Healthy Gifts
For some people, school years are but a hazy memory, marked by droll routine, endless homework assignments and castigating exams. For others, though, these same years are some of the most important in their lives, since they put a special person in their way that enlightened, inspired and cared for them – that one unforgettable teacher who instilled a passion for a particular subject or for the process of learning as a whole. Parents of students who may be graduating, ending a particularly significant year of study or even leaving their residence for greener pastures, may want to thank that one special teacher with a gift that highlights their importance and the giver’s gratefulness for their vocational spirit. These are just six special ways you can show appreciation for a truly great teacher:- Spa baskets: When purchasing a thank you gift for a teacher, it is important to should your thoughtfulness. Teachers (especially primary school or craft/art teachers) often complain of dry, cracked skin, caused by everything from writing with chalk to handling paint and supplies. A guaranteed pleaser is a small but well-packaged spa basket, containing items like lotion, gel or soothing fragrances. We are particularly enraptured by Crabtree & Evelyn’s Nantucket Briar, a blend or rose, citrusy, green and vanilla notes that is somehow delightfully gentle and nutty. Nantucket Briar is one of Crabtree & Evelyn’s most popular scents, which is why it comes in so many individual products – everything from a shower gel to an intensive hand therapy lotion, body lotion and eau de toilette fragrance. You will find these products, set in a beautiful round floral double-zippered case (with a large round mirror on the inner top of the case), at Gifts for Every Reason
- Vegan gourmet items: A creamy
artichoke dip, crisp, peppery crackers and dried crispy fruit… these are
just some of the many healthy snacks that drive vegans crazy in the best
sense possible. If you have had the fortune of getting to know your
child’s teacher, and you discover he or she is vegan, a great way to show
your support and thoughtfulness is by giving them a gourmet basket they
can actually enjoy entirely. Of course, this basket will be appreciated by
anyone with a penchant for healthy products, as well as those who are
trying to enrich their nutritional uptake following a health
issue involving a loss of appetite. Across Canada, a myriad of
companies, from the swankiest five-star hotels right through to luxury
rehabilitation centers, are waking up to the antioxidant
power of superfoods such
as herbal tea, fruits and vegetables such as onions, red peppers and
olives. These foods help detoxify the body, scavenging free radicals and
helping the immunity function at its optimal level. Fruit is
another powerful food used to heal and strengthen the body.
- Flowers: There
is something about flowers that elicits an instant feeling of joy. Yellow
roses represent friendship and freedom, light pink ones express
fun, peach roses symbolize appreciation… which of this feelings first
springs to mind when you think of your child’s teacher?
- Baby items: If the teacher is a new mother
or father, one of the best things you can do to make their day is to
purchase something for the new addition to the family – handy tool kits,
useful products (such as bottles and wipes) and cute stuffed toys are
gifts that never disappoint.
- Sweet things: Mid-morning and midday is
always a challenging time for teachers, who need to keep their energy
levels up and their calm factor down, despite the plethora of tantrums
and/or challenging situations that can threaten their peace of mind. A
well-presented assortment of items like chocolate, trail mixes, biscuits
and shortbread will be well appreciated during your teacher’s snack
time/coffee break. Keep the chocolate dark in order to maximize its
benefits – did you know that dark chocolate has been found to promote
cardiovascular health and to keep dangerous conditions such as Type II
diabetes at bay? This is because the cocoa bean, like other superfoods
like berries and red wine, is rich in flavonoids, which regulate insulin
levels in the body. A 2010 German study indicated that just one small
square of chocolate can lower one’s risk of heart attack by an amazing 39
per cent!
- Chocolate Strawberries: Surprise your teacher with something that is full of Nature’s goodness and delightfully sweet at once – a spectacular looking set of 12 strawberries dipped into an array of chocolate types – everything from snow white chocolate to the rick, dark variety!
Content provided by author, Jenni Grayson
