Holiday Cookie Gifts: The Gifting System I Use Every Year
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Time to Read: 9 min
The Holiday Gifting Problem Every Parent Knows Too Well
Every year when December rolls around, I feel the same tension many parents do: How do we come up with thoughtful, meaningful gifts for teachers, neighbors, grandparents, and friends—without drowning in stress, sugar, plastic, or yet another Pinterest project gone wrong?
As both a pediatrician and a mom of three, I’ve learned that holiday gifting doesn’t need to be complicated. Kids don’t need fussy, seven-step baking projects. Teachers don’t need another candle. And none of us needs more waste or plastic packaging in the house.
What kids do need—and crave—is autonomy, connection, and the joy of making something with their own hands.
That’s why we use a simple Holiday Cookie Gifting System in our home—a kid-led, low-stress, eco-friendly tradition that checks every box:
✔ meaningful
✔ affordable
✔ homemade
✔ sustainable
✔ developmentally appropriate
✔ EASY
And I can promise you this: once you try it, you will never go back to last-minute gift scrambling again.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
What I Mean by a “Holiday Cookie Gifting System”
This is much more than a cookie recipe.
Think of it as a repeatable framework—a simple ritual your kids can help lead every year. The goal is to feel calmer, more present, and more connected while creating gifts that people genuinely appreciate.
This system includes:
A 3–4 ingredient cookie recipe kids can truly make themselves
Using Ahimsa 8oz stainless steel cups as measuring cups for built-in independence
Packaging the cookies in reusable stainless steel containers instead of plastic or disposable tins
Letting kids write directly on the containers with washable marker
Delivering gifts proudly because they made them themselves
It’s minimal, joyful, and shockingly effective.
Why This Holiday Cookie Gifts System Has Worked So Well for My Family
1. It dramatically reduces December stress.
I’ve tried the elaborate, beautifully decorated cookie routines. I’ve also tried last-minute shopping. Both left me feeling frazzled.
This system does the opposite.
The ingredients are already at home. The setup is minimal. Cleanup is quick. And because the recipe is simple, kids can actually do most of it—leaving me free to enjoy watching them rather than micromanaging every step.
2. It builds independence and life skills.
As a pediatrician, I love anything that creates structure, confidence, and capability.
Using an Ahimsa 8oz cup as a measuring cup (because 1 cup = 8 ounces!) is one of my favorite hacks. Kids can scoop and pour without fragile plastic measuring cups or complicated tools. When children lead steps like measuring, mixing, scooping, and packaging, something changes—they stand a little taller.
3. It’s better for the environment (and teaches kids why).
Holiday waste increases by 25% each year in the U.S. (EPA). Most holiday packaging is plastic, layered with stickers and ribbons, and tossed immediately. Stainless steel containers are:
reusable
long-lasting
safer than plastic
giftable on their own
When my kids hand a teacher a reusable container, they’re giving two gifts: the cookies and something practical that encourages a less wasteful lifestyle.
4. It’s meaningful… and kids feel proud.
There is something magical about watching a child hand a teacher a gift they made themselves. That pride is priceless. It creates connection, gratitude, and an emotional memory they’ll hold onto for years.
Our Go-To 3–4 Ingredient Drop Cookies Kids Can Make Themselves
I use a recipe simple enough that even toddlers can help, and older kids can handle almost entirely on their own.
Our Family’s Drop Cookie Recipe
5 min
8-10 min
Ingredients
1 cup nut or seed butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
Optional: vanilla or chocolate chips
How We Make Them
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Stir all ingredients in one bowl.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet.
Bake 8–10 minutes.
Let cool fully before packaging.
That’s it.
Mealtime Essentials
Why I Love This Recipe
- No kneading
- No rolling
- No special tools
- No decorating
- No fancy ingredients
- No mess that makes you question why you started
It’s quick enough for a school night and consistent enough to gift confidently.
Why I Use Stainless Steel Containers Instead of Cookie Tins
I made the switch years ago—both as a pediatrician and a parent—and I’ve never looked back.
Benefits I See (and Share With Families I Work With)
✔ They are non-toxic and safer than plastic.
Plastic can leach chemicals—phthalates, BPA-like compounds—especially into warm or oily foods. Stainless steel does not.
✔ They become part of the gift.
Teachers tell me they use their containers for snacks, desk supplies, and even jewelry. Grandparents use them for leftovers. They’re the gift that keeps giving.
✔ They reduce holiday waste.
No more dented tins or plastic packaging.
✔ They last for years.
I still use stainless steel containers from when my oldest (now a teen!) was in preschool.
The Most Fun Part for Kids: Writing on the Containers
If you’ve never watched a child personalize a gift container, prepare yourself—it’s adorable.
Here’s What We Do
I hand my kids markers (permanent ones do actually work the best and yes - they are easily washed off the lids with soap and water) and let them write messages like:
“Happy Holidays!”
“Made just for you!”
“Love, (their name)”
“Thanks for being awesome!”
They draw hearts, snowflakes, smiley faces—sometimes elaborate artwork. It’s all perfect.
When the marker wipes off easily with water, kids get a zero-waste canvas every year.
How We Turn This Into a Yearly Family Ritual
Traditions anchor children emotionally. They build connection and memory. And this one is simple enough to repeat year after year.
A few ways we make it special:
1. The kids choose the gift recipients.
I love hearing their reasons—“She always smiles at me,” “He helps me reach the soccer balls,” “She’s the best art teacher.”
2. We set up a little “gifting station.”
Containers, markers, ribbon (optional), cooling rack. Nothing fancy.
3. We talk about gratitude.
A quick reflection on the people who make their world feel safe, happy, and supported.
4. We listen to the same playlist every year.
Songs become memory markers.
5. We take a photo of the kids with their finished gifts.
I keep these in a holiday album—they’re precious.
Tips I Share With Other Busy Parents
Choose ONE simple recipe. Trust me.
Bake in double batches to save time.
Use parchment paper so cleanup takes seconds.
Make a list of recipients early to avoid forgetting anyone.
Use seed butter for nut-free schools.
Let kids lead—this is for them, not for perfect presentation.
A Simpler, More Meaningful Way to Give
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a pediatrician and a parent, it’s that the simplest traditions often become the most treasured.
This Holiday Cookie Gifting System is not about perfection. It’s about connection.
It’s about giving kids ownership.
It’s about reducing waste.
It’s about making something heartfelt with your own hands.
And it brings the joy back into holiday gifting—every single year.
If you try this system with your kids, I’d love to hear how it goes. Share your creations, your containers, and your little chefs’ proud smiles. Those moments are the real gifts.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
