Naughty or Nice, Send The Gift of Health!

A box of chocolates is sweet, indeed, but how 'bout getting a bit more creative (and healthful) with the holiday cheer this season. Check out these delicious, good-for-you mail order gifts that will delight your family and friends.

Spread holiday cheer to the cheese lovers in your life with this quartet of tasty cheeses from a family-owned and -operated, Wisconsin-based company. Yes, it’s true – there’s room for cheese. It’s an excellent source of calcium, containing about 300 milligrams per ounce. Using a small amount of a flavorful cheese means you can keep the calories in check. The coffee-rubbed Espresso BellaVitano is to die for!

Explore a wondrous world of rare and unique teas from the gourmet-food aficionados at D&D. You won’t only be giving the recipient something flavorful to sip on; you’ll also be passing along a plethora of the antioxidants and other nutrients that tea has to offer.

Send loved ones a dose of vitamin C via a case of organically grown citrus (or avocados!) straight from a group of 25 family farmers.

Artisanal cookies, jams, spreads and other treats hand-picked by the pros at this wondrous online boutique. Nuts, whole-grain tortilla chips and roasted salsa are a few of the healthy offerings. Choose from three sizes, which come elegantly wrapped in Olive and Cocoa’s signature wooden crates.

Make a donation on someone’s behalf to the Environmental Working Group, plus pass along a gift tote filled with sustainably produced tea, chocolate and beauty products, plus EWG educational materials on choosing healthy and environmentally sound foods.
Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.