When it comes to end-of-year gifts for clients, put some thought into it. Every year we try to focus on a theme. In addition to our signature clothing, books, DVDs, and supplements, we’ve given some neat gifts at Christmas time. One year it was a ceramic aroma diffuser with various aromatherapy oils. Another year featured a signature mug along with various herbal teas and organic cinnamon sticks. A few years ago it was a ceramic grinder with various sea salts and bath salts. Check out Principle 7 of The Business of Personal Training: 20 Principles to Success for an entire list of gift ideas.

The theme for 2014 was coconuts. Our clients received a basket of assorted coconut goodies, including expeller-pressed coconut oil, toasted coconut flakes, coconut milk, coconut butter, coconut flour, and the book The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife. By the way, the coconut butter was a huge hit! We get ours from Real Raw Food. It’s the absolute best coconut butter on the market.

Attached to the gift was the following recipe card for banana muffins (with coconut flour):

Here is a simple muffin recipe that I use to provide healthy snacks for the children. If you are new to baking with coconut flour, don’t be alarmed by the amount used in this recipe. It absorbs a lot of liquid. Makes 12 regular size muffins.

Ingredients:

3 Ripe Bananas (mashed)
3 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/3 cup Coconut Oil
1/3 cup + 1TBS Coconut Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
1/3 cup Dark Chocolate (finely chopped) or Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 12 muffin tins with Parchment paper liners.

2. Blend the bananas, eggs, vanilla extract and coconut oil in a blender or Magic Bullet. Pour into a bowl.

3. Sift the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.

4. Add Apple Cider Vinegar.

5. Add dark chocolate, if using, and mix with a spatula.

6. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes.

7. Use 1/4 measure to scoop the batter into the muffin pan.

8. Bake for 40 minutes until tops are golden and slightly firm to the touch.

9. Allow muffins to cool then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Show your clients that you appreciate their business with a creative holiday gift. Put some thought into it and don’t wait until the last minute. Start early. It may take some time to source all the items and have them ready for early December. Your clients will appreciate the effort.