As the holidays approach, many are creating gift wish lists or searching for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. To provide insight on what we believe are the best health-related gifts this holiday season, we created a Healthy Holiday Gift Wish List! This list includes different items related to fitness, nutrition, and mental health, aiming to benefit your overall health and wellness. Whether you’re beginning or continuing your health journey in 2021, this list is perfect for you.
Fitness
- Resistance bands: Add resistance bands to your wish list this holiday to intensify your at home workouts. They improve overall strength and athletic performance by helping reduce injury, increasing muscle stimulus and core activation, and being useful for stretching and mobility. Furthermore, they are inexpensive, take up little space, and are perfect for travel.
- Yoga mat: A yoga mat will create the perfect base for all of your at home workouts. Specifically for yoga, the use of a mat keeps your body warm, provides comfort, protects you from injury, improves balance, provides stability, and gives you a better grip. Enhance your at home yoga experience by adding a yoga mat to your holiday wish list.
- Gift card to your favorite workout class: Workout classes increase motivation, hold you accountable and prevent injury. However, they often have a cost, which may prevent you from doing them frequently. This holiday season, ask for a gift card to your favorite workout class.
- Ankle weights: Throwing on a pair of ankle weights during your workout is associated with several benefits. They increase endurance, tone your legs, increase calories burned, strengths stems, and add extra resistance to ab workouts. Ask for this addition to your at home workout equipment to intensify your workouts.
Nutrition
- Spiralizer: If you love pasta and are looking for healthier alternatives, a spiralizer is just what you need. Spiralizing vegetables such as zucchinis, squash and carrots creates a spaghetti- like shape and texture. Re- create your favorite pasta dishes using vegetable noodles to have a nutritious meal.
- Air fryer: Do you love fried food, but want to prioritize your health? An air fryer is the perfect kitchen gadget for you. Air fry your favorite foods to get the crunch you know and love without excessive amounts of oil. They are simple to use and clean, making them the perfect holiday gift option!
- Blender: A good blender is a necessity for smoothies, which are packed with vitamins and minerals. Add in your favorite protein powder, superfoods and vegetables to maximize your smoothies’ health benefits. In addition, blenders can be used for making homemade nut butters, sauces and salad dressings. Making these items from scratch rather than buying them allows you to have control over the ingredients, eliminating any chemicals and preservatives added to the store bought products.
- Healthy cookbook: Looking to be inspired or inspire others to eat more healthy, and delicious meals? A healthy cookbook contains tons of recipes that will put a smile on your and your families faces. With so many on the market, find one that is packed with recipes you are eager to try.
Mental Health
- Journal: Journaling can reduce stress, allow you to clarify your thoughts and feelings, know yourself better, solve problems more efficiently, and resolve disagreements with others. Add a new journal to your wish list this holiday to inspire you to jot down your thoughts more often!
- Positive affirmation book: If you’re looking to increase your self esteem in 2021, a positive affirmation book is the perfect gift for you! Positive affirmations will help you overcome negative thoughts and spark positive change.
