What to buy?
It’s the infamous question we ask ourselves around the holiday season. The harder question I feel is what to buy the person that has everything. To make matters worse, I’m a firm believer in giving practical presents.
It’s so easy to default to chocolate or cookies for office gifts or another scarf, a pair of socks, or gloves for the family or friend, but how about we try something different this year? Below are a few healthy holiday gifts I suggest for everyone on your list. Some you can even make yourself.
For the active outdoorsman or woman:
Glass water bottles are better than plastic which may leach out chemicals.
Glove liners are helpful for runners or anyone who exercises outside. I find this gift great, since I walk with my dogs during the chillier months, and my hands are always cold.
Fitness-based getaways are a more expensive gift, but fitness-based getaways are as close as the Poconos or Lancaster, if you are from the Philadelphia area. These types of trips can include mountain climbing, kayaking, biking, etc, and some are lead by a tour guide.
For the kitchen connoisseur:
Masala Tin/ Spice box 
was a concept introduced to me by a colleague and I have found it to be a favorite. Several spices are separately placed in a tin or box that is placed in the drawer next to your stove. This way when you’re cooking, you open the drawer and use the spices you need. While this is traditionally an Indian concept, you can make your own tin with any spice variation in it.
Herb Scissors are great for taking the time and mess out of trying to mince and cut herbs.
Vegetable spiralizer is a piece of equipment that allows anyone to incorporate more vegetables into their diet. This allows the cook to use vegetables in lieu of pasta. These are also great for those of us with gluten issues, who can’t have pasta and/or afford the gluten free options or for those with diabetes. Check out these great recipes.
For the active friend/family member:
Porcupine Balls 
are a massage tool to relieve sore muscles. I find it useful as a compliment to all the Zumba classes I teach and the other fitness classes I take.
Yoga mats are used for more than just yoga. I like to keep a yoga mat at work in the event I forget to bring mine for our work-place yoga class, need to take a 10-minute stretch break during the day, or a lunch-time rest/relaxation in my office.
Fitness Trackers 
are great for the active individuals in your life and those who are trying to be active. I love my FitBit, and there are plenty variations of trackers out there. Most will sync with your Smart phone or internet, so you can look at your progress over weeks and months. Warning, this may be addictive and cause you to want to walk more and more steps each day.
For the soul:
Tea has so many varieties out there, you are bound to find one flavor for everyone on your list. The benefits of tea are astounding, so why not provide some flavonoids, along with your holiday gift.
Aromatherapy, bubble bath or body scrub are great options to make and give away. Nothing says “I care about you” like giving someone something to take care of themselves. A couple of drops of lavender or peppermint go a long way with these gifts, and they are great for calming, decreasing inflammation, and overall wellness.
A good pillow 
goes a long way in terms of getting a restful night’s sleep. Check out these tips for choosing the right pillow.
Other low cost ideas:
A few other gift ideas that support a healthy lifestyle and are low or no cost include: making a healthy meal for a friend or family member, making a notebook or journal filled with positive quotes, create a personalized playlist, printing maps or making lists to local parks in the area, sharing some of your favorite healthy recipes, offering to babysit a friend’s children so they can exercise, or making a personalized coloring book for stress relief (see our stress resource page for free printable pages).
Happy Healthy Holidays,
Megan Carrier, MS
Eat Fit Health Intern