The holidays are here! If you’re like me, you revel in the little joys that this time of year brings like twinkling white lights, buying the perfect gifts for loved ones, and getting adorable holiday cards in the mail. There are tons of amazing goodies to share with that special herbivore in your life, or perhaps you deserve a much-needed treat. Either way, here are some of my favorite things to give this year.
1. Vegan Cuts
This monthly subscription box service offers snack, beauty, and makeup boxes. You’ll get to sample new products for vegans who love to try out new companies. Each box comes with a featured product and free shipping. Even better, you’ll know all of the products are quality cruelty-free samples.
Celebrate the holidays with some delicious faux meats and cheese made to order. This vegan butcher shop is based in Minneapolis, but until December 11, you can order some of their goodies straight to your door. Try the It’s a Pizza Pack, complete with mozzarella, capicola ham, pepperoni, Italian sausage and ricotta and make an epic vegan pizza in your own home. Or make a cheese and charcuterie plate with the Meat & Cheese Sampler.
3. Wanyama Box
“Wanyama” means “animals” in Swahili, and this box of vegan treats is a gift for the animal lover in your life. Your gift recipient will get some awesome snacks like Beanfields Bean Chips, JJs Cocomels Coconut Caramels, Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg, and Primal Foods Vegan Jerky. Bonus: Tucked inside the box are coupons from vegan brands.
For the fashionable plant-eater, snag some hoodies, beanies, and handbags from this 100-percent vegan shop. Based in Portland, OR, this shop even has sympathy cards for anyone who has lost a beloved dog or cat, cookbooks, and eco-friendly kitchen gear. If you’re in the Portland, be sure to make a stop at this shop, which is located in the vegan mini-mall.
You know how when you tell someone that you’re vegan and they exclaim, “I could never give up cheese!” put some Miyoko’s Kitchen cheese in front of them. It’s that good. Place your orders by December 14 and get some Sweet Vanilla Bean cream cheese, fresh vegan mozzarella, and French Style Winter Truffle.
For that person who loves to cook, order some of this year’s latest and greatest plant-based cookbooks. My favorites from 2016 include vegan cookbook queen Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s latest tome, The Super Fun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook and Jackie Sobon’s Vegan Bowl Attack.
7. Vegan Beauty Products
For anyone who loves to indulge in cruelty-free makeup and beauty treatments, send them a gift subscription to monthly boxes like Petit Vour and Love Goodly. I’m a big fan of beauty brands Pacifica and 100% Pure. Heads up: 100% Pure does use honey in some of its products.
8. Sweet Treats
I have a serious sweet tooth so I love to get and send awesome vegan candies and desserts. Obsessive Confection Disorder makes some ah-mazing vegan caramels like the Apple Cider Caramel and Ale & Pretzel Caramel. If I could visit any vegan bakery, it would be Vegan Treats, but since I’m in LA and it’s in Pennsylvania, I order their holiday cookies and cannolis instead.
9. Adopt a Farm Animal
If you’ve ever had the chance to nuzzle up to a cow, you’ll know that visiting a farm sanctuary is one of the best things ever. Give the gift of adopting a cute cow, pig, sheep, or goat at Farm Sanctuary, Gentle Barn, or Woodstock Farm Sanctuary then make plans to meet your adopted animal in person!
One of the best gifts you can give is some relaxation, and for vegans, that zen place is Stanford Inn. Nestled in beautiful Mendocino, this vegan bed and breakfast has delicious eats, a lush spa, an indoor pool, and is 100-percent Fido friendly. You can bring your pup to dinner with you. It’s really the best.
Confession: I’m the food editor at VegNews magazine so I’m a bit biased on this one, but if you love magazines like I do, send your best herbivore pal a $15 gift subscription. It comes as a print or tree-free editions with a gift note. Your friend will get delicious recipes, travel tips, and product reviews all year long.
Jennifer Chen is the food editor at VegNews magazine and writes for women’s magazines such as Oprah, Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, and more. She loves living in Los Angeles and documents all the vegan food she samples at @jchenwriter on Instagram.