There are times when we want to give food gifts to our friends and loved ones, but we want to be sure that we are giving them the most healthy, yet still delicious choices. In the past, many of us have opted for fruit basket gifts instead of sugary treats because so many we care for have diabetes or are trying to keep eyes on their figures. Interestingly, recent discoveries have been made that have identified a new chemical group, called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s for short).

 These chemicals have been found in many of the foods we regularly eat, including fruits and vegetables. Since these chemicals, called “obesogens” by scientists, can promote weight gain, obesity, and other conditions, we want to try to avoid those in our daily diets – and in our food gifts we are giving to others.

Lately in the health and wellness field, there has been some talk of the ‘dirty dozen’ and the ‘clean dozen,’ referring to two sets of foods: one set including foods that are at higher risk for EDC’s and other chemicals and the other set of twelve foods that are at the least risk. If you are looking for fruit gifts or fruit baskets that lower your risks for exposure to chemicals, you should keep an eye out for the following fruits:

• Pineapple
• Mango
• Kiwi
• Domestic cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Grapefruit
• Honeydew

Since the fruits above all have skins which can be peeled off of the food prior to eating, they are better choices for avoiding chemicals, especially obesogens. But, there is another way to make sure you are giving the healthiest fruit choices to your loved ones. Organic fruit gift baskets.
By choosing organic produce to be in your gifts, you are dramatically decreasing the exposure of your loved ones to obesogens. Plus, since organic foods are grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides, you are decreasing their risks of ingesting those chemicals as well. AND, there is even more! Organic foods are delicious, grown just the way nature intended, with soil, water, and light. Simply put, you cannot give your friends and loved ones anything healthier than organic fruits unless you grow them yourself, organically in your garden.

So, as you prepare to buy that next gift for someone, consider fruit basket gifts again. You don’t have to buy the organics per se, but if you do, you know you are gifting the very best to those you care for. By giving the healthiest foods you can, you are letting people know you are glad to have them in your life and are looking forward to having them around and healthy for a very long time.