10 Best Healthy Gift Baskets in 2022 (Nutritionist-Reviewed)

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:

• The quality, flavor profile, and nutrition of the treats
• Whether or not they contain perishables
• The type of occasion the basket is suited for
• The variety of common versus unique snacks

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!

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. 

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. 

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.

Looking for other gift basket ideas? Check out Amazon's best selling food and beverage gifts for healthy and indulgent options.

Author: Jacqueline Oshiro

Updated by: Sara Chittenden, 11/5/2021

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