When I was asked to write about healthy options for shalach manos, I laughed. To me, the two have often felt incompatible – maybe because I’ve grown accustomed to seeing what my grandsons collect from their Purim deliveries: a veritable trove of tooth-decaying treasures that would make any trick-or-treater green (dye #4) with envy.
That
said, from the vantage point of my own home, I’ve also seen some genuinely
health-positive inclusions over the years: oranges, water bottles, and tahini,
alongside the varied homemade muffins,
cookies, and hamantaschen made with love
and no chemical additives. I’ve enjoyed watching the creativity people bring to
their gifts – sometimes choosing foods that match a theme or even their
costumes. Condiments, coffee for a “coffee break” theme, and even the
occasional beer or mini-liquor bottle have not gone unappreciated.
When
compiling a list of healthier ideas, I went back to the basic requirement of shalach
manos: ready-to-eat food or drink, enough for the Purim seudah. That
rules out pantry staples like rice or dried beans. I also tried to avoid foods
that require refrigeration, since safe transport and storage can be tricky.
Soups, salads, and mini-quiches would all be welcome if there
were clear instructions and fridge space available.
And
then there’s candy. I can already hear the protests: “It’s a simcha! Candy adds
to the joy!” Fair enough. Still, with the amount of candy children receive at
school, shul, and in daily lunches, I’m not too worried that Purim joy hinges
on adding more. The choice, of course, is yours.
Although
giving shalach manos to just one person fulfills the mitzva, giving to
many is considered praiseworthy as it increases love and friendship among the
Jewish people – something Haman famously tried to undermine by claiming we were
divided.
With
that in mind, here are some health-forward, transport-friendly options that
don’t spill and can survive without refrigeration.
Especially
good choices:
·
Small jars or sealed
containers of olives, pickles, olive dip, grilled eggplant, matbucha, tahini, or
halvah
·
Snack-size hummus
·
Nuts (pistachios, pumpkin
seeds, almonds, or walnuts (these have most nutritional value, but all are
good)
·
Dried fruit or raisin boxes
·
Oranges (thick-skinned
varieties travel best)
·
Cheese bars or sticks
·
Dark chocolate (70% cocoa
or higher is a great antioxidant)
·
Grape juice
·
Cans of seltzer or water
bottles
·
Mini-cucumbers
·
Salami
·
Canned sardines (great
sources of protein and omega-3s)
·
Wine, beer, or mini liquor
bottles
·
Baked goods (mini-challah,
muffins, cookies, mandelbrot, hamanteschen), ideally well wrapped and labeled
with family name – as they often get separated from bags. Recipes would be
nice.
Nice
additions for themed gifts:
·
Hot sauce
·
Small jars of jam, jelly,
honey, mustard, or ketchup (without high-fructose corn syrup)
·
Coffee beans (labeled
caffeinated or decaf)
·
Tea
Okay but not
ideal:
·
Popcorn or pretzels are
better than chips or veggie sticks but have little nutrition. Veggie sticks
(which do not contain vegetables) and potato chips are highly processed, high
in unhealthy fats and refined starches, and have negligible nutritional value.
Better to
avoid:
·
Store-bought cookies and
packaged baked goods with high sugar content, additives, and trans fats (still
allowed through a loophole)
·
Candy with artificial
colors and additives
The
good news? Many manufacturers are already beginning to comply with the new
government ban on artificial coloring and shifting toward natural colorants
derived from beets, turmeric, purple carrots, and spirulina. Until then, maybe
we can all survive with a little more dark chocolate!
Purim
sameach – and may your shalach manos bring both joy and nourishment.
Jill Moroson
MSW, CHC is a nutritional health coach. Contact her at jill.heres2health@gmail.com with
questions or to schedule a (free) half-hour consult to discuss weight loss or
general health.
