Here's something I learned over the holidays. When giving food gifts, be sure you're not sending people stuff they can't eat, whether it's due to allergies, illnesses, or religious beliefs.
This Christmas, my family received two food gifts we had to re-gift because of these issues. I'm not stepping on any toes by discussing this because one of the parties found out already and the other party doesn't read my blog.
See, I'm a diabetic and my son is allergic to eggs. The first gift was a selection of gourmet soup and bread mixes. All of them either contained eggs or were made in a facility where eggs are processed and ran the risk of cross-contamination. That meant none of these mixes could be prepared and served in our home while our son was around since we try not to prepare or serve foods he can't eat.
The second gift was a cookie boquet. A lot of people don't realize that while most breads and crackers are egg-free, many cookies and cakes aren't. I'm trying to avoid sweets and my son has to avoid eggs, so this one was a double whammy. My wife had to take it to work.
When I buy someone I care about a gift, I try to make sure I get them something they'll enjoy and use. Merely giving a gift is not enough. I want to give them a good gift. And if I chose wrong, I'd rather know so I can do better the next time. Because I love them, I want the gifts I give them to bring them joy, not just show I cared enough to get them something.
If you're like me and want to give gifts your recipients can and will enjoy, when you're planning a food gift, do a little investigation first just to be sure. That way your recipients can not only thank you when they get the gift, but you'll get another thanks after they've consumed it and you'll know it was a success.
Entries (RSS)