Our giving suggestions in the food take their inspiration from the Scandinavian tradition of inviting guests home (rather than out to a restaurant). They are also inspired by the idea of a smorgåsbord to which everyone contributes, rather than leaving the host or hostess in need of a spa holiday.
As any of our readers knows from our previous issue about Responsible Eating, the debate about food and sustainbility is hot in Sweden as it is elsewhere in the Nordic region. We encourage you to spread the eco-spirit, not necessarily because ecological food is the only way forward to sustainability, but because it represents consciousness concerning our lifestyle habits. Sharing our table with others less fortunate than ourselves is a gift that requires no explanation.
1. The Home-cooked Meal
Offer to cook a meal at your friend or loved one's home. This gives them the chance to relax at home while not having to prepare food or go out. Take your inspiration from the treasure-trove of recipes gathered in The Nordic Wellbeing Cookbook.
2. Open Time at My Place
Holiday season cocktail parties can leave you feeling wiped out and as though you still haven't had the chance to talk to the friends you really want to. Let your friends know that your place will be open for a few hours on a certain day of the week during each week of the holiday season for friends and family to drop in. In this way, you get to meet a couple of friends at a time rather than all of them at once (in which case you simply become the difficult-to-catch host or hostess).
Today you don't need to send out the invitation cards stating when you are available (as our 1895 source suggests - see Editorial). You can use Twitter and Facebook instead. Keep a pot of warm glögg or lingon juice (use cranberries if you cannot find lingon) available!
3. The Potluck Smorgåsbord
The holiday season can be exhausting for the chef. Suggest that the main holiday season meal become a potluck. Agree that your food contributions are your gifts. Spend the time making your dish rather than shopping for more things that people don't need or agree to give gifts to children but free the adults.
4. Spread the Eco Spirit
Give a gift card to your favorite eco-food shop or cafe.
5. Feed the Hungry
Give some välling (warm Swedish drinking porridge) to hungry infants in the developing world. Visit the Webaidshop at Läkarmissionen.
Check the table setting suggestions in our creative giving ideas in the design section.
