For people with gluten intolerance or Celiac disease avoiding gluten is a requirement for good health. The holidays can be a difficult time for people on a gluten free diet, though, as holiday favorites and temptations abound. One gift idea for friend who avoids gluten is a gift basket made with gluten free options that might replace old favorites. Few companies offer gluten free baskets at this time, though the rare company that does offer gluten free gift baskets, shipped to the gift recipient, is a treasure.
If you want to buy a pre-made gluten free gift basket, look for promotions from companies such as GlutenSmart and I Can Have That! If you want to make your own GF gift basket, read on for more details.
Gluten Free Breakfast Gift Basket
Making a gluten free gift basket isn't hard. It requires knowing which brands and products are gluten free, and putting together the right complement of foods. Adding a gluten free cookbook to GF products can help this gift idea get more mileage as well.
Ah, what Celiac patient hasn't drooled over a gift basket filled with blueberry pancake mix, scone mix, and some maple syrup? Most mixes have gluten, however. A few safe combinations for a gluten free breakfast gift basket include:
- Any jar or bottle of 100% maple syrup (all are gluten free)
- Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten Free Dreams, Pancake & Waffle Mix
- Gluten-Free Pantry Muffin & Scone Mix
- Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Pancake Mix
Put all the items in a basket lined with tissue paper. Additional items to consider include a box of Gevalia ground coffee (or other brand to the person's liking), favorite teas, or a bottle of Stonewall Kitchen blueberry syrup. If the gift recipient is a cook, a gluten free cookbook that will help them to make variations of pancakes, waffles, scones, and muffins with the mixes in the gift basket will also add to the GF Christmas present.
Gluten Free Wine, Cheese, and Cracker Gift Basket
Wine is a safe gift for most people who eat a GF diet, but be sure to learn in advance whether they drink alcohol. In addition, while many people who do not eat gluten do eat dairy products, some people with Celiac disease cannot tolerate dairy. Ask in advance before making this gluten free Christmas gift basket option.
Also, avoid smoked cheese. Some smoking agents include gluten, and for people who are highly sensitive the smoked cheeses can cause problems.
The perfect wine, cheese, and cracker gift basket for a GF diet could include:
- A bottle of Port Wine or a nice red or white within your budget
- Dill havarti cheese
- A wheel of Brie
- Jarlsberg Swiss cheese
- Glutino Crackers
- Schar Naturally Gluten-Free Table Crackers
- Two wine glasses
- A corkscrew
- Fruit (apples and pears can be matched to good wines)
Personal taste in wines and cheeses will dictate the exact composition of this gluten free gift basket, of course. Finding good-tasting gluten free crackers can be a challenge, but the Glutino and Schar brands are among the lightest and tastiest when paired with cheese.
Gluten Free Chocolate Gift Basket
At first glance, a gluten free chocolate gift basket seems like an easy present. Once again, however, food manufacturing processes can insert gluten into the most unlikely items - including chocolate. Spice up the present by including cookies and other sweets that are GF.
A chocolate gift basket for a person on a GF diet could include:
- Endangered Species Chimpanzee, Supreme Dark Chocolate
- Tropical Source Toasted Almond Dark Chocolate
- Dove Chocolates – Dark Chocolate Singles
- Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten-Free Cookies, Montana's Chocolate Chip
- EnviroKidz Organic Koala Crispy Rice Bars, Chocolate
- Pamela's Products Organic Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookie
- Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa Mix
Add in some coffee cups for the hot chocolate, a travel mug, a favorite DVD or book and the gift is good to go.
Regardless of the gluten free gift basket choice one makes, any effort to keep foodstuffs gluten free will be strongly appreciated by the recipient. Dealing with gluten intolerance or Celiac disease is a lifelong process and one that can be frustrating. Being thoughtful and buying safe, tasty gluten free products for GF folks is a wonderful gift for Christmas.
Research all your options, though -- new, safe GF products come on the market all the time, so keep an eye out for announcements of safe celiac diet foods for your gift recipient, and order accordingly.
To learn more about gluten free ideas for the holidays, please read: How to Make a Gluten Free Thanksgiving Dinner and Honey Baked Ham GF Turkey Breast and Hams.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
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