A few days ago, I talked with a family friend who recently learned that his huge manufacturing company was closing his plant. He is actually luckier than most of the people working for that company. He very recently reached the age at which he qualifies for early retirement, so he will continue to have a steady income. Those who did not reach that milestone of the specified number of years with the company will get a small severance package and be left to search for a job in that difficult market. That got me thinking about giving gifts for special occasions to those people who are experiencing difficult economic situations. I came up with a few suggestions that make more sense than a piece of home decor or a new tie. Here are some of them:

A fresh fruit basket is healthy, beautiful, delicious and always enjoyed. If you live near your gift recipient, you can find a lovely basket or other attractive container and fill it with fruit that is in season in your region of the country, obtained at a farmers market, and fill it out with a few exotic fruits picked up at your local super market. If your loved one is farther away, you can arrange for any of a large range of beautiful fruit gift baskets to be delivered to the recipient’s home. It will help them to reduce their grocery bill on their next trip to the super market.

A unique meal is another way to remember a special occasion. One alternative might be to take the friend to a special restaurant. If price is no object to you, be sure to suggest some of the pricier entrees on the menu, so that your guests know that they should not worry about ordering whatever they prefer. For example, you could say something like, “The crab legs are perfect here, but, if you don’t like seafood, try the filet mignon.” If they live too far away for that, you can actually find delicious, gourmet, chef-prepared meals online that arrive frozen and can be heated in almost no time. (I actually keep my freezer stocked with these.) Or you might send a gift certificate to a special place in their town.

You might also consider a tasty dessert. No person should have too many desserts, but on a birthday, anniversary or holiday, everyone deserves an opportunity to indulge a sweet tooth. Bake cookies, if that is a skill of yours, and hand deliver or have them delivered. For something a little more special consider giving them a freshly baked pie or turtle cheesecake. Whether you make it yourself or have others do the work for you doesn’t matter. It will be appreciated and definitely enjoyed either way.

You’ll notice a common feature in these suggestions. They all involve food. Someone who is going through a difficult time may not want to accept charity, but nobody can reject a genuinely special gift. If it reduces the grocery bill by a bit, so much the better.

I have to admit, I am not a great shopping enthusiast. Except around the holidays, I hate the parking problems, I don’t enjoy browsing aisle after aisle looking for something that would be just perfect for Grandma or Uncle Arthur. I certainly do not like standing on line with inpatient people killing time for the lone employee to handle yet another exchange. During the holidays, I enjoy meandering through stores simply people watching, without being weighted down with bulky packages. The experience for whatever reason puts me into a holiday emotional state, but I do my actual shopping and buying almost entirely on the Internet. That’s a practice I developed in the very early years of the Web.

While online shopping keeps me from being pushed around in a busy department store or standing in line at a little boutique, it doesn’t keep me from the most dreaded part of any gift giving event; choosing the right gift for a birthday, a holiday, a sick friend or whomever. Then about five years ago, I discovered food.

That wasn’t very honestly phrased, because I discovered food when I was still an infant. But I didn’t discover food as a gift idea until recently. You see, at that time I received a gift basket full of hardly edible sausages, processed cheese spreads (mostly chemicals I think) and crackers that were about as crunchy as a rock. However, the poor quality of what passed as food in that gift turned out to be my inspiration. “What,” I thought, “If I had received genuinely good food?” How different that would have been, and how much I would have enjoyed it.

Since then, I have been busy conducting research (that’s just my word for “sampling”). I have found online vendors who offer genuine quality for about the same price that you can get that synthetic stuff at the mall. (You know the one I mean, but I’m not about to open myself to a libel or slander charge by naming the brand.) Just like the mall kiosks, the online shops handle all the shipping, gift cards, everything. I know that my gifts will be exceptionally pleasant surprises for all of my gift recipients.

The wide selection of quality gift foods available is truly remarkable. It ranges from live lobster dinners to a fruit basket; from cookie bouquets to live lobsters; from wine gift baskets to imported caviar or fine Wisconsin cheeses.

For those on my gift list who live nearby, I usually assemble my own gift baskets. Even in those cases, the Internet comes to my rescue with helpful suggestions about how to make my self-assembled gift foods more interesting. The available articles also have great gift ideas for special people who often happen to be especially difficult when it comes to choosing a gift.

If you see me strolling a store aisle with a huge smile on my face when everybody else seems frantic, you will now know how I can be cheerful when surrounded by panic. But let’s keep it a secret from my Uncle Arthur.

A fruit basket will brighten the day of someone in your life. Whether they are recovering from an illness or simply in need of a “pick-me-up,” they will really enjoy it!

Fruit baskets are made with various types of fruits that are usually put in an organized way into a very pretty basket with ribbon or bows. You can easily customize a fruit basket depending on the likes and dislikes of the person that is going to receive it.

If you know the type of fruit that someone loves, why not fill their basket with that!  Whether it is strawberries and kiwi or oranges and apples, they are sure to love it.  Chose ribbons and bows of their favorite colors or decorate it with small objects that  represent the things that they love in life. Personalization is easy if you know what  they like!

While other people are receiving the normal gift of flowers, you can give the gift of  a fruit giftbasket and really surprise them! Flowers are nice to look at but they are  not as nice as a fruit basket. The fruit basket is an original gift.

Fruit will serve several purposes when it is given to a person that is recovering from  an illness. The fruit in the basket are packed full of vitamins that is sure to get  them on the road to feeling better much sooner.

As a gift to an office coworker, the fruit basket can be shared by many people. They can open the fruit basket and share it among their peers or take it home and share it with their family. They could also leave it at their desk and have a healthy snack just waiting on them whenever the need for one comes up.

Getting a gift for a male boss can be a very tricky thing to do. If you don’t know for  sure what sports team he routes for or what he collects or likes a lot, what do you  get him? A fruit basket is a great idea! He is sure to like it and will appreciate it  a lot more than a nice flower arrangement.

The fruit giftbasket is a very versatile gift and will be appreciated and enjoyed by anyone who receives one. When you are considering gifts for that special someone or for that person that you do not know so well, consider the fruit basket. A fruit basket designed particularly for someone is a very unique gift or just simply make it a collaboration of fruit. Either way, it is sure to be enjoyed!

We all know someone who when you pass by the vitamin store in the mall, we’re not surprised to see them browsing the shelves.  They are the health conscious one in the neighborhood, the one we all unsuccessfully aspire to be.  Or, perhaps they’re new to the whole health scene.  Or maybe they represent those among us who are trying to lose those extra pounds…for the third year in a row.    So, when their birthday comes around, it can be challenging to get them a gift that meets their healthy living. In fact, this give you a good starting point in deciding upon a gift.  Get your friend something that they’ll actually use and appreciate, or support your newly dieting friend by helping them along their way to a healthier and leaner lifestyle.

A good gift idea, especially for new comers to the fitness world, is to get them a membership to a local health club or gym.  They’ll be among others with the same goals, and plenty of equipment to help them take on their challenges.  Some of the equipment can be intimidating or tricky looking, and the staff is always willing to demonstrate how to work them.  They might find that getting a personal trainer can keep them going beyond the point where, in past efforts, they may have simply quit.    Even if your friend already has a membership to such a club, you can still give them a free month, or even a gift certificate to be used at the club for additional services or products.

If a club membership is too expensive, you might think about getting them something else that will aid them in their quest for a healthier life.  Visit your local sporting goods shop to find inspiration for other appropriate gifts.  Health stores offer loads of ideas that can suit almost anyone’s interests.  You might get them a health guide on the latest exercise trend.  

Just because they want to lose weight doesn’t mean they can’t eat.  Many sports shops will have cook books for the health conscious.  These books are a great idea for those who are fine when it comes to working out, but have trouble controlling their diet.  In the same locations, you can also find useful gadgets such as pedometers that can be worn throughout the day to encourage walking instead of riding or the stairs instead of the elevator.

If you’re looking for a more personal gift, one of the best healthy gift ideas you can get is a fruit basket. Fruit can become an extremely healthy habit.  Think of the food pyramid that you may have first glimpsed when you were in grade school.  Fruit is healthy.  Fruit is one of the healthiest foods around; it is totally cholesterol-free and provides many of the essential vitamins that we all require.    Fruit baskets can come in several different assortments that will provide your friend with his favorite treats.  One exception to keep in mind, however, often people who are just beginning a low carb diet are not permitted fruit.

So regardless of whether your friend is new to the health and fitness lifestyle or has been active for many years, showing your support for their efforts to drop some weight by getting them a healthy gift is a great way to wish them a happy birthday.

A fruit basket will brighten the day of someone in your life. Whether they are recovering from an illness or just in need of a “pick-me-up,” they will really enjoy it!

Fruit gift baskets are typically made with various fruits organized with ribbons and  bows to decorate them. Customizing a fruit basket can be easy! Make the gift of a  fruit basket mean more by decorating it with things they like and the fruit they love!

If the person that you are going to give the fruit basket to loves strawberries and kiwi, fill it up with those two fruits and they are sure to love it. What is their favorite color? Chose ribbons in their favorite colors or pick some ornaments that fit the theme that you are going for to decorate the basket.

While other people are receiving the normal gift of flowers, you can give the gift of  a fruit giftbasket and really surprise them! Flowers are nice to look at but they are  not as nice as a fruit basket. The fruit basket is an original gift.

If you are sending the gift basket to a person that has been ill, keep this in mind. The fruit basket is filled with fresh fruit that contain vitamins that will help the person to feel much better much quicker. It will also make them smile and help them improve their spirits.

If you are looking for a gift for one of your coworkers, the fruit basket will be a wonderful idea. They can do so many things with the fruit basket that wouldn’t be possible with flowers. They could share the fruit with the office workers, take it home to their families, or even keep it at their desk and have a healthy snack whenever they want one.

Have you ever wanted to get a gift for your boss but are just not sure what to get him? He would not appreciate a flower bouquet as much as a female boss would. You are not sure if he is fond of a certain sport or team. Why not give him the gift of a healthy fruit basket.

Why not give that special someone a unique gift such as a fruit basket. Personalize it or just get a random bunch of fruit. Either way, they are sure to enjoy the fruit basket that you chose for them. It is sure to be a hit!

Considering buying a gift can cause me to be uneasy: what should I give Stan for his thirty-fifth birthday? What should I give my perfect dad for his retirement? How can I surprise my husband with something useful on our anniversary?

Buying gifts is not my specialty. When I’m the one that has to select a present for someone, I am a complete wreck: what should I buy Aunt Sue for her retirement? What would my parents like for their fifty-first anniversary? How can I possibly surprise my husband on his birthday? And what can I possibly locate to congratulate my son, the young man who has everything, on the successful completion of his college career?

And even if I do locate the right thing for everyone, how can I easily send it to my Aunt Ruby who recently moved to Atlanta?

Can I surprise my pop with a gift at his volunteer job? And could I send George a terrific birthday surprise without driving to Fort Worth? How can I get a gift to my husband at work on Veterans Day? And could I send my parents a meaningful wedding anniversary gift without driving all the way to Baltimore

Fruit gift baskets turn out to be the magic solution, the answer to my woes and a wonderful way to say that “You are in my thoughts.”

Given the wide choice of gift baskets available, I’ve had no trouble locating a present for anyone on my list. However the truly great part about buying gift baskets on the internet is the reward of not having to become concerned about shipping anything through the mailmyself or even worse—making a long trip! And, if I really want to surprise my husband on our anniversary, I can fill his day with hearts and flowers before he even comes home from work. That can produce a wonderful benefit!

Since my discovery of gift baskets, the process of choosing gifts for my family (and my friends) has become painless! If you find yourself overwhelmed when it comes to gift getting, I advise you to consider gift baskets.

Maybe you think I am taking the easy way out, but for me gift baskets are heavenly sent. If I can find something that pleases my daughter, I know you’ll find a great gift for anyone you have in mind!

Gift baskets are out of fashion!  Or is it that they’re just boring?  Actually, I hope the correct response is neither.  (Lock it in; that’s my final answer.)  I’m actually a gift food merchant.  Kind of has a special ring to is, doesn’t it?  Granted, it may be less significant that solving the global warming problem or removing a pesky mouse from under your kitchen cabinet, but it’s an honest way to pay for the roof over my family’s head.

I can read your mind: “All of his gift problems are solved; year in and year out everybody on his list gets stuck with another gift basket.”  I want to disabuse you of your smug attitude!  In fact, I face the same dilemmas that you face during any gift giving, decision making crisis.

I do not give food filled bundles of joy to my entire gift list.  (Well, maybe most it.)  However, even if I did, the choice would still not be easy.  At my store, we offer scores of fruit baskets, gourmet meals, wine gift baskets and far more than that, even.  (I know what you’re thinking right now, “Please, oh please, just tell me where this wonderful paradise is located so that I can go there to buy your most expensive offerings for everyone on my gift list!”  Please be patient.)

Before you bribe me (or threaten me) to share my store location with you, I want to tell you about my own decision making approach.

First, I decide on an appropriate category of gift.  If Uncle Milton has his drinking problem under control for the first time in ten years, I should not even consider the wine baskets.  Instead, I’ll opt for a fruit basket with something seasonal.  After years of ignoring the nutritional value of what he consumed, he could use a few extra servings of fruit in solid form.

Aunt Millie, on the other hand, is a great wine sipper.  Frankly, I don’t know if she really enjoys the wine, but she sure enjoys talking about it.  She loves to let everyone know the best vintage years, the kinds of grapes that are used in various blends and, most of all, how much she spent on the wine you just spilled all over her new carpeting ( a square yard).  I’ll give her one of my better wine gift baskets, but I refuse to give her the best stuff.  Sure, I get it wholesale, but I still have to pay for it!  (I’m also not going to pay for the carpet cleaning; not after what that cat of hers did to my new coat.)

Everyone in our family, except me, says that my nephew Alfred finally made his girlfriend an honest woman.  I, on the other hand, never doubted his girlfriend’s honesty, but I have some reasons to suspect Alfred.  In any case, they finally got married.  To tell you the truth, even I agree that it’s about time.  Alfred spent the last eight years trying to decide if she was worth the cost of a diamond ring.  (I suspect that he eventually settled on crystal, which, considering Alfred, would be thought of as generous.)  What he wants is a check.  Well, he’s not getting that from me.  I’m sending them a delicious lobster dinner for two.  My thinking is that this is the only way to get his bride out of the kitchen.  Alfred would never pay for a restaurant meal, so, in a sense, I’m sending the restaurant to them.  (They honeymooned by visiting me!)

Second, I decide how much I’m willing to spend on these losers.

My grandson is getting the latest video game system.  Let’s face it; he is truly special.

New neighbors have finally arrived next door. We’re very excited to meet them. They look to be about our age and our kids are looking forward to playing with theirs. Close friendships develop quickly on our street so we’re certain our new neighbors will become our friends. What better way to greet these new neighbors than with a festive fruit bouquet?

A simple fruit basket idea would be to have a few red apples, a couple of green pears, and a bright orange or two presented on a wooden cutting board. Add some red grapes and this lovely combination of color speaks for itself. Wrap pastel-colored cellophane around it all and tie a bow to the handle of the board to complete the package.

One of the simplest gift baskets would be to have a few red apples, a couple of green pears, and a bright yellow banana or two presented on a wooden cutting board. Add some red grapes and this lovely combination of color speaks for itself. Wrap colorful cellophane around it and tie a matching bow to the handle of the cutting board to complete the package.

A larger fruit giftbasket could be made of a sturdy cardboard box, which can be used for other items later, filled with wrapped choices of ripe seasonal fruit. Just imagine juicy oranges, sweet plums, fragrant raspberries, and tangy grapefruit. The flavorful selection of these fruits whet any discerning appetite.

Using a wicker basket is another way of presenting the fruit. Select a white or natural-colored basket. Healthy fruits of fragrant pineapple and distinctive coconut are surrounded by exotic kiwi. Add citrus selections of oranges, lemons and limes with aromatic bananas carefully positioned among them. This makes a fun, tropical fruit basket choice, which is appetizing, healthy, and eye-pleasing. Top it with a lime-green ribbon tied in a large bow.

Gift baskets can also be personalized, depending on your preference. We happened to see a beautiful, oak wine rack being moved into their new house, so a bottle of wine could easily be added to the selections of fruit. In order to tie in the fruit theme, a citrus peeler or a paring knife could be added, too. Hard tack or chocolate candies, or shortbread cookies, or even nut selections of almonds and walnuts would add an extra special touch to the fruit basket gift.

Fruit gift baskets can be offered in a variety of containers filled with every kind of delicious fruit you can think of. No matter which container you select for the fruit and no matter which fruits you choose to fill the container, it is a lovely, flavorful, and healthy option. What a wonderful “Welcome to the Neighborhood” gift fruit baskets are!