Only 25 days to go to Christmas – it’s time to start panicking about presents. Chocolates? Not in this heat. Wine? Dehydrates you. Plum pudding? Too stodgy.
We think caring for people’s health is the best way to show you care so we’ve done the hard work and rounded up some healthy gift ideas. Let’s go shopping!
1. Fit Bit Alta – Tracks your steps, calories, distance travelled, heartbeat, sleep and encourages you to move when you’ve been sedentary for a while. It also does that old-fashioned thing: tells the time. Heaps of snazzy-coloured bands too.
$199.95 Visit Fit Bit website
2. Water bottle – Staying hydrated is so important, especially during summer and a water bottle is a practical present. This Frank Green water bottle is good looking and good for the environment – there’s even a Frank Green hydration app to help track your water consumption.
$39.95 Frank Green Smart Bottle
3. Healthy cookbooks – Buy a loved one a cook book and there’s every chance you’ll benefit. Inspire a food-loving family member or friend with a cookbook that champions the good stuff. There’s Community by Hetty McKinnon, a book full of glorious salads, Karen Martini’s Salads and Vegetables book and Dr Michael Mosley’s The Clever Guts Diet Recipe Book.
4. Herb garden – One of the best ways to pack flavour into your food is with herbs – this cuts down on the need for salt and sauces. Get your loved one a herb garden for their window sill – one quick snip of parsley will lift any meal!
$14.98 – https://www.bunnings.com.au/bbq-herb-trough_p3551572
5. Get active voucher – Has your Aunt been saying, ‘I’d love to learn kung fu/golf/swing dancing? Encourage your family and friends to get active by purchasing a voucher for kung fu/golf/swing dancing classes in their local area. Hai ya! Chop!
6. Massage – Life can get stressful and giving the body some much-needed rest and relaxation can be the perfect gift for the tired and overworked.
$120 Endota Spa https://endotaspa.com.au/gift-cards/deep-recovery-massage-gift-card/c-24/c-91/p-1530
7. Food hamper – Lots of people will be gifting (and re-gifting) shortbread and plum puddings, but a healthy hamper will be a more useful present. Get a box or basket, stuff it with tissue paper and then fill it with Australian olive oils, vinegars, olives, nuts and teas. Maybe even some dark chocolate if you feel so inclined.
8. Inspirational sporting memoirs – Could sporting legends Cadel Evans, Andre Agassi or Cathy Freeman provide a bit of motivation? Why not get an inspirational sporting biography to lift and inspire. Here’s a list to get you started https://www.readings.com.au/collection/sport-biographies-and-memoir
9. Australian Open tickets – Summer in Melbourne means one thing … the Australian Open!. A ground pass for the tennis lover in your life means they can see all the action live. An ace present!
10. Donate! (And save on petrol) – Many of us are in the lucky position of having everything we need and more. Think about bucking the present trend (and avoiding the Chadstone Shopping Centre carpark) and donating to a charity that is meaningful to you or your loved one. We feel strongly about diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention and recommend donating to Diabetes Victoria, Heart Foundation and Stroke Foundation.
