The Best Gifts for Giving

Is it really that time of year again? Oh well, guess it’s inevitable so here I go…headed to the book store to buy presents…lots of presents. Giving books has always been my idea of the perfect gift. Let’s face it, books are much less expensive than most toys or a bottle of decent cologne or perfume and they might even become a cherished possession handed down to a deserved family member or dear friend…or, at least that’s what I like to think.

I browsed every section one by one. A self help book about getting the life you’ve always wanted would be for my friend who recently had a bad breakup, ancient history for my husband, Mike, and after taking care of everyone on my list I decided to give myself a Christmas present. I knew exactly which section my book would come from…cookbooks of course.

Beautiful illustrations and mouthwatering photography graced cover after cover of the cookbooks that immediately caught my eye…just as they were intended to do. Desserts so heavenly and realistic looking that I could imagine taking a fork, slicing a bite sized corner of cake with lemon curd filling and slowly bringing to my drueling mouth.  O.K., back to earth. Next, French pastries that looked as sinfully delicious as– I’m sure–they taste.

At least a few of these cookbooks would have made their way to my kitchen several years ago. But only one cookbook would be going home with me today. Having become a clean eater three years ago, I became focused on finding the all inclusive clean eating cookbook that would fit into my lifestyle. I started thinking that the majority of cookbooks on the shelves should have a WARNING label on the cover. Kind of like the warning on cigarette packages. Maybe they should say something like, “WARNING…if you eat the foods in this book on a regular basis, you will become obese, your arteries may clog, you could develop diabetes, cancer and many other life threatening illnesses.” But of course that would never happen as people always have a choice as to what they cook, bake, eat and give to their families. It is a free country after all and for that I’m truly grateful.

There it is I thought, ”The latest copy on clean eating.”  I opened the book and saw that it was filled with tons of information about foods that are actually good for us. And, I was even happier to see delicious recipes that would keep me happily in the kitchen for hours on end.

My debit card was tired and ready to be put to bed, but everyone was now taken care of for Christmas…even me.

Gale Compton