12 Ideas For Healthy Holiday Gifts

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12 Ideas For Healthy Holiday Gifts

Thinking of giving cookies, fudge or a box of chocolates as a

holiday gift? That's so 2005.

This year, think about giving something healthy to your loved ones,

co-workers, neighbors and friends. Caroline R. , M.D.,

assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the

University of Michigan Medical School, offers some guidance for

buying healthy gifts that the recipient will actually enjoy.

" Everyone thinks it is their own personal struggle to stay healthy,

and that it is their own failure that they can't keep their weight

under control or stay fit, " says. " But this is something

almost everyone struggles with. Helping out by getting someone a

gift that will help them eat healthier or become more active is a

wonderful thing to do during the holidays. "

In addition, notes, this is the time of year " that people

fear most " in terms of the potential for weight gain. " People get

plates of fudge and cookies at their offices. Food is everywhere,

and most of it is not good for you. "

Dr. Caroline 's 12 ideas for healthy gifts For healthier

eating:

1. Oil and vinegar. is a big fan of giving high-quality

balsamic vinegar and olive oil as a gift. If someone is trying to

lose weight by eating a lot of salads, some aged balsamic vinegar

and a dash or two of good olive oil can make the difference between

a boring salad and a nice treat. " This can be a really luxurious

gift, " says.

2. Sessions with a nutritionist. Lots of people have tried to go low-

fat or low-carb, or have ridden the wave of the latest fad diet. But

what works for individual people can vary dramatically. A

nutritionist can help tailor a diet plan to a person's individual

likes and dislikes, and can come up with something the person is

more likely to stick to, says.

3. A healthy cooking class. Stores such as Whole Foods offer classes

on how to cook healthy foods. In Ann Arbor, the U-M Health System's

MFit health promotion division offers classes. Other stores and

community organizations around the country also offer classes.

4. A healthy-eating book. One option, says, is Eat,

Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy

Eating by Walter C. Willett and P. J. Skerrett. And given the

popularity of the book You: On a Diet, it seems some people are

already following this advice.

5. A crock pot, rice cooker or steamer. These will help the gift

recipient prepare food in a healthier way, notes. Throw

in a few recipes for a tasty soup or a meal that includes steamed

vegetables.

For getting - and staying - active:

6. Clothes for winter outdoor sports. " Get someone silk long

underwear or furry, soft gloves or a good hat, and they will be more

inclined to get outside and exercise, " says. This not

only helps with physical health, but also can improve people's

mental well-being and reduce " cabin fever, " she says.

7. A massage gift certificate. " Relaxation and stress relief are

important for overall good health, " notes.

8. A fun exercise class. Is the gift recipient someone who gets

bored easily and may have trouble sticking to some types of fitness

routines? Try signing him or her up for a dance class, or some

sessions in yoga, Tae Kwon Do, water aerobics, indoor rock-climbing

or spinning, says.

9. A pass to the local park system. In the Ann Arbor and Detroit

areas, a Metropark permit will provide access to a series of parks

and outdoor activities. The gift recipient can go bicycling through

the trails in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Other areas of the country also have excellent park systems that can

encourage people to exercise in the great outdoors.

10. A session with a personal trainer. Do you know someone who can't

stay motivated to exercise? A personal trainer is a great way to get

people on track with workouts that help them build muscle tone and

endurance, says.

11. A tune-up for a bicycle. That bicycle with the broken chain

isn't doing anybody any good rusting away in the garage. Pay for the

tune-up of a friend's bike, and throw in an offer to go on some

rides with him or her this year.

12. Last but not least, a pedometer. is a huge fan of

pedometers and often gives them to people as presents. Make sure

it's a good one; " some pedometers just don't count steps

accurately, " she says. One good one is the Omron HJ-112 digital

pedometer because it is easy to use and accurate, she says. Also,

http://www.sportbrain.com is a Web site that uses uploadable

pedometers and gives users feedback on a Web page. And some books

offer guidance about walking and using a pedometer, such as Walking

Magazine's The Complete Guide To Walking: for Health, Fitness, and

Weight Loss, by Mark Fenton, and Manpo-Kei: The Art and Science of

Step Counting: How to Be Naturally Active and Lose Weight! by

Catrine Tudor-Locke.

http://www.med.umich.edu/