Holiday Gift Giving Tips…the good and the bad!

With the holidays among us, whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or just ringing in the New Year…this is the time where you need to find the perfect gift for those “hard to buy for” folks on your list. When asked what to purchase for a holiday party, most people respond with, “the gift of food”. Nothing says “Happy Holidays”, as well as “I hope you enjoy a tighter fitting pair of jeans” like a huge box of chocolates or caramel covered popcorn. Now who doesn’t love getting homemade cookies or fudge, but is it necessary to give several dozen of them? I suggest you rethink your “food” gift giving ideas this year and realize most unhealthy gifts are ones that will continue to give, but in a negative way.

Holiday food giving can show how much you care by satisfying one of our most basic needs…to eat (and in a lot of cases overeat) delicious food. Though your “gut” instinct may be to capitalize on that and buy your friends and family the most decadent, over-the-top treats imaginable…I caution you to first STOP and THINK about the message or potential damage your gift may cause. Of course food giving like this is not intended to be harmful. You may just be tempting those who are short on willpower and can’t really afford the extra calories without even realizing it.

Below I listed some good and bad food giving ideas. You can never really go wrong with a gift certificate, AMEX is always nice, but if you want to be more personal…maybe a gift card from one of their favorite restaurants. Include a few movie tickets and BAM…dinner and movie, the perfect gift!

Best Food Gifts
* Aero Garden. Great and simple way to grow healthy fresh herbs right in your kitchen. Everyone would love to have fresh cilantro or basil at their fingertips.
* Fruit basket or an edible arrangement. This is a great idea for “sharing” at a holiday party. These can also make nice centerpieces for a party or holiday dinner.
* Fruit of the month club. Delivered right to their door every month of the year. A “healthy” gift that keeps on giving all year long.
* Tea of the month club. Another gift that keeps on giving, but this is also a great way to boost their fluid intake while dragging along some health protecting polyphenols to help ward off heart disease and cancer. Tasty and helpful.
* Healthy eating Cook book. Whether the person you’re shopping for likes to cook or not…a cook book is always a slam dunk. You can be really creative and get a book that has a theme and include a spice or cooking utensil associated with it.
* Cookbook holder. Nothing worse that mucking up the pages with sticky fingers. This would be a nice add on a cook book too.
* Flavored olive oils. Great heart healthy fat that can be drizzled on a salad or used for dipping crusty whole grain bread in.
* Homemade granola. There’s something about receiving a gift made from scratch that shows you really care. But instead of cookies, give that special someone a sweet bowl of crunchy goodness to start their day which also puts a serious hurt on cholesterol.

Worst Food Gifts
* Cheesecake party wheel. These usually come with 8+ slices of cheesecake weighing in over 400 calories each. You do the math!
* Anything bigger than a small box of candy. More not considered better in this case.
* Fruitcake. Not many people actually enjoy eating these. Your gift will end up being a joke. If that’s your intention…then do it, but just know…your gift will most likely go to waste.
* Meat. Ok…this is a funny gift, but many people give meat, especially steaks, for the holidays. This is a good gift if someone ASKS for it. If not…stay away. You don’t know if someone is dealing with high blood pressures, cholesterol, etc.
* Nuts. Allergies are VERY concern here. It’s safe to stay away from them.
* Alcohol. You can never be too sure if someone in the house may have a drinking problem. Bringing a bottle of wine is an easy gift, I get that, but maybe this is your shot to be more creative.
•Gift certificate to an all-you-can-eat buffet. NO ONE needs multiple trips to the food trough.
•Diabetic anything! Who wants to be reminded that they have a health challenge by receiving a disease-specific food gift? Regardless, diabetic candies and cookies are not calorie free and over eating them can make diabetes worse.

Everyone at Healthcare Consultants Pharmacy Staffing and Business Solutions would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday and New Year!

Contact HCC Healthcare Consultants - Pharmacy Business Solutions for help with pharmacy startup, help with pharmacy performance and efficiency or pharmacy business management service.