Our annual gift guide always has an emphasis on wellness products, but this year, we’ve decided to also focus on small businesses.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says a survey of its 110,000 members shows only 26 per cent of small businesses are reporting normal sales volumes, leaving the remainder at risk of insolvency.
As most of you know, many small businesses are really struggling this year while large corporations like Amazon and Walmart have seen their profits skyrocket. I obviously love the convenience and prices of Amazon, but as a small business owner myself, I’m really trying to plan ahead this year and shop small and sustainable when possible. If you are able to support a small business this year, I hope this gives you some inspiration.
P.S. Most of these are Canadian but some are just small businesses we love. I’ve specified which ones are Canadian below.
iCaria was founded by Holistic Nutritionist Nadya Pecherskaya who has also hosted corporate wellness seminars for HEAL! iCaria makes a wide range of high quality, 3rd party tested CBD products, but the bath bombs are a beautiful and unique gift idea. They are meant to be anti-inflammatory and ultra-relaxing.
These silicon reusable bags are not only much better for the environment than plastic, but they also reduce your food’s exposure to plastic. I send Sophie’s snacks with her in a Stasher bag, and we’ve been using the same one all year and it’s still in great condition.
Joy is a nutritionist, mother and small business owner in Toronto. Not only is she an amazing resource for recipes and nutrition content, but she also has a line of high quality natural body care products. We love her dry shampoo, dry skin brush and loose leaf teas!
This is a great way to connect with your friends, family or colleagues virtually. It also makes a great gift for a couple! Being from the Okanagan myself, I love to support BC wineries. You can contact individual wineries but I know Okanagan Crush Pad and Iconic Wineries have virtual tastings. Oliver Osoyoos is also hosting a 1 hour virtual tasting event over the holidays (click here for details). A gift card for a winery is another great way to support them during this time.
Founded by a friend of mine, I am now a loyal fan and user of Cosset Co’s oils. I find with their oils, I no longer have dry skin and others who suffer from rosacea have even found this oil to help reduce the redness. These oils smell amazing and are incredibly high quality.
Since I’m always on the lookout for clean beauty products, when Delia Skincare sent me their cleansing oil, I was pumped! I now use it 2x daily and it leaves my skin clean, soft and hydrated (unlike many cleansers I’ve used in the past that dry out my skin). Their cleanser also only has FOUR ingredients, all of which are clean and nourishing for your skin. Use code mandy25 for 25% off any Delia Skincare product.
*For Black Friday weekend, they also have a sale that is 40% off using the code DELIA40.*
Good Juju makes all natural, plastic-free home and body products that are good for you and the planet. I’m currently trying out the shampoo bar and I am actually shocked at how much I’m loving it! I've used natural hair products for a while, and have never found that my hair is as soft (but have just dealt with it given I want to use natural). Since using Good Juju, my hair is as soft as it used to be using mainstream products. They’re another female owned company, which is always a plus for me!
Wildcraft is a 100% natural skincare company based out of Toronto. They really make an effort to source sustainable, ethical and organic products. Everything is also cruelty-free (not tested on animals and no animal byproducts). They have some really beautiful gift sets for the holidays.
Depending on where you live, you may not have access to a gym or want to go there. Gifting someone a home workout guide or virtual membership is a great way to help them stay motivated and support local gyms. Natalia swears by Rachael's Good Eats 6 week Good Sweat Guide. Mandy loves Booty By Mich!
This is a great idea for anyone that loves to try new healthier snacks and treats. These could also work as stocking stuffers.
Some of our favourite Canadian food brands that would make great additions are:
*There’s sometimes a discount or unique bundles for shopping directly through their websites.
In many parts of Canada, restaurants are no longer open for in-house dining. This has been a devastating year for restaurants and they really need our help. A great way to support your local restaurant(s) is through a gift card!
By paramedical service, I mean massage therapist, acupuncturist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, etc. If you know someone who lost their job this year, they may no longer have access to services that were covered by their benefits. It’s also a great way to support those practitioners who have seen a reduction in business as a result of the pandemic.
Like restaurants, many local bakeries have seen a dramatic decline in sales this year. Baked goods can make for a delicious gift. I personally love Apricus Bake Shoppe in North Vancouver, which is a gluten-free bakery near me. Bunner’s is a favourite for the gluten-free, vegan crowd in Toronto.
I’m a big fan of Rachel Mansfield, who came out with a cookbook this year called Just the Good Stuff (p.s. it’s on my wish list hehe). Deliciously Ella also released her Quick & Easy Cookbook (all vegan recipes) and her cookbooks never disappoint!
We just launched the print version of this recipe book but you can also order it as a digital version (PDF) for a friend who has a little one. It includes a breakdown of the key foods and nutrients babies need for development, as well as the purees, breakfasts, snacks and mains I fed my daughter (20 recipes total). The great thing is that many of these recipes can be enjoyed by everyone in the family (no one wants to cook twice!).
Click here to purchase (If you're outside of Canada and want to learn about shipping options please email us at info@healthyeatingandliving.ca)
A collection of over 108 whole food breakfasts, lunches, sides, dinners and snacks designed to boost your energy by balancing your blood sugar, and reduce bloating and indigestion. Every recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free. This only comes as a digital product.
For about the cost of a latte a week, Weekly Meal Planning Program members get a new meal plan in their inbox every Thursday night. It includes 9 new recipes, a grocery list and meal prep instructions. We have both omnivore and vegan options.
A HEAL gift card can go towards any of the HEAL products listed above as well as our one-on-one nutrition coaching services, custom meal plans, food sensitivity testing and hormone testing.
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