These Protein Gift Baskets Are the Perfect Presents You’ve Never Heard Of

Finding the perfect gift isn't always easy. If there's a fitness lover in your life, one thing is for sure — they probably love a tasty, protein-rich treat. So, a protein gift basket is a good way to show them you care about their interests this holiday season.

Fortunately, we've done some digging, and your options are far from limited. To save you some time, we rounded up the best ones for every type of fitness enthusiast.

To find the best protein gift baskets out there, we consulted with a registered dietitian. Lauren Manaker, RDN, LD, a dietitian and founder of Nutrition Now Counseling, helped us narrow down the sea of options.

We considered gift baskets with a variety of high-protein foods like beef jerky, nuts, meats, cheeses, bars and more. To accommodate various lifestyles and dietary restrictions, we also included options that are suitable for gluten-free, vegan and low-carb meal plans.

Other factors that went into consideration include price, variety and user reviews.

If you're looking for a gift basket filled with protein-rich snacks, you're sure to run into Bunny James Boxes. The leading brand's Deluxe Fitness Box is packed with a protein lover's dream: nuts, seeds, protein bars, meat sticks, cheese bites, tuna salad and much more. It even contains a few novelty items, such as protein cookies and muffins.

"This Bunny James box is loaded with a slew of snacks that offer this important macro," Manaker says. "People who are exploring the world of protein snacks would be a great match for this gift basket." Each box contains 30 items.

Gifting on a budget? No problem. For less than $30, you can gift your loved one a variety of 10 high-protein snacks with this Bunny James box. It's smaller than other options, but it has a fun twist — it's filled with a mix of protein cookies.

Protein cookies are a fun way to meet your protein requirements or refuel after a workout. Some of the cookies contain up to 16 grams of protein per serving. Not that a cookie should replace a meal, but the general target is 15 to 30 grams of protein per meal, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Who said vegans couldn't receive protein gift baskets, too? While there's a huge misconception that vegan protein sources are scarce, this gift basket by The Good Grocer begs to differ. It contains the usual high-protein snacks you'd expect to see across its 20 items, such as nuts and bars, with some novelty items like a protein cookie and chia squeeze.

Legume lovers will especially enjoy this box. Beans are especially good sources of protein for vegans, per the Cleveland Clinic, and this box is full of them. It features bean-based chips and roasted chickpeas for a boost of protein (and gut-friendly fiber).

High-protein, low-carb options are in demand, and this 20-piece Keto Box by Cedar Mountain Trade Co. delivers.

"From cheese crisps made from real cheese to classic sunflower seeds, this box is jam-packed with protein snacks that are gluten-free, low in carbs and high in protein," Manaker says.

While a low-carb diet isn't for everyone, it does have its benefits. Low-carb meal plans can aid weight loss, type 2 diabetes and chronic diseases, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. If that applies to someone you know, they'll love this gift box.

Gluten-free offerings get a bad reputation when you compare the taste and texture to their counterparts. But, this Elevate gift box proves that gluten-free snacks can be healthy, delicious and satisfying.

It features naturally gluten-free protein sources like beans, pistachios, oats, peanut butter and more across its 22 items. Some of the options, such as popcorn and veggie chips, don't contain as much protein as others, but they're good sources of carbs and fiber.

Plus, this gift box is also vegan-friendly.

You'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who eats more protein than an athlete, which is why this protein gift box by SnackBOX is perfect for them. It contains 20 protein bars — one of the fastest and easiest sources of protein for those in a pinch.

The general recommendation for protein is 0.8 grams per 2.2 pounds of body weight, according to Harvard Health Publishing. But athletes or people who exercise often may need more — up to 2 grams of protein per 2.2 pounds of body weight, per June 2017 research in the ‌Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition‌.

So, scarfing down a protein bar in-between meals may be necessary for athletes to meet their high protein requirements.

Yes, meat is a rich source of protein. The downside? It's usually not fast to go from fridge to plate. That's why jerky and meat sticks are go-to protein sources for those on the go, and this Bunny James jerky box is full of it.

"Packed with a wide variety of jerky and other cured and preserved meats, this box is loaded with protein and packed with flavor," Manaker says, adding that jerky is also a good source of iron.

Because these snacks don't require refrigeration, they're also good stocking stuffers. With 25 pieces, the value is there.

Cheese is known for being high in fat, but it also offers protein. This Milliard gift basket comes at a premium price for a six-piece set, but it has a lot to offer. It contains a delicious assortment of products, including three gourmet cheeses, mixed nuts, crackers and artichoke bruschetta.

Though cheese is a flavorful snack many would be happy to munch on, it's also full of essential nutrients. "Cheese is a high-protein and low-carb food that delivers key nutrients like calcium," Manaker says.

Some gift-givers insist on an impressive presentation, and if that sounds like you, Nut Cravings can help. As the name suggests, this is a nut-heavy gift basket, but that's also what makes it so high in protein. Six boxes are beautifully stacked on top of each other and secured together with an elegant ribbon and bow.

It's not just visually appealing on the outside, the contents are also sure to wow. The boxes contain an assortment of 12 different nuts and dried fruits, a classic combo. Some include honey-glazed pecans, dried papaya, Brazil nuts and dried pears.

With 30 pieces, this protein gift basket from The Good Grocer isn't just the best value, it also has the best assortment. Oh, and it's all vegan. While "vegan" isn't typically the first thing that comes to mind when you think of protein, this box will surprise you.

It's got the usual nuts, protein bars, grain bars and dried fruit, but it's also got vegan jerky. If you're skeptical, the vegan jerky packs about 10 grams of protein per serving — not bad!

Nuts are typically dubbed a healthy source of fats, fiber and antioxidants and they're known for supporting heart health, per the American Heart Association, but they're also a good source of protein.

Nuts are considered part of the protein food group, according to the USDA. For example, a serving of peanuts contains 8.3 grams of protein while almonds offer 7.3 grams, per the USDA.

This gift basket by Bonnie & Pop contains six selections, such as glazed pecans, tamari-roasted almonds, chili-lemon pistachios and a sweet-savory trail mix.

Hickory Farms has been making protein gift samplers for years, and their gourmet selections are as impressive as ever. This 9-piece set comes at a steep price, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. This is a high-protein gift for someone with a gourmet taste as it contains gift-worthy meats, cheeses and crackers.

A gift basket from Dan the Sausageman is exactly what it sounds like — full of protein-rich sausage and other meats. This curated selection with 10 pieces contains several animal protein sources, including beef sausage, wild salmon, salmon paté and various cheeses.

This one is definitely for meat lovers, but it also contains crackers, peanuts and truffles that vegetarians in the group can graze on. And don't forget Dan's Sweet Hot Mustard to tie it all together.

The term "organic" refers to foods that were grown on soil that hasn't been treated with fertilizers and pesticides for at least three years, according to the USDA. To many, this is an important label. If someone you know sticks to an all-organic shopping list, show them you care with this organic gift basket from Bunny James.

Some of its high-protein offerings include pumpkin seeds, protein stix and bars. It also has some items that aren't as rich in protein but may be hard to find on an organic lifestyle, such as gummy candies and no-cheese puffs. Of the 24 pieces, all are made with non-GMO ingredients.