Searching for a gift? Here are some year-round “gifts of health”
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EmailThere are many gifting occasions during the year, like birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. Consider giving gifts that can help people focus on feeling good and establishing healthy habits.
Are you looking for a gift to give someone, but don’t know where to start? Or are you being asked for a wish list and feel at a loss for ideas? Here are some practical, year-round suggestions for gift giving focusing on physical and emotional health:
- Gift certificate for a massage.
- Gift basket of healthy convenience foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grain crackers or pasta, low-salt canned soups or meats, quick-cooking brown rice, specialty coffee, tea or sugar-free beverages.
- A pedometer or smartwatch.
- A certificate to hire help with household chores, cleaning, furniture moving or decorating (and un-decorating or decluttering) the home environment.
- An exercise video or subscription service.
- Walking support and encouragement with audio/CD or music streaming subscription.
- A gift of warmth, such as microwave heat pad, electric blanket, sweater, socks or slippers, gloves or scarf, couch throw blanket or warm beverage packets.
- A gift certificate for a fitness or physical movement class.
- A referral to a health class with Michigan State University Extension (such as Personal Action Toward Health, or PATH, Tai Chi, or Mindfulness for Better Living).
- Registration into an online food preservation course or landscaping and gardening class.
- Walking shoes.
- Cushioned socks for physical activity.
- A gift certificate for a day trip to a nearby location, lunch included.
- A relaxation basket, containing a meditation CD, notebook and special pen, puzzle book, scented hand or foot cream, bath salts or shower or shaving gel.
- Exercise clothes.
- A pass to a nearby swimming pool, walking track or skating rink.
- A healthy cookbook. There are some excellent cookbooks and recipes published by groups such as the American Diabetes Association, the United States Department of Agriculture My Plate, the American Heart Association, etc.
- A “wellness tracker” containing a food and exercise journal and planning calendar.
- A reacher/grabber, to retrieve fallen items or those on tall shelves.
- A vegetable steamer, either electric, microwave or stovetop.
