10 Non-Toxic Gift Ideas for a Healthier Holiday Season

THE WARM UP

The Holiday season is finally upon us!

But that also comes with the challenge of running to the store or visiting our friend Mr. Bezos for the perfect gifts for our loved ones.

I decided to make a list of gifts of 10 non-toxic gift ideas to help make things easier (and healthier).

I know, I know, you can still ask Santa for the latest and trendiest gadget this year, but starting to slowly transition our lifestyle to a more non-toxic one will never hurt.

Let’s dive in…

THE WORKOUT

Here are 10 gift ideas of products that I currently use and love:

1. ProMix Nutrition Electrolyte Packs - proper hydration throughout the day is essential for optimal body function. Especially if you’re an athlete or active individual, the majority of us walk around in a dehydrated state and need clean electrolytes to refuel our system. Electrolyte packets were also essential during my first half-marathon training!

2. Stainless steel cookware - In a previous essay, I went over why non-stick pans are so bad for us because Teflon pans contain PFAS that are bad for our health. However, ever since I switched over to stainless steel cookware, my cooking has elevated as well. This cookware set is the exact set I use at home and I love it!

3. Wooden Cooking Utensils or Stainless Steel Cooking Utensils - for the same reason as the Teflon pans, plastic cooking utensils have a tendency to leach BPAs and other harmful chemicals and micro-plastics into our foods, especially if we’re cooking foods at high temperatures. I use a mixture of wooden and stainless steel cooking utensils in my personal arsenal but either is a great choice.

4. Non-toxic Bamboo Sheets - cotton sheets are just as great, but please stay away from polyester-made bedding. We spend roughly ⅓ of our lifetime in bed. Just like not wanting to cook with plastic, we shouldn’t sleep on it either. Ever since we switched to bamboo sheets, not only is it healthier but I’m not kidding, it’s the comfiest, softest sheets I’ve ever used in my life.

5. Glass food containers - again, plastic is a big “no-no”. Glass containers are much cleaner, especially when meal prepping and heating up refrigerated meals!

6. Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags - if we’re gonna use zip-lock bags, we might as well be eco-friendly about it. Single use plastic bags are not only bad for the environment, but silicone is much cleaner than plastic too.

7. Non-toxic Candles - many commercially made candles, particularly ones made with paraffin wax or synthetic fragrances can be toxic and contain parabens. These are chemicals that can be harmful when inhaled as they are released into the air when the candle burns. Instead, choosing candles labeled as "paraben-free" and made with natural waxes like beeswax or soy is a much healthier choice.

8. Non-toxic All Purpose Cleaning Solution - many commercial cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that, yes, clean your household, but pose a risk to our health in the long-run. A non-toxic cleaning solution such as this one or by Dr. Bronner’s is a much healthier alternative.

9. Clean Filtered Water System - our drinking water is one of the most important factors for our health. Our every day tap water typically contains harmful chemicals such as fluoride, chlorine and chloramines, herbicides and pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 222, and trihalomethanes. A reverse osmosis water filtration system or other non-toxic filtration systems can help keep your water clean and safe.

10. Non-toxic toaster oven - This one here is on my “non-toxic wish list”. Air fryers are a staple in many households today, however, they’ve recently been found as a “toxic” cooking process. This is because they not only contain Teflon and non-stick materials (which contain those PFAS), but they also result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Toaster ovens are a much cleaner alternative and this particular one is “all the rage” at the moment in the non-toxic community.

THE COOLDOWN

Over the past 2 years, I’ve started swapping out everyday items for cleaner, non-toxic options. 

One of the first changes was replacing my old, flaking non-stick pan with stainless steel cookware and it was a game-changer. 

Ever since then, I've seen how these small shifts make a big difference, not just in my health but in how intentional I feel about my choices.

In the end, this holiday season, let’s focus on giving gifts that truly benefit our lives. 

Whether you're shopping for loved ones or treating yourself, these non-toxic picks are a great way to start.

Be well & Keep Pluggin.

-C.