Gift baskets are an easy way to show thanks or appreciation, especially if they're filled with food! Why not treat your family or friends to an array of healthy treats they can dig into? However, it can be tricky to find a healthy gift basket that suits your recipient's taste and dietary preferences. That's why we've decided to figure out what makes a great healthy gift basket.
Our research found that the best gift baskets are full of whole food snacks or packaged treats made from all-natural ingredients. Keeping these things in mind, we've rounded up a list of our favorite healthy gift baskets available online, with the Deluxe Organic Fruit Gift Basket by Harry & David taking first place. With the help of nutritionist Kara Swanson, we've also prepared a buying guide to help you choose your own healthy basket!
Kara Swanson is a certified nutritionist and the founder of Life Well Lived. She is married to her best friend and is a proud mother of three. Her passion is to make nutrition simple, easy, and delicious! You can find her amazing nutrition plans and learn tips and tricks to staying healthy on her website, Instagram, or Facebook.
We picked the 10 best healthy gift baskets based on the following criteria:
Keep these considerations in mind as you peruse our list. To learn more about how to choose the best basket for your recipient, be sure to check out our buying guide!
Image | ![]() Harry & David | ![]() Oh! Nuts | ![]() Williams Sonoma | ![]() Bonnie and Pop | ![]() Bonnie and Pop | ![]() Mouth | ![]() The Good Grocer | ![]() Tropical Fruit Box | ![]() Gluten Free Palace | ![]() Harry & David |
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Name | Deluxe Organic Fruit Gift Basket | XL 18 Variety Nut & Dried Fruit Basket | Manhattan Fruitier Charcuterie Hamper | Dried Fruit Gift Basket | Nut Gift Basket | Happy + Healthy! | Healthy Non-GMO and Vegan Snacks Care Package | Taste the Tropics Fruit Box | Deluxe Snacks Variety Pack | Birthday Wine Box |
Features | Best Basket for High-Quality Fresh Fruit | Best Dried Fruit Basket With Exotic Additions | Best Artisanal Mix of Fruit, Meat, and Cheese | Best Practical Dried Fruit Gift Basket | Best Nut Mix With a Variety of Flavors | Best for Treating a Loved One to a Mix of Unique Snacks | Best Indulgent-Yet-Healthy Vegan Care Package | Best for Impressing Friends and Family With Rare Fruit | Best Gift Box for Gluten- or Dairy-Free Snacks | Best for Celebrating an Adult's Birthday |
Price | $99.99 | $49.99 | $199.95 | $35.50 | $34.99 | $101.00 | $45.95 | $99.00 | $58.98 | $54.99 |
Includes | Organic pears, apples, oranges, grapefruit, agave syrup, relish, banana chips, dried cranberries, tea, basket | Dried fruits, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews | Apples, pears, meats, cheeses, snacks, pistachios, basket, bamboo serving board | Dried fruits | Cashews, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, pecans, dried cranberries | Snacks, sweets, peanut butter, tea | 28 snacks, including nuts, chips, fruit snacks, more | Pink pineapple, longans, dragon fruit, apple bananas, tropical avocado, papaya | 40 snacks, including chips, pretzels, cookies, more | Wine, cheese, crackers, almonds, relish, wine bag |
Perishables | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Dietary considerations | Not provided | Vegan | Not provided | Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free | Not provided | Not provided | Vegan | Vegan, dairy-free | Gluten-free, dairy-free | Not provided |
Best for | Families, couples | Large families, foodies | Adults, foodies | Families, party hosts | Adults, couples, individuals | One adult, foodies | Families, individuals, kids | Adults, families, foodies | Dietary restrictions, kids, adults | Adult birthdays, foodies |
Flavors | Fruity | Fruity, savory | Fruity, savory | Fruity, sweet | Sweet, savory, spicy | Sweet, savory | Sweet, savory | Fruity | Sweet, savory, salty | Savory |
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※Please note that these products were not picked by Kara Swanson, but chosen through extensive research and by combing through customer reviews by our staff at mybest.
$99.99
Includes | Organic pears, apples, oranges, grapefruit, agave syrup, relish, banana chips, dried cranberries, tea, basket |
---|---|
Perishables | Yes |
Dietary considerations | Not provided |
Best for | Families, couples |
Flavors | Fruity |
$49.99
Includes | Dried fruits, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews |
---|---|
Perishables | No |
Dietary considerations | Vegan |
Best for | Large families, foodies |
Flavors | Fruity, savory |
$199.95
Includes | Apples, pears, meats, cheeses, snacks, pistachios, basket, bamboo serving board |
---|---|
Perishables | Yes |
Dietary considerations | Not provided |
Best for | Adults, foodies |
Flavors | Fruity, savory |
$35.50
Includes | Dried fruits |
---|---|
Perishables | No |
Dietary considerations | Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free |
Best for | Families, party hosts |
Flavors | Fruity, sweet |
$34.99
Includes | Cashews, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, pecans, dried cranberries |
---|---|
Perishables | No |
Dietary considerations | Not provided |
Best for | Adults, couples, individuals |
Flavors | Sweet, savory, spicy |
$101.00
Includes | Snacks, sweets, peanut butter, tea |
---|---|
Perishables | No |
Dietary considerations | Not provided |
Best for | One adult, foodies |
Flavors | Sweet, savory |
$45.95
Includes | 28 snacks, including nuts, chips, fruit snacks, more |
---|---|
Perishables | No |
Dietary considerations | Vegan |
Best for | Families, individuals, kids |
Flavors | Sweet, savory |
$99.00
Includes | Pink pineapple, longans, dragon fruit, apple bananas, tropical avocado, papaya |
---|---|
Perishables | Yes |
Dietary considerations | Vegan, dairy-free |
Best for | Adults, families, foodies |
Flavors | Fruity |
40 Piece Set
$58.98
Includes | 40 snacks, including chips, pretzels, cookies, more |
---|---|
Perishables | No |
Dietary considerations | Gluten-free, dairy-free |
Best for | Dietary restrictions, kids, adults |
Flavors | Sweet, savory, salty |
White Wine
$54.99
Includes | Wine, cheese, crackers, almonds, relish, wine bag |
---|---|
Perishables | No |
Dietary considerations | Not provided |
Best for | Adult birthdays, foodies |
Flavors | Savory |
Picking a healthy gift basket can be a bit more complex than just looking for healthy foods since they often include a bunch of different items. To help us get a better idea of what to consider, we contacted nutritionist Kara Swanson for more advice.
Nuts provide your body with protein, healthy fats, and even fiber. Almonds, walnuts, and cashews are accessible and nutritious options included in gift baskets. Fruit also offers vitamins, minerals, and fiber while remaining sweet enough for most sugary treat lovers.
For perishable food, try to keep shipping under two days. Consider options that don't spoil quickly, like apples or pomegranates. Delicate fruit, like raspberries, may mold or spoil quickly. The fruit has to last through shipping, but it should also be good for at least a few days after it arrives. After all, your recipient likely won't eat it all right away!
Some sellers may offer a satisfaction guarantee, which is especially important if they are shipping perishable items.
See if the seller includes adequate packaging for the food to arrive fresh and undamaged, including ice packs if necessary. For example, dark chocolate may melt without an ice pack during the summer months, and fruit may get bruised if it isn't packaged well.
It's always best to assume that shipping takes longer than listed, especially if you're sending it straight to the recipient. Packages can often be left alone at a doorstep or in the hospital reception room for a long time, so make sure to anticipate this happening. Some baskets may offer tracking, depending on what shipping service they use.
If you're concerned about spoilage, consider going with packaged snacks or items with a longer shelf life, like hard cheeses, jerky, dried fruit, honey, and nuts.
Even if you find the healthiest basket in the world, it won’t mean much if your recipient can’t enjoy it! Make sure to consider their taste and dietary preferences.
In some cases, you can even find gift baskets created especially for certain conditions, such as hospital patients with cancer. For medical restrictions, you usually want to try and look for something with a balanced nutritional profile. However, this depends on the condition, so make sure to check with their doctor!
For extra peace of mind, look for sellers with excellent customer service. It should be easy to contact them if you have questions about the food, like if items are made in a gluten-free facility or are certified organic. To confirm this, take a look at the product description or their website to see if a customer service number or email is easy to find.
If you're sending a gift basket to one person for a holiday or birthday, you can tailor the contents to their preferences. However, if you're sending it to a family or office, it might be best to include a variety of tastes and textures!
You can also consider whether or not the packaging can be reused, such as with the basket that doubles as a reusable fruit bowl.
If you want the basket to arrive in time for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Valentine's Day, make sure to check the shipping times. Some companies and shipping services have cut off dates for the last day you can place an order if you want it to arrive by a holiday.
To make it feel more like a gift, look for packaging or flavors that match the occasion rather than just a generic basket. For example, details like bows or colorful packaging add visual impact, while seasonal flavors feel festive. And, it never hurts to add your own gift message!
It might not be the most exciting for your recipient to get food that they can find at their local supermarket! If you want a gift that feels more special, consider specialty or handmade treats. It's a nice way to treat your loved ones to some healthy snacks they may not typically buy for themselves.
However, if you're giving a basket to a family with kids, pre-packaged goodies might be a safer bet. While common items may not feel quite as memorable, most kiddos will enjoy familiar brands.
Recipients with strict dietary restrictions may also appreciate packaged snacks! For example, if your gluten-free friend struggles to find snacks, they may enjoy a gift basket full of mass-produced healthy gluten-free goodies. That way, they can find new favorites that they can easily repurchase at the supermarket.
Though buying a premade basket is convenient, sometimes you want to pick the items yourself! Taking the time to choose each and every product and pack a combination of treats that are one-of-a-kind makes the present even more special for the receiver.
Take into consideration what kind of habits the person you're considering giving a basket to has. Are they often busy? Add some ingredients for meals that are easy to prepare! You can even mix up some pre-prepared foods yourself. Maybe that person has a snacking habit? Add a variety of healthy and new treats.
When you plan your own basket, you can also pick the actual basket. This allows you to match it to your friend's aesthetics. Or, you can change it up by packing the gifts into something that's interestingly shaped or made of different materials. For example, you can pack healthy movie snacks and popcorn kernels in a popcorn bucket!
Are you looking for ways to personalize your gift basket? Whether you're creating your own or want to add some special touches to a pre-made option, check out these frequently asked questions.
To add an extra decorative touch to a gift basket, you can't go wrong with classic items like ribbons, bows, and a personal message. If your recipient is eco-conscious, consider recyclable or reusable materials.
You can also add decorations that are unique to your recipient or the occasion! For example, a gift basket for a recent graduate could be decorated in their school's colors. Or, a Christmas basket could have tinsel and a few other wintery items to add visual interest, like mittens or ornaments.
For the most impact, include foods in a variety of sizes and shapes. Having too many items that are the same size will make the basket less visually appealing. Then, use basket filler or something similar as a base for your items. This will allow you to dome your treats, letting the recipient see everything inside.
Place tall items in the back or center of the basket and smaller ones near the edges. If you're concerned about the snacks jostling around in transit, make sure they are snugly placed or secured with twine or glue dots. You can also wrap the entire basket in cellophane or fabric for extra security.
While a basket is always a classic option, there is an endless number of basket alternatives! An easy alternative is a box, like a rustic wooden crate or a heart-shaped cardboard box.
You can make your gift basket more unique by thinking outside of the box! Try placing movie snacks in a large popcorn bucket or place pantry items in a stockpot. Healthy cookies could go in a cookie jar, charcuterie items could be placed in a serving tray, and packaged snacks could be stored in a tote. For kids, arrange snacks in a backpack or lunchbox!
Many of these options act as an additional gift, too, giving your recipient something they can use after they've finished all of the food. For an extra special touch, consider personalizing the container, like putting their name on a fabric tote.
No matter what you choose, make sure it's large and sturdy enough for all of your treats! You don't want the bottom to fall out of a flimsy cardboard box. If you're including a lot of items, consider a container with handles to make it easier for your recipient to carry around.
Although a preprepared basket of healthy treats is convenient, you can always create your own! Here are some of our favorite healthy snacks and treats for you to consider.
Chocolates may not be the healthiest snack, but they're still great in moderation! They provide antioxidants and have a positive effect on mood. If you're looking for something a little bit healthier than processed milk chocolate to add to a gift box, try these ones recommended by Kara Swanson.
8.4 oz.
$14.99
Looking for other gift basket ideas? Check out Amazon's best selling food and beverage gifts for healthy and indulgent options.
Household goods
Home electronics, PC, camera
Cosmetics and skincare
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications