How to Send Health Food Baskets

A full, healthy fruit basket.

Sending a gift basket is not only a thoughtful present for your recipient to receive, but the perfect opportunity to substitute candies and cookies with health foods. A health food gift basket can be given to loved ones in the hospital, friends recovering from illness, or even those you know suffering from health afflictions. For a small amount of money you can create a thoughtful health food gift basket that can be shipped or even hand delivered.

Things You'll Need

• Box of assorted herbal teas
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Cinnamon sticks
• Maple syrup
• Quinoa
• Organic fruits and vegetables for the season
• Assorted organic nuts
• Organic beans, grains and flour
• One appropriate size basket
• Fake flowers for the season
• Clear shrink wrap
• Blow dryer
• Coordinating ribbon

Instructions

1. 

   Prepare your basket.

   Prepare your basket. Take your basket and remove any broken pieces of the weave. With your ribbon tie a simple bow on one of the corners with your ribbon as just an accent decoration. Lay out all items you plan to place in your gift basket on the table.

2. Begin filling the basket. Place large items in your basket first and use items that are box-shaped to hold up more awkwardly shaped items. Place fruits, vegetables and other items that can be easily damaged on top and out of harms way. If you cannot find the suggested basket fillers, use items from the Super Foods Guide by WebMD that suggests items like fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, quinoa and beans.

3. Fill in the gaps. Anywhere you have gaps in your health food basket, fill it with fake flowers or even paper fillers so that the basket looks completely full.

4. Create your notes. Either using a pre-made gift card or even creating your own, ensure you include a note to your gift basket recipient. Create a small menu of the items that are included to help recipients that are unfamiliar with health food products. Try to include a recipe or two that incorporates the items in the gift basket.

5. Wrap the basket with the shrink wrap. Ensure that the ends of your shrink wrap are at the top of your basket. Gather the ends and tie closed with your excess ribbon. Use a blow dryer on medium-high to heat the shrink wrap slowly until it has tightened around the basket fully.

6. Deliver the basket. Keep the basket upright during delivery and either leave it on a doorstep as a welcoming surprise, or wait until your recipient is home to hand it to them yourself. When shipping your gift basket, never lay your basket on its side. Use a box large enough, so that your basket stands upright and use shredded paper or packing peanuts to fill the empty space and ensure your basket will not move around.

Tips & Warnings

• Fill your basket with items that are "in season".

• Use decorations and flowers that are part of the season.

• When using fresh fruits and vegetables ensure that your gift basket does not sit in direct sunlight or warm temperatures to avoid spoilage.

• Never include home made jellies, jams or sauces that have been canned without following proper canning procedures.

References

• Health Food Guide: Give A Healthy Food Gift Basket - The Gift Of Life And Encouragement
• WebMD: 10 Health Foods Under $1
• WebMD: 10 Everyday Super Foods