HealthSensation

If you’re struggling to think of stocking stuffers for your family and friends who you know are massive foodies, here’s a comprehensive gift list I have compiled of little treats! I’ve tried to think of goodies that are ethically made, locally made or environmentally friendly so that you’re making a positive difference to a small business (or to the world) this Christmas! I’ve aimed to choose things that are close by so that it’s easy to just nip into town and grab these if you need to amp up a lacklustre pressie at the last minute. Remember that even if you’ve got no $$ to spend, some of these things are super cheap and a heartfelt card is equally if not more meaningful. Have a very merry #Healthsensation Christmas everyone!! ❤

#1: Organic Fair Trade Hot Chocolate

Trade Aid has so many cute little gifts and this Organic Fair Trade Drinking Chocolate is a great gift idea, espesh if you buy a cute mug or keep cup to go with it! They also have heaps of other little treats like Almond and Ginger Bark which looked delicious, as well as Fair Trade tea, coffee and spices. You definitely know it’s ethical coming from trade aid and their chocolate is so good! This one is $6.

#2: Mrs Higgins’ Cookie Bucket

I didn’t know Mrs Higgins did cookie buckets too but here they are! They come in 3 flavours: Chunky Choc Chip, Raspberry and White Choc and Coconut Apricot Choc Chip. A good idea if you know someone who loves Mrs Higgins! These are $17 each. The new Cookie Time Strawberry and Cream cookies are also DELISH so definitely worth a try!

#3 Champagne Flavoured Gummy Bears

Acquisitions in Lower Hutt is a great gift shop for sweets – they have these Champagne flavoured gummy bears, as well as Rosé flavoured ones, and other food gifts like Kama Sutra gummy lollies and penis shaped pasta lol. These were $10 each, and IkoIko has similar ones!

#4: Cookie Jars from GoodFor

GoodFor Store has just opened in Wellington and it’s amazing! It’s totally packaging free and there are so many things you can get – definitely have a look at their Instagram @goodforstore, it’s amazing! They have heaps of other environmentally friendly gift ideas too like other jar mixes, peanut butter, reusable cups, drink bottles and lunchboxes, bags, cutlery, metal razors, and Ethique beauty products, so it’s definitely worth a look! This is also something you could easily recreate at home if you already have the right ingredients.

#5: Fix and Fogg Peanut Butter

Everyone lost their marbles when the Hazelnut and Almond butters came out from Fix & Fogg – and it’s because they were delicious! Online you can order sets of Peanut Butter like this “Nut Butter Collection” as well as a “Peanut Butter Selection Box.” You can also buy whole buckets of peanut butter as well, or a peanut butter subscription!

#6: Gift Jars of Lollies from Sakara

Sakara on Manners Street are a store filled with international pick and mix lollies! You can bring your own jar and curate a lolly jar for someone and tie it up with a ribbon. My favourites there are the Percy Pigs or the Gin and Tonic lollies! Definitely a cute idea for a personalised gift.

#7: Takeaway Pasta Kit

If you know someone who would die for pasta, this is such a good idea. This kit from 1154 Pasteria comes with pasta, sauce, and two breadrolls, enough for 2 people (Or one of me). You could give the gift of ‘a romantic date,’ cook this pasta with ur boo and then watch the Lady and the Tramp and recreate the spaghetti scene. You don’t have to do that but let’s be real what a GREAT IDEA

#8: Wellington Chocolate Factory Chocolate.

Wellington Chocolate Factory‘s bars are always so beautiful, the chocolate on the inside is carved like a piece of art and it always tastes so rich and delicious. For Christmas they’re also doing a 5-bar box which comes with a beautiful gift box to give your chocs in!

#9: Buttered Toast & Sea Salt Chocolate

Image from https://www.hogarthchocolate.co.nz/wp/product/buttered-toast-sea-salt/

This chocolate by Hogarth is literally incredible. These blocks are handmade in Nelson and I can’t explain how it tastes like toast, but it just DOES. As if you had smeared chocolate over your hot buttery toast. It blew my mind and was absolutely delicious. You can grab it off their website or from New World!

#10: Cooler Lunch Bags or Reusable Totes

These are a great idea if you want to gift a foodie something that’s not food! These bags from IkoIko are super cute, food-themed and good for the planet! They have mini lunchboxes as well as these bigger tote bags which are v. groovy.

#11: Cutlery Sets from Cosmic

Cosmic sells these little cutlery sets so you’ll never be caught without the essentials again. I know I’m guilty of forgetting to carry a fork around and this would easily solve the problem!!

#12: Insects. (Yes, insects)

Image from https://ikoiko.co.nz/products/eatcrawlersspicyperipericrickets

Hear me out. First of all, eating insects is great for the planet bc it takes so much less water and land to farm them, so they’re the way of the future and we may need to get used to it. Second of all, it would be really funny to watch people eat them. IkoIko sells Peri Peri Crickets, Mixed Insects and Chocolate Coated Scorpions for the brave. Apparently they taste really good so don’t knock it before you try it!

#13: McClure’s Pickles

Image from https://fatherrabbit.com/products/sweet-and-spicy-crinkle-cut-pickles-mcclures-pickles?variant=17367375617

If you know a pickle lover, why not invest in some fancy pickles? You can buy these huge jars from Best Ugly Bagels or online!

#14: T2 Tea

Image from https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/356065914290242257/?lp=true

You can’t go wrong with a cup of tea! Of course T2 sells a massive range of Tea and fancy tea paraphernalia, and so does Apothecary, TLeaf and even Max Fashions.

#15 Crepe Maker

Image from https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/living-co-crepe-maker-with-utensils/R2471680.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1268368?ds_rl=1268368&gclid=Cj0KCQiA89zvBRDoARIsAOIePbALMEqwzb56itm4XZoKPwuPtMYR3ozIN-VQRM-slDbvepRVL9DaYBIaAsb3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Idk about you but I’ve always thought that using the little crepe wand thing has looked super fun. These are sold at The Warehouse and they’re only $29!

#16: Craft Beer

Image from https://www.kererubrewing.co.nz/shop

Kereru, a brewery in Upper Hutt, sells craft beer advent calendars! They’re also selling mixed boxes of all their different kinds of beer, including flavours like Feijoa, Blueberry, and Chocolate Cherry for Christmas. I think they may or may not be discounted rn because the 12 days of Christmas have passed so get in

#17: Gingerbread House

You may or may not have seen on my Insta but our flat built this and it was heaps of fun to decorate!! It was a very satisfying ASMR kind of experience, I would go as far to say soothing to pipe the icing in a straight line and join the house together. This was only $9 from The Warehouse and it was heaps of fun! Would recommend buying some more lollies though, because you just can’t have too many.

#18: Six Barrel Soda

Image from https://ikoiko.co.nz/products/sixbarrelsodarosemaryandcucumbertonicsyrup

Six Barrel Soda is locally made in Wellington and they make beautiful soda syrups to mix with soda or sparkling water, to make fancy sodas, cocktails and mocktails. There’s a huge range you can buy in store or from their website at Six Barrel Soda, or there’s some in IkoIko too! Perf for a refreshing summer treat

#19: Good Fortune Coffee

Image from https://images.app.goo.gl/882t2Zy6Jnbw11AU7

The packaging for this coffee is super cute if you wanted something to help someone stay awake on Christmas morning (It’s so hard when you stay up late trying to catch Santa in the act.) You can grab these from Seashore Cabaret in Petone, (As well as other little treats like fortune cookies and little wrapped parcels of caramel) or online from Good Fortune!

#20 Sweet ATM Christmas box

Image from https://www.instagram.com/p/B6FJlFepn_e/

SweetATM make the cutest little boxes that you can post in time for Christmas! These are so effective, they look amazing and are so yummy. The Christmas one comes with four Christmas themed donuts, a box of scorched almonds, a lindt milk chocolate bar, four mini KitKat santas and it’s topped with other little treats! Order them off SweetATM!

#21: Moustache Giant Christmas Cookie

Image from https://moustache.co.nz/products/christmas-giant-cookie

Moustache’s cookies are TO DIE FOR – they are so delicious. The Party Cookie Pie literally blew my socks off when I had it. The #girlboss of the biz puts in SO much hard work and effort making these cookies and you can taste the love inside them. You can order cookie boxes, cookie cakes and cookie pies off Moustache’s website!

#22: Tea from Apothecary

Apothecary is a super cute store on Cuba Street that sells herbal teas, books about wellness and other little things like clay face masks, soothing sprays, candles and teacups.

#23: Beefeater Pink Gin

Image from https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSNvgEU5EnxMSplg5-hJqUh0GRkIueyqot6eF8ETZDyAWQVLgJA

This Beefeater’s Pink Gin tastes like strawberries and is so sweet! It’s such a summery drink and makes for absolutely gorgeous gin and tonics or cocktails, especially with some fresh strawberries cut up and put inside as well. You can grab it from LiqourLand! Definitely wouldn’t go amiss on Xmas day.

#24: Chocboi’s Chocolates

Image from https://www.instagram.com/p/B5pJ5MEJLQG/

Joey, aka ChocBoi makes the most incredible chocolates (they are fr breathtaking!!!) His insta is super cool and watching how they’re made is mesmerising. It’s so cool watching him think up each and every chocolate! He’s a ‘one man chocolate factory’ like it says in his bio. Everything is handmade and so so cool, definitely DM him for choc orders!

Hey everybody! I’ve made this list for all of you non vegan people out there like myself who want to educate themselves on the vegan dishes that Wellington City has to offer!! Whether you’re choosing to order something vegan because it’s better for the environment, because of your beliefs about animal consumption, because of your dietary requirements, or like me, just because it tastes good, don’t forget you can use your choice as a consumer to make a difference 🙏🏻 If more non vegan people choose to order vegan dishes more often, we are collectively expanding our taste buds to new foods, and collectively reducing our impact! You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy vegan food 🙌🏼🌏🌱

1. Smoked Tofu and Cashew Gyoza from Chow

These lil dumplings from Chow were super yummy – I ordered like 8 dishes from the menu and this was my favourite by far. The flavours inside were so good and the texture was awesome, I could have eaten so many of these. Chow have HEAPS of vegan options on their menu which are all really fresh and packed with flavour so I would definitely recommend this!

2. Croc Shakes

These bad boys can easily be made vegan because of Croc Shake’s huge selection of dairy free icecream!! Just because there’s no dairy does NOT mean they are sleeping on chocolately goodness 😍

3. Nachos from Midnight Espresso

Obviously it would have been a crime to forget what is probably Wellington’s most famous vegan celeb, Nachos from Midnight. A crowd favourite, a go to, and a classic. There are also heaps of other vegan options as well! (In fact, probably more than there are non vegan options.)

4. Pesto Lasagne from Krishna Food

Krishna food only serve vegan food, and it’s all delicious!! This lasagne is one of my fave lasagnes of all time. The pesto is TASTY and it just makes you feel good. Definitely a comfort food, plus it’s cheap and you can get it at uni!! A win win. Their snickers bars are also delicious and not to be forgotten.

5. Vegan Burger from Burger Burger

Unfortunately Burger Burger has not made its way down to Welly yet but if you are up in Auckland I can not recommend this enough. It was DELISH. The beef burger was the best I’d ever had too, but I ordered two, and this was the vegan one. I got it as a “bunnace” (wrapped in lettuce instead of in a bun…. as I said, I had 2 burgers so I had to fit both in 😂) This one was teriyaki and sesame tofu, Asian slaw, bean sprouts, pickled cucumber and coriander and ginger dressing. I’m not 100% sure if this is still on the menu or not, but the other vegan option sounds equally as delicious: Mushroom, quinoa and walnut patty with roasted field mushroom, baby spinach, vegan Swiss cheese, caramelised onion, green vegan aioli and tomato jam. I cannot rave about Burger Burger enough, they are incredible.

6. Cafe Neo

This photo is me easing into the vegetarian breakfast, by adding bacon on the side lol. Always an option…. Neo offers HEAPS of vegan goodies, including bagels, granola, porridge, and zucchini and pea fritters.

7. Brownie and Icecreams from Lashings

Lashings offers 2 types of vegan brownies, as well as 2 vegan icecreams and cones, and vegan options for the ice cream brownie bar. The icecreams are coconut or cashew based!

8. Anything from Fix and Fogg!

Everything offered at the Fix and Fogg window on Eva St is or can be made vegan!!! God bless peanut butter. They serve up a huge range or yummy toast options (PB, chocolate and coconut, or Smoke and Fire PB with tomatoes and balsamic glaze for example) as well as smoothie bowls!

9. Guacamole and Chips from El Culo Del Mundo

These chips were handmade and SO GOOD. Best tortilla chips I’ve ever had to be quite honest. An easy and tasty snack 👌🏼

10. Kaffee Eis Sorbet

Kaffee Eis offer heaps vegan flavours – they have lemon, raspberry, chocolate sorbet, passionfruit, blackcurrent, boysenberry and mango!

11. Rigatoni from 1154 Pasteria

The Pasteria serves a rigatoni with 3 vegan sauces to choose from: Rocket and Sunflower Pesto, Tomato and Basil, or a tangy red Sweet and Sour sauce!

12. Cauliflower Tacos from Mexico

For all you spice lovers out there, these were SPICY. Too spicy for me in fact. I don’t wanna talk about it.

Foodie Gift Ideas