Gift giving is a major part of celebrating the holiday season for many people. It’s fun and rewarding to both give and receive surprises!
But what if you want to give a kitchen type gift to someone with celiac disease, and you have no idea what to get them? Here are some ideas to help you out.
1. INSTANT POT
I can’t say enough good things about my instant pot! I wish I had purchased one sooner. The instant pot is a multi-use cooker and the premier capaiblity it offers is electric pressure cooking.
Celiacs have a lot of issues that make healthy meals a critical factor in our ability to thrive. Eating out is dangerous, and processed food items are usually full of ingredients that set off one or more of our food sensitivities.
But constantly cooking healthy food for yourself (and a whole family) from scratch is soooooo time consuming. Plus it’s a nightmare for those of us who don’t enjoy it.
The instant post reduces cooking time by up to 70%, making meal prep a breeze. So if your friend or loved one doesn’t have an instant pot, hook them up!
2. CROCK POT / SLOW COOKER
If the instant pot is a little too steep for your gift budget, buy a crock pot. It offers the same healthy cooking benefits of the instant pot, it simply takes longer to cook. And there are upsides to that!
Who doesn’t love their house smelling like delicious food for 10 hours? Plus, meat cooked on a low setting always melts in your mouth. There’s a reason these amazing appliances have never gone out of style.
3. REPLACEMENT KITCHEN ITEMS
If you have a friend or family member who is newly diagnosed, they’re probably in the process of replacing all their kitchen items with little cracks and crevices that can hide gluten and cross contaminate them.
Here are some common items that require replacing: blender, toaster, wooden utensils (spoons, rolling pin), colander, cutting boards, coffee maker, can opener, waffle iron, pizza stone, cast iron skillet (or any non-stick pans).
4. RICE COOKER
Many celiacs become very limited with regard to the grains they can eat. And while some celiacs have to go totally grain free, many handle brown rice very well and use it as a staple complex carbohydrate. So a rice cooker can be a very welcome addition to a celiac’s kitchen.
5. NIMA GLUTEN SENSOR
The Nima gluten sensor is a portable gluten sensor that tests food for trace amounts of gluten. It’s the first technology of its kind.
I’ve had my Nima gluten sensor for almost a year now, and honestly, I think it’s an amazing tool. It’s invaluable if you want to try to eat out safely every once in a while.
6. VITAMIX OR BLENDTEC BLENDER
Since celiacs have to make most of their food, a high quality blender is a game changer. Being able to throw ingredients and make a exquisitely smooth dressing, sauce, or smoothie is such a joy.
Or being able to throw ingredients in and make a fresh, chunky salsa, etc…you get the point. It’s all about how to make eating easier and still enjoyable.
7. GIFT BASKET OF CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE GOODIES
This is a very thoughtful gift that takes some time to put together. But it’s so fun to try new things and receive legitimate goodies I can actually consume!
Make sure you know if the person you’re buying for has any other foods they need to avoid (common problems for celiacs are dairy, sugar, corn, and soy).
Think outside the box! We celiacs are always thrilled to try new stuff we may be able to incorporate into our diets—throw in a pancake mix, or an interesting brand of beef jerky, or some grain free chips you happened to find.
Don’t ignore it because it seems atypical for a food basket—any prepared food that won’t make us sick is a welcome treat. But do make sure all items are certified gluten free.
8. INSULATED LUNCH BAGS & FREEZER BLOCKS
Celiacs have to pack their food most of the time. So a nice insulated bag for food makes a great gift. Personally, I have several bags of varying sizes so I can pick the appropriate size for the occasion (to include a huge one for day-trips).
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