for any home cook. If you are concerned about the soy-based seasoning, wash with soap and re-season with oil of your choice. Get this simple, but awesome gift here!
The Instant Pot makes a GREAT gift for someone who hasn't jumped on the IP wagon yet! I wish I had purchased one sooner. From nutrient-dense stocks/broths, soups, stews, beans, oatmeal, yogurt, fast mashed potatoes-- this pressure cooker is a MUST-HAVE. Not only is it easy to use and a cinch to clean, but it keeps food more nutritious and flavorful by retaining the nutrients under-pressure (no evaporation). There are millions of Instant Pot recipes out there to get novice and experienced cooks inspired. Check it out and get yourself, or your loved one, an Instant Pot NOW!!!
Here is the heirloom garlic press of your dreams! Tamara Rubin, Lead Safe Mama, says most garlic presses she tests contain lead and cadmium (as do the rubber handles). I searched high and low for a 100% stainless-steel garlic press that could also mash ginger. Wow! This high-end, heavy-duty garlic press made in Germany does not disappoint. It gets the job done without wasting a drop of garlic or ginger juice-- the good stuff! This heirloom-quality press makes a great gift. You'll never need another garlic press. Easy to clean. Gift a Rösle Garlic & Ginger Press here!
I absolutely LOVE this toxin-free measuring cup that doubles as a an old fashioned citrus juicer! It works like a dream (no more wasting precious juice-- ahem, hand-held citrus squeezers). When I learned about lead and cadmium paint on vintage AND modern glass measuring cups, I was appalled, and quite frankly in denial. Tamara Rubin, Lead Safe Mama, has several posts about it, but I purchased some 3M Lead Check Swabs to see for myself. Unfortunately, they all turned red (red means lead is present) immediately. These were Pyrex® (red and blue paint) and Anchor Hocking® (black paint) glass measuring cups from the early 2000s. While the paint is on the outside of the measuring cup and not in contact with food, it can leach into dish water or dishwashers over time which can contaminate other kitchen items and food (as evidenced by fading on ours). Since lead is a neurotoxin and cadmium is a carcinogen, I decided to make a swap for this unpainted clear glass 2-cup measuring cup which doubles as an old-fashioned citrus juicer. Grab this gorgeous, non-toxic measuring cup here!
Cuisinart Mini Food Processor (4 Cups)
This is not exactly a non-toxic kitchen item (plastic bowl and die cast aluminum base), but this mini food chopper is AWESOME! It makes a fabulous gift so I decided to add it to this list. I've owned several cute little food processors and they all wear out. This one is can handle hard-core chopping, mincing and grinding; and it lasts for years. I use it for mincing aromatics (garlic and ginger), making quick salad dressings, whipping up sauces, pestos, nut butters, you name it! Great for smaller jobs that won't work in the blender.Again, I have tried several different mini food choppers and they are all wear out with heavy use. I HIGHLY recommend this handy food chopper!
Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Insulated Bottle
A great gift for coffee, tea and broth lovers. According to Lead Safe Mama, Tamara Rubin, these are some of the only insulated, stainless steel water bottles on the market that do not test for any lead in the product. Yikes! I have had this particular bottle for several years and can attest to it's integrity and keeping beverages piping hot for hours. Grab one here for the hot coffee or tea lover in your life!
Must-Have Cookbooks for Foodies
THE BEST dessert book for bakers looking for mouth-watering, gluten-free dessert recipes that actually taste BETTER than their gluten-based counterparts. Seriously. Alanna Taylor-Tobin of the food blog, The Bojon Gourmet, is a self-proclaimed "recovering pastry chef" and one the best food bloggers (in my opinion) out there. A talented photographer, masterful chef, precise recipe writer and a true foodie. She meticulously tests recipes and writes flawless, easy to follow instructions so you feel like a rockstar. I am NOT a baker, but I can easily follow her recipes and impress my guests. Blackberry Buckwheat Crisps, Banana Butterscotch Pudding with Mesquite Gingersnaps, Cherry Chestnut Chocolate Chip Cookies, Bergamot & Meyer Lemon Bars anyone??? Grab the Alternative Baker Cookbook here!
If you or someone you know wants to elevate your Mexican cooking to the next level, Diana Kennedy's recipe books are a MUST HAVE! Her cookbooks are like no other! Through her painstaking, culinary anthropological research, she has preserved regional Mexican recipes, cultural traditions and stories that may otherwise have been lost. Besides deeply authentic, outrageously delicious recipes, it's a delight to read of her travels and adventures across Mexico. Here are a few of her books-- any one of these will make a stellar gift for the foodie in your life:
This classic book by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig makes a fabulous gift for anyone who wants to get back to traditional, ancestral cooking for their health and family. We're talking deeply nourishing foods like meat, fish, butter, raw milk, bone broths, whole grains and fermented foods. Based on the anthropological work of Weston A. Price, this recipe book doubles as an encyclopedia of knowledge on ancient Nourishing Traditions that have contributed to good health, strong bones and teeth, fertility and longevity for generations. The recipes are simple, adaptable and give you an understanding on how to properly prepare foods for maximum nutrition. Perfect for the nutrition-oriented foodie in your life, parents grappling with special diets for kids and anyone who loves traditional cooking! Grab your copy here!
Samin Nosrat's best-selling book makes you feel like a giddy cooking school student! I learn something new every time I open it. Another MUST-HAVE in the kitchen that makes a perfect gift. Samin's friendly, straightforward way of teaching how to to master four elements of good cooking-- salt, fat, acid and heat-- will inspire novice and experienced cooks alike. A fun to read, enthralling book filled with aha moments to help you understand the science behind making food taste scrumptious.The Netflix series by the same name is a result of the popularity of this James Beard award-winning book. DEFINITELY grab a copy for ALL the food-lovers in your life!
I can't live without this cookbook! It's an encyclopedia of every classic recipe you can think of with easy to follow instructions. Every single meal, side dish, dessert tastes exactly how you dream it will! From the perfect Thousand Island dressing to crispy oven french fries to Thai curries to soups from all over the world to flaky pie crusts to endless cookies to spicy chilis to holiday feasts. This cookbook HAS. IT. ALL. Ruth Reichl of the legendary Gourmet magazine and the book's editor says: "Our goal is to give you a book with every recipe you would ever need." Mission accomplished. I consider it an essential recipe book. Perfect for new and experienced foodies. Grab the Gourmet Cookbook here!
This is a wonderful gift for anyone who is expecting a little one or who is getting ready to start solids with baby. From my perspective as an NTP and mom, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to boost a child's nutrition of any age. It's jam-packed full of nutritional wisdom and recipes based on science and ancestral traditions that have been nourishing humans for centuries. I highly recommend this book as a practical parent gift!
Clean and Delicious Gourmet Food Gifts
Attention meat lovers! This is my son's AND Gwyneth Paltrow's favorite picks for delicious and clean meat. It's no wonder as Grass Roots Farmer's Co-op always delivers big on flavor and nutrient-density. A wonderful gift for a foodie who enjoys supporting small farms, regenerative agriculture and high-quality, flavorful meat. Check out this inspiring video about their partnership with Heifer USA! We love their lamb (when it's not sold out!), beef, turkey and bison (we get our chicken locally, but theirs is awesome). Send a box of pastured, small farm goodness to the one you love... and grab some for yourself too! Use any links listed here for $30 off your first order of $150 or more. Shop here!
Low-Tox Organic Chocolate!
The two chocolate bars below have been tested for lead and cadmium and are among the lowest rated by Consumer Reports. These make great stocking stuffers for the chocoholic in your life!
There is no affiliation here! I am just letting you know about the BEST chocolate EVER! I have no knowledge about their heavy metal status, but I know they do use cleaner chocolate brands to make their confections. Their BLACK BOX 16 is a MUST for the chocoloate lover in your life. All other items are amazing as well. Shop Recchuiti Confections here. Again, no affiliation, just sharing some serious goodness!
I've been obsessed with sea salt this past year ever since learning about heavy metal and microplastic contamination in many salt brands. I have tried several brands who have done 3rd party testing on their sea salt and have fallen in love with several of them. I find Jacobsen Salt Co. is one of the best tasting for cooking, seasoning, and sprinkling on foods and desserts. It makes a wonderful foodie gift as part of a gift basket or stocking stuffer. It is unrefined, hand-harvested in Oregon, USA and tastes like the briny sea! So yummy! Other clean brands I love are Colima Sea Salt from Mexico, and Saltverk from Iceland. Grab all or bone of these for the salt aficionado in your life! You can get Jacobsen Sea Salt here!
I am obsessed with trying regional honeys and I'm sure I'm not alone. This set of four American sourced raw honeys makes a lovely gift for foodies, tea lovers, teachers, mentors and honey connoisseurs. Flavors in this set are Clover, Wildflower, Orange Blossom and Berry-- all sourced from responsible beekeepers working with hives thriving on diverse U.S. forage lands. Grab the set here for the honey lover in your life!
There are three things I look for in olive oil: 1. Purity. Many olive oils have been found to be cut with cheaper, rancid seed oils. A good olive oil, like a fine wine, can often be determined by flavor and scent. 2. Harvest and Press Methods. Fresh olives that are hand-picked and milled within hours of harvest will maximize nutrients like polyphenols that are associated with longevity. 3. Flavor. A true, high-polyphenol olive oil will have a strong peppery flavor. Life Extension California Estate Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil fits the bill for all these qualities. It's very strong (bitter, peppery flavor) due to it's extremely high polyphenol content. This makes it lovely for dipping into crusty bread, adding to sauces and marinades, and some even take it in shots! A great gift for a hard-core olive oil lover! Grab it here!
I hope you have enjoyed this list! Let me know if there are any hot, clean kitchen items to for me to consider next!
About the Author
Roxie Daggett is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) with a virtual holistic nutrition practice in Sedona, Arizona. Her passions include studying nutritional research pertaining to brain health, gut health, genetics and longevity. When she is not geeking out on nutrition she enjoys cooking, hiking, organic gardening and hanging out with her wonderful husband, and her adorable, energetic son who happens to have Down syndrome. Learn more on her About page and stay in touch by grabbing your FREE BRAIN HEALTH BREAKFAST GUIDE above or below!