14 Ideas for Healthy Christmas Presents that I would have liked as a Cancer Patient
When I was diagnosed with cancer, many people who visited brought me chocolate or some other treats to cheer me up. Many of my clients tell me that the exact same thing happens to them. Do you think your friend or family member would appreciate any of my ideas for healthy Christmas presents this year?
At Christmas, it can be really easy to just resort to a nice plum pudding, a chocolate santa or cookies as a present.
But by now many cancer patients know that this is not the wisest thing to do- stuffing our faces with chocolate and other sweets. More and more people who are affected by cancer start making major changes to their lifestyle and diet.
Presents that would have been most welcome before diagnosis all of a sudden are not helpful or appropriate any more.
So, if you want to bring a healthy christmas present to a cancer patient or a family member who is very health-conscious, what could it be? I’ve been racking my brain a bit and have come up with a few ideas. There is a good mix of things you can buy or make yourself:
If you want to bring something to eat, then you could consider these options:
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Home-made Chocolates
Ingredients:
½ cup coconut oil
¼ cup raw cacao powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
a little bit of Manuka honey or stevia (the less, the better)
Melt the coconut oil in a pan over low heat, add all the other ingredients and stir (use a whisk). When liquidized, pour everything into silicone ice cube trays and freeze for about half an hour. Best stored in fridge thereafter.
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Buy Chocolate
If you really want to buy chocolate, you could go for this.
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A healthy hamper
Good ideas are avocadoes, coconut and olive oil, coconut flour, olives, fresh turmeric, ginger, spices and herbs, cacao powder, vegetables, Sunwarrior protein powder.
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Coconut Products
Good quality coconut flour, coconut milk and/or coconut oil- nicely wrapped. There are tons of resources online that show you how to use those lovely ingredients.
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A soul and heart warming soup
Or you could make a soul and heart warming soup that is full of immune and mood boosting ingredients! It’s easy to make and will be appreciated by anyone who is struggling to get enough nutrients into their diet:
Ingredients (makes enough soup for 8 people)
2 small Shallots, chopped
2 tbsp Sesame oil
25g Ginger, peeled and chopped
3 Spring onions, bulbs and tops, chopped
5 cloves Garlic, raw
2kg Homemade Chicken Stock
1 cup Oyster or any Mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp Soy Sauce (Tamari)
2 cups Spinach, raw
2 sheets Seaweed nori, in stripes
2 tbsp Miso Paste (Brown Rice base)
2 tsp Harissa (chili paste)
2 Turmeric roots and black pepper
Serves 8
1. Process garlic and ginger to a paste in the food processor.
2. Heat up the sesame oil in a big pan. Add garlic/ginger paste, mushrooms, scallions and spring onions and saute for a few minutes.
3. Stir in the harissa and add the broth.
4. Mix in the miso paste, nori, grated turmeric root, pepper and tamari and taste the soup a bit.
5. Add in the spinach, cover the pot and let the soup simmer for about 30 minutes.
6. Fill the soup into a nice flask or container to bring as a present.
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A Herbal Tea Assortment
Go for chamomile to wind down in the evening and dampen inflammation, peppermint and fennel to help digestion, Tulsi for balancing hormones, ginger/lemon to help with upset stomach, elderberry and Echinacea to boost the immune system or green tea for its anti-cancer properties!
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Chemical Free Skin Care
I like Bia Beauty, Annmarie Gianni. Check out www.ewg.org for more information on chemical-free products and what to look out for.
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A Vitamix!
If you’re looking to surprise a loved one with a really incredible present then consider investing in a Vitamix! I bought mine 7 years ago and I use it on a daily basis- often several days a day. For making smoothies, pestos, pates, soup, mash and chop vegetables, chia pudding, ice cream for the kids- you name it!
Non-food options that any health conscious person would love:
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Inspirational Books
There are lots of incredible books out there that inspire and empower. One that I absolutely love and have received great feedback for is “Radical Remission” by Kelly A. Turner. It’s a well-researched page turner packed with real-life stories that give cancer patients faith that it’s NEVER too late to start making changes.
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A Good Water Bottle
This is essential for health conscious people. Because I don’t trust any plastic bottles (not even BPA free), I like to use glass bottles. You can buy a nice glass bottle in any homeware store, get creative and paint/stick something on it.If you’re not into creativity, you can try this company. For kids, it’s probably not safe to use glass bottles and I recommend this.
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A Meditation Tape
I listen to SUI meditations and also like the Headspace App. Louise Hayalso has lots of good products and gifts in her shop- check them out!
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The Gift of Exercise
More and more research shows how important exercise is in the prevention and management of cancer and other chronic illnesses. My absolute favourite is www.iloveyogaandfitness.com with Samantha Fox Olson. I do either a fitness, yoga or meditation sessions every day- even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Check out her free trial and you can then proceed to a monthly membership or her private group.Other options are a membership with www.yogaglo.com or www.myyogaonline.com.
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Epsom Salts and Dry Brush for Skin Brushing
Epsom Salt baths are brilliant for supporting detoxification, boosting magnesium levels and relaxing. I always add a bit of Vitamin C and bicarbonate of soda to counteract the effects of added fluoride and chlorine to the water. Dry brushing is an easy and effective way to get your lymph going, increase circulation and support detox processes. I do this before taking a shower.
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The 5-minute Journal
A great way for reflecting, setting intentions and keeping a diary at the same time is the 5-minute journal. Every day starts with an inspirational quote, and you can then write about 3 things that you’re grateful for, 3 things that would make your day great and daily affirmations. In the evening, it’s time to reflect back on the day and think of 3 amazing things that happened that day and how you could have made the day better.It’s simple but effective!
