Few things in life are more stressful or time-consuming than becoming a new parent. Having a baby completely upends their lives, with any semblance or “me time” replaced by time spent caring for the new addition to the family. We discuss this in our New Mama Deck cards. For this reason, I'd like to get my son and daughter-in-law a food gift to take care of a few meals. But she is also gluten-free. This makes it a challenge.
What is a good gluten-free food gift for new parents?
Sending a gift to a new parent lets them know that you’re thinking about them and the little one, but most care packages for newborn parents are gifts for the baby, not the parents: baby clothes, toys, stuffed animals, and the like. Sending a gift to the parents can finally allow them to take a moment for themselves, and no gift is more welcome than food!
The best gluten-free gifts for new parents are ones that spoil them a little and don’t require too much work. These include sweet treats that can be eaten right out of the box, meals that don’t require any heating, and heat and eat comfort foods like casseroles. Treat the new parents in your life to a moment of (delicious) joy – ship these tasty, comforting, and easy foods to them with Goldbelly!
At-home Dim Sum feast.
Gluten-fee dim sum is a rare find. I found these Gluten-Free Chicken and Cabbage Dumplings, which can be shipped all over the country. Add on a sauce or two (I love the black vinegar ginger and chili sauces) and send some dumplings to your kids.
A box of hot little biscuits.
There are few things better in this life than a steaming hot biscuit straight out of the oven laden with honey butter. Thanks to Charleston institution Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, you can experience this same joy even without the gluten (and without having to get on a plane to Charleston). Send this eight-pack of biscuits, which comes frozen and ready to warm up in the oven as soon as a craving hits, to your gluten-free new mama.
A collection of best-selling mochi ice cream.
Perhaps one of mochi’s most redeeming qualities is that it’s naturally gluten-free, which means the frozen treats lover in your life can indulge in any of the flavors (there are dairy-free options too!) carefree.
A pack of cult-favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Nothing says decadence like a chunky, warm Levain cookie. Fortunately for your vegan and gluten-free friends, Levain has released their signature chocolate chip walnut cookie baked with a vegan cashew butter, gluten-free flour, and vegan chocolate but with all the same deliciousness. Do yourself a favor and while you’re ordering a pack for a loved one, get one for yourself too.
Some sweet treats to stash in their bag.
Dalci is perfect for the person in your life who needs to have a sweet treat after every meal, but is also always on the go. Their individually packaged brownies and blondies use almond flour, coconut sugar, and avocado oil to create a confection that’s special enough for a weekend night at home and that’s convenient enough to pop in your work bag for a midday pick-me-up. With this variety pack, your dessert cravings will be set for life (or at least a few weeks).
A few boxes of giftable granola.
Give this Sweet Deliverance gift box trio to your friend who, like me, is fanatical about granola. This Hudson Valley–based brand boasts seed-heavy, fragrant flavors like sour cherry and pistachio rose that are free of gluten and refined sugar. Bonus points for the packaging, which will make you want to keep the tins out even after breakfast is complete.
A museum-worthy chocolate box.
You know what they say—life is a box of gluten-free chocolates. And it might as well be this stunning one from Compartés that makes the perfect gift for your friend who doesn’t go a day without chocolate. Take my advice and order one for yourself too.
A few at-home movie night essentials.
Know someone who seeks comfort in housing an entire bag of popcorn while watching TV at night? Change their life and buy them Tochi Snacks’ Black Sesame Popcorn. The perfectly round, fluffy kernels are coated in a nutty, sweet flavoring. This is the kind of snack worth gifting and the one you’ll keep in the back of the cupboard for special occasion streaming (i.e., premieres, finales, new episodes of a show released just once a week).
A gluten-free pizza shipped straight from Italy.
Your gluten-free friends and family should not have to miss out on a pizza party. Talia Di Napoli’s Gluten Free Margherita uses its traditional pomodoro sauce, Fior di Latte mozzarella, Parmesan, and basil on a proprietary crust that combines three gluten-free bases. It only takes 10 minutes in the oven and no plane ride to have a slice of Naples right in your kitchen.
Some grain-free crackers for impromptu cheese boards.
A proper pantry should have crackers on hand at all times—who knows when you’ll have to assemble a cheese board at the drop of a hat or need something crunchy to dunk into your go-to nut butter? Whether you’re gluten-free or not, these buckwheat crackers from Maine Crisps are just the right amount of nutty and savory and boast flavors like olive and za’atar and savory fig and thyme (my personal favorite). They’re the perfect gift for the snacker in your life who likes to keep things interesting and won’t settle for just any cracker.
New Mama Deck and Hack Decks™
After bringing baby home from the hospital and life returns to a “new normal,” you can very often feel a shift in your energy. There is little time left for you in between changing diapers, feedings, laundry, and tummy time. For this reason, one important question new moms often ask themselves is "Where did the ME time go?" And how do I meet and juggle all these new demands on my time? This is especially true for first time moms.
Pick up a pack of New Mama Deck cards and give them with a great gift of food. The two will let mom take a little break and start to think about her needs, as well as the baby's. Good mental health for mom means good care for baby and a calm family life. If the food gift is shipped, then bring the New Mama Deck with you when you go to meet the baby for the first time. It will be a welcome gift for any new mama.