ShopRite of West Hartford’s Registered Dietitian Shana Griffin offers seven healthy DIY gift ideas.

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Looking for inexpensive holiday gift ideas? Need a hostess gift to bring to your next holiday party? Shana Griffin, Registered Dietitian at the ShopRite of West Hartford has you covered with some simple, inexpensive gift ideas that you can make at home!

1. Almond Coconut Dark Chocolate Bark– Dark chocolate, almonds, coconut, and pomegranates are all loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. The holidays present a perfect opportunity to enjoy life’s little treasures in moderation. Shana is sharing her “not so secret anymore” recipe for Almond Coconut Dark Chocolate Bark. Simply delicious (and healthier than store bought candy!) See recipe below!
2. Homemade Granola! Granola is simple to make at home. This allows you to control the amount of sugar, type of fat, and quality of ingredients, while also adding the flavors that you love. Whole oats are full of good-for-you fiber, a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals like folate, iron and magnesium. Superhealthykids.com has a great recipe for a 5 Ingredient Granola that would make a great gift: http://www.superhealthykids.com/homemade-granola-only-5-ingredients/
3. Homemade Spice Seasonings. Make your own spice blend to help friends and family kick their cooking and baking up a notch! When gifting, package in mini jars and label with a personal tag. Try a variety of flavors and inspire your loved ones to cook healthy meals. For example: “Shana’s Italian Herb Blend” Mix together 2 tbsp dried basil, 2 tbsp dried marjoram, 2 tbsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp dried rosemary, 1 tbsp dried thyme, 1 tbsp garlic powder.
4. Roasted Nuts– A great satisfying snack or addition to a salad! Nuts contain healthy fats that are good for your heart and are a great source of protein that help to keep your appetite in check. Try Rosemary & Cayenne Nuts– Heat oven 375 degrees F. Place 1 pound of nuts (almonds, walnuts, or cashews) on baking sheet, bake for about 10 minutes. Toss + coat the warm nuts with a mixture of spices such as (2 tbsp dried rosemary, ½ tsp cayenne, 2 tsp kosher salt, ½ tbsp olive oil, pinch of brown sugar).
5. Layered Bean Soup Mix or Chili Bean Mix- A nutritious pantry “dinner in a hurry” gift to give. Simply place colored beans (and whole grains) with a mix of spices in a pretty jar. Write the soup preparation instructions on card stock and attach with a ribbon; you could even include a few of the soup spices in zip-top plastic bags. Try this simple Five Bean Soup Recipe by backtoherroots.com. Attached below are printable labels.
6. Homemade Nut Butters– Making your own nut butter is so easy and can be done without added ingredients or sugar! Try almond, peanut, cashew, or walnuts. Basic directions: Pour nuts into food processor, process until smooth or desired consistency. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed. (FYI- Toasting the nuts prior gives a nice flavor). Gift in mason jars with your own personalized labels.
7. Festive No-Bake Granola Energy Bites– A great make ahead, grab n’ go snack, and an easy way to incorporate flaxseed and chia seeds into your daily routine. Combine 1 cup oats, ½ cup ground flaxseed, 2 tbsp chia seeds, 1/3 cup honey, and ½ cup peanut butter. Mix well, roll into 1” balls, roll in shredded coconut to make snow balls for a festive look!

Shana Griffin is the registered dietitian for the ShopRite of West Hartford. Shana has an office in the store, located on the corner of Kane and Prospect streets, and offers a variety of free health and wellness services, including one on one nutrition consultations, grocery store tours, weight management and culinary workshops as well as food sampling and recipe demonstrations.

All nutritional services are available to customers free of charge. To make an appointment, customers can call Shana at 860-233-1713 or e-mail her at [email protected]. For her latest happenings at the store, follow Joseph Family Markets on Facebook: www.facebook.com/josephfamilymarkets.

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