The holidays are upon us! I’m writing this whilst enjoying our beautiful tree (decorated only from about 3 feet up for toddler proofing!) and listening to Mariah Carey’s Christmas album. I love this time of year because no matter what’s happening in the wild rollercoaster ride we call our lives, it’s a season of giving thanks and appreciating what we have.

At a time when gift giving is on everyone’s minds, let’s use our buying power to uplift our economies and communities. Let’s give ethically, responsibly, and always- with love. Let’s think of Mother Nature when buying items that don’t add true value to our lives.

With that in mind, I’ve made a list of vegan and eco-friendly gift ideas for 2018, so you can shop with confidence knowing your purchases were ethically produced and tested (by me!) You’ll notice the list is not very long- I included only my absolute favorite items that I wear and use every week!

Must Haves-

File these under- Things That Changed My Life Forever! These are my all-time favorite items that I can’t even remember life without.

1. beetxbeet Reversible 90’s Cropped Tee

I shouldn’t put this on the list, because it’s my favorite shirt and it’s going to be on every vegan I know — but — this is the greatest shirt ever! Gotta give credit where credit’s due! Plus it’s kinda like two gifts in one cause it’s reversible. Win!! Buy one for yourself too, you won’t regret it. Bonus- beetxbeet is woman-owned and was just named Best Vegan Fashion Label of 2018 by VegNews magazine!

2. Sarangae Vegan Skincare 5 Step Program

The amazing skin care line is made from mushrooms and gold- how can you go wrong with that?? This gift is perfect for your closest friend or family member who has no idea how to take care of their skin (aka me!) After years of not knowing which products to use, I gave Sarangae a try. I’ve been using it for several weeks and my skin feels softer and more youthful than I can remember. I used to get really oily during the day and have regular breakouts, both of which have dramatically improved as well. They have skin care specialists who will help you get started- I can’t recommend this line highly enough! I’m obsessed. 

3. Almond Cow Plant Milk Machine

Almond Cow makes the perfect gift for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint by making more staples at home. This incredible machine makes milk from nuts and seeds in less than five minutes and cleanup is a breeze too- no more messing with nut milk bags! I don’t have an abundance of appliances in my kitchen because as a food blogger, space is valuable! But this machine earned a spot on my shelf when I was able to make three different nut milks AND cleanup in just fifteen minutes. This item is currently back ordered but I highly recommend pre-ordering- they’re worth the wait!

Stocking Stuffers-

Stockings are a fun and memorable tradition but all too often, they are filled with useless junk, candy, or otherwise not exciting or special things. Make this a year when your loved ones open stockings to find items that love that add genuine value, ease, or deliciousness to their lives!

4. Eco-friendly Himalayan Blue Bamboo Toothbrushes

Ditch plastic and switch to these super cute Himalayan Blue bamboo toothbrushes! are a perfect gift for the eco-friendly traveler in your life! They come with bamboo cases with adult and kids sizes. Bonus- they’re sustainably made, lovely to brush with, and the company is woman-owned. The packaging is adorable too!

5. Nature’s Charm Banana Blossoms

For the vegan foodie in your life who LOVES ‘Fish’ n Chips! This AMAZING product is my all-time favorite fish substitute. Banana blossoms are the flowers from the banana trees. They have a similar texture to artichoke, but the flavor is mild and very seasonable. Add a few cans to your shopping cart and print out my famous Vegan Fish N Chips recipe!

6. Go Vegan Denim Tote by Vegetaryn

So you can buy groceries and spread the vegan message without even saying a word! This is a great gift for anyone who wants to shop with style, while sending a message and looking totally cool and awesome. Vegetaryn is woman-owned and ethically produces their items here in LA. I love their tees too, be sure to browse the website and put something on your own wish list! Get 20% off with the discount code: HOLIDAYS

Books-

Maintaining a vegan lifestyle is a lot easier when you have amazing resources at your fingertips! In this section, you’ll find my top favorite vegan books of 2018 and my future favorite book from 2019!

7. Vegan Reset by Kim-Julie Hansen

This is the book I had when I was fifteen and just learning about veganism. The Vegan Reset is a fantastic gift for the vegan-curious. It breaks everything down, and also includes fast, delicious recipes, easy meal plans and shopping lists, and journaling exercises. It’s truly a wonderful resource for people getting started on the vegan path, or wanting to clean up their eating habits.

The book is also STUNNING- everything from the cover, to the photography, and design will make you feel delightful when reading it. Written by Kim-Julie Hansen (founder of Best of Vegan, one of my personal heroes, and generally wonderful human being) this The Vegan Reset is nourishing for the body, mind, and soul.

8. Happy Food by Bettina Campolucci Bordi

Another book I highly recommend is Happy Food! I’ve loved every recipe I’ve tried from this beautiful book. All recipes are plant-based, gluten-free, and soy-free. It’s clean eating at it’s best with vibrant, flavorful recipes. Pistachio Rosewater Chia Pudding- yes please!!

9. Vegan Yack Attack: On The Go! by Jackie Sobon

I love this book! The recipe and photos are perfection. Jackie is a whiz in the kitchen and so creative at coming up with recipes that taste amazing and can be made easily. This book makes a great gift for anyone looking for fast, easy, and AMAZING plant-based recipes. I also love that this book is the perfect blend of vegan comforting food and whole food plant-based. So basically, it tastes like comfort food but is made with wholesome ingredients. Isn’t that what everyone’s looking for in a book?

That’s actually the blend I always try to strike with my recipe development too. I want to make food that tastes amazing, that you can eat a giant portion of (Um, hello I’m hungry!) and not feel like total crap afterwards. I think I did a great job of accomplishing that balance in…

10. MY DEBUT COOKBOOK!

Yes friends, if you haven’t heard. I wrote a cookbook!

30 Minute Vegan Dinners: 75 Fast Plant-Based Meals You’re Going To Crave! Featuring ah-maaaaazing dinner recipes that can all be made in thirty minutes- including prep! The chapters are restaurant inspired- think California Cuisine, Southern Comfort, and Homestyle Italian.

For an awesome gift that that keeps on giving- pre-order a copy of my cookbook, 30 Minute Vegan Dinners! Then you extend the holiday spirit all the way to February 5th and get a sweet BONUS gift sent to you right away!

So what’s the gift?

As a thank you to everyone who pre-orders my book, I made a special companion ebook of 20 Minute Vegan Lunches: 10 Deliciously Simple Meals for Your Busy Life. Email your pre-order confirmation to bonus@carrotsandflowers.com to claim your gift and send it to your loved one as an early holiday present.

Thank you so much for reading and being a part of the Carrots & Flowers community! And please remember, for every gift you buy online and in big box stores, buy a few locally to support small businesses and artisans!

If you’d rather give the gift of memories and fun experiences, here’s a few more awesome eco-friendly ideas!

Gift certificate to your favorite plant-based restaurant

Concert tickets

Classes at a fun and exciting new workout studio

Spa treatments

Vegan Bakes Goods (like these irresistible Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies!)

That’s all for now! I hope you’re having a magical December so far. Sending lots of love from sunny California!

Megan