If you have a heavy lifting tofu lover on your hands and you don't know what to get them, fret not. I will make you the champion of gift giving.
To help put this together, I asked a few of my fellow vegan meathead friends what, in a perfect world, they would want their friends and family would give them. The results were UNANIMOUS. Anything on this list is a perfect gift. There is also wide price range so that even if you're broke (like me!) you can get something cool for your meat(less)head friend/kid/lover. Ok, let's do this...
YO! VEGAN'S TOP 15 GIFTS FOR FIT VEGANS
1. BLENDER ($5-500+)
This is single best present you can give a fit vegan. Protein smoothies are a way of life. I have 2 a day! I bought my blender used on craigslist for $10, I frequently see them in thrift stores, and you can buy them in any department/kitchen store (duh.) If you want to blow them away and have a lot of money you'd like to put in, there is no better blender than vitamix (a vitamix is especially nice if your fit vegan is also into cooking.) They're very expensive ($350+) but worth every penny.
2. VEGAN PROTEIN POWDER ($10-100+)
Protein is a great present alone or in combination with other items off the list (blender, shaker.) There are a lot of different vegan proteins out there and everyone has their favorite, but no protein is a bad protein, so don't worry-,even if you don't get your vegan's favorite kind, whatever you give them will get used. Here are 3 solid options:
-My favorite protein: Custom mixed protein from True Nutrition
Truenutrition.com allows you to custom mix your own protein--choosing your own sources of protein (rice, hemp, soy, pea), flavors (though I wouldn't advise getting anything too crazy as a gift), sweeteners (I go unsweetened personally), and additives (I add oat carbs for my breakfast shake mix), and your percentages of each. As you make the mix you can see how much protein/vitamins it contains. It's fun! Because you get to make the mix yourself, this also has a personal touch as a gift. Just be warned: hemp is grainy and not everyone likes it (I love it, but my boyfriend haaaaates it.) If you're not sure if they'd like it, skip it. I do a pea/rice split for my evening protein. I'd say safest bet would be that, with natural vanilla flavor, no sweetener. (Also be warned, stevia is REALLY sweet, almost sickenly so in my opinion. Also best to skip.) WANT 5% OFF? Use code DBERN0812
-Fancy proteins: VEGA AND SUNWARRIOR
Vega ($55ish) and Sunwarrior ($40ish) are the higher end favorites. Most people that I know can't afford them. If money is stretched in their direction, it's as a necessary luxury, kind of like paying for a higher-end gym membership so you don't have work out around all the mirror-gazing newbs at LA Fitness. You can get Vega and Sunwarrior at most health food stores, but also at veganproteins.com and bodybuilding.com, where you can pick up other items on the list as well.
-Cheapie proteins: GOOD OL' WHOLE FOODS SOY
Broke? Running out of time? Vega sold out? Pick up a $14 Soy Protein from your local natural foods store. A lot of vegan fitness types avoid soy protein (in trying to vary protein sources), but if it's around we'll drink it. (I personally LOVE vanilla soy with almond milk and frozen strawberries- I have it for dessert sometimes!)
