Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

FRUIT

Boxes, Bounty, and the Bittersweet Joy of Holiday Gifting

Fruit is festive—but sometimes overwhelming. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how holiday fruit deliveries stir nostalgia, frustration, and creativity, and how even a grapefruit can be a gift with a twist.

December is the time of the year that your family members send you fruit for the holidays. Depending on your number of relatives, your fruit supply could be small, medium, large, or massive. We seem to be in the massive category. A dozen giant pears just arrived. They are delicious and can be poached in red or white wine to make lovely desserts. But, really? A dozen? Oh, and giant pink grapefruits. A dozen of those as well. How many mornings can you eat grapefruit? Don’t they realize that there are numerous reasons to skip the grapefruit? If you take statins, no grapefruit. If you have a heart condition, no grapefruit. If you take anti-anxiety drugs, no grapefruit. COME ON! Stop with the grapefruit.

The apples are more welcome because I love apple pie. I have an excellent recipe for a crust that will melt in your mouth, and you can arrange the apple slices to look gorgeous. You can also put a decorative crust on top and make these little cutouts that will brown a bit darker than the rest of the crust, giving you an elegant dessert. I remember my mom’s apple pies. When we were little, the apples would come from the trees in grandma’s orchard. As we got older, the grocer became the supplier. I like the local outdoor market set up every Sunday in the parking lot a few blocks away. Fresh apples are the best.

Then there is the standard Pumpkin Pie. Thank goodness no company markets a dozen pumpkins for the holiday, or I am sure we would have a crate of those as well.

Doesn’t my family know I like chocolate? There are chocolate-covered orange peels, figs, strawberries, dates, apricots, peaches, and pineapple! Come on! Think chocolate!

Now, do not get me wrong. The holidays are a lovely time to remember your family and friends. Boxes of fruit are advertised like crazy. They are unusual. They are seasonal. So, of course, you will look at the catalogs and the beautiful colored pictures. One would think the page is just reaching out to you and mesmerizing you. The catalog lulls you into a buying stupor, and suddenly, my porch is full of fruit.

Lest you misconstrue this rant, I do love fruit. I have always been a fan of fruit. I also love chocolate. I am sure that I have sneaked more chocolate than the average kid. I have my favorite candy makers and order boxes regularly. I even like chocolate-covered figs!

I do not know what to do with:

• A dozen pears
• A dozen grapefruits
• A dozen oranges
• A dozen golden delicious apples

Want to explore creative ways to use holiday fruit? Visit Oh My Creative’s winter fruit tray ideas, Nutrisystem’s Christmas fruit recipes, and Mashed’s festive fruit guide for holiday meals.

If holiday gifting stirs reflection, nostalgia, or overwhelm, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and seasonal balance.