Part 1: “Heart”-felt Holiday Gifts

Written by Joe Suppes

Every year, people spend tons of money on presents.  A very, very large portion of these gifts end up being returned, or are overly-indulgent, or won’t get used, or…you get the idea.  They’re just bad gifts.  Well, if you’re someone watching your health, or you’re buying for someone watching their health, we’ve got some great gift ideas for you to check out!

  • Water bottles.  Yeah, you heard me.  I don’t mean the thin plastic ones you buy on sale by the 24 pack at the grocery store.  I mean a nice, study, reusable water bottle.  I have 3, and they get plenty of use.  They come in a variety of materials, colors, designs, and styles, and are great for anyone you know who is on the go a lot or likes to work out.  Aluminum or steel options are the best, because they harbor less bacteria and are easy to take care of.  Reusable plastic bottles are also handy, but over time can actually release harmful chemicals into the water as the plastic break downs.  (You can’t see it happening, but it does, in fact, happen!)  Also, plastic bottles are more likely to grow mold and harbor bacteria if you don’t wash and disinfect them fairly often.
  • Mixed nuts.  I don’t mean the Planter’s Salted Mixed Nut cans you pick up a Wal-Mart.  I’m talking a nice basket of mixed nuts, still in the shell and ready to serve as a coffee table centerpiece at a party.  Honestly, these things are quite a hit.  My grandma used to keep whole walnuts and almonds and stuff sitting in baskets with nutcrackers around her house when she hosted parties, and they always gotten eaten right up!  The nuts have protein and beneficial fatty acids, but should be eaten in moderation because those fatty acids can also be harmful if overdone.
  • Pedometer.  For those people who walk a lot, whether it’s for exercise or work or pleasure, a pedometer is a must!  They come in different styles and offer different measurement units.  You can find out how many steps you take a day, or how many miles you walk during work.  It’s fascinating to be able to keep track of your steps throughout the day, but it’s also a helpful way to track your physical activity.
  • Healthy cooking tools.  Steamers, crock pots, and double-boilers are all great things to have on-hand.  They can be used to make some delicious, healthy meals!  These items would be ideal for someone who already loves to cook tasty, heart-conscious meals, or for someone who’s trying to get more involved in their food preparation.
  • Herbs and Spices.  They come in some really fabulous gift sets.  What’s more, many herbs and spices have been found to have great health benefits!  Most herbs are rich in antioxidants, and different spices have all sorts of benefits for the different parts of your body.  These tasty little guys can be used to jazz up your heart healthy meal, and can help you avoid salty and fatty condiments, sauces, and topping.
  • Chocolate.  Yup.  Chocolate.  The old holiday standby can actually be good.  However, there are limitations:  the chocolate should be at least 70% cocoa, and a lot of the fillings that make chocolates so delectible should be avoided.  And no, chocolate-covered cherries do NOT count as a fruit!  In all reality, dark chocolates are rich in antioxidants that are good for many different reasons.  Don’t go overboard, though, because 1.5 ounces a day is all you need to get the full health benefits!
  • Gift certificates.  It sounds tacky or overdone, but think about it:  if you pick the use of the certificate well, it can be the best gift!  You can get certificates (or something equivalent to it) for cooking classes, gym memberships, nutritionist sessions, personal trainers…yeah, the list goes on.  (I’m really hoping for a gift certificate for a massage this year!…and yes, that IS beneficial to one’s health because it helps to relieve stress and muscle tension that can build up!) Think good and hard about the person you want to buy it for.  They may really appreciate it!
  • Cookbooks.  Especially healthy-eating cookbooks.  These little babies are full of endless uses. If you know anyone who is an avid cook, or wants to become more adept in the kitchen, these gifts are a sure-thing.  I actually just got my first-ever cookbook gift last year, and I was so excited!  I used it not long ago to cook a nice dinner for some friends.  Each time I use it, I think of the person who bought it for me.
  • Fruit baskets.  When I was in middle school and high school, we sold fruit as our band fundraiser.  We always sold it in December, because, believe it or not, fruit is one heck of a popular holiday gift!  And even though everyone knew my family always ended up in fruit overload around Christmas, we still got fruit as a gift.  (And it always got eaten!)  Fruit baskets are great because you can order them, have them delivered, customize them, or even build them yourself (although it’s harder to do in places where there isn’t much in season).  I don’t even need to talk about all great benefits of eating fruit.

These are just a few ideas.  I could go on and on and one for hours and hours more, but these seemed to pop up most commonly in my research.  (Yes, I did research for you!  I always do!)  Think about these health-conscious items!  You may want to add these to your wish list this year.  You may want to buy them for someone else.  Either way, I hope at least one of these items nestles somewhere into your gift-buying plans this holiday season.

Now that we’ve looked at some great, health-conscious gift ideas, check out our next installment of the Oathealth Holiday Survival Guide 2009:  Part 2:  Be a Healthy Host.

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