Best health-related gifts to give this year

Deck the halls with apples and reflective running gear, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaa!

The healthy revolution continues in our family and yours this holiday season. So why not support the wellness endeavors of your loved ones with gifts that might bring more return than any toy or gadget might. (OK, there are some fun fitness gadgets that might be on the list, but that’s not the point!)

This week, the Rochester Media team rounded up a few of the best health-related gifts you can give this holiday season, found right here in Rochester and Rochester Hills. (With a couple exceptions.)

Does the health nut of your family already have everything they could ever need to support a healthful lifestyle? On our list, there are also some fresh ways to gift optimal health this December, found in our local stores or online.

It’s all in the recipe: Try combining glamour with necessity as your prepare gifts this year. Staff writer Heidi Morris suggests finding a healthy recipe, such as the Paleo Diet coconut honey muffin recipe. Then, purchase the ingredients needed and wrap it all up for your pal, like she is doing this holiday season. This gift has multiple layers of love—you cut out the hassle of tracking down the parts, while showing them you respect their mission to keep their body in good health. And there’s plenty of room for you to get creative!

Some of the best places around town to find health-specific foods (especially if you have a gluten allergy or dairy allergy) include:

Trader Joe’s, found at 3044 Walton Blvd. For the best holiday deals, give them a call at 248-375-2190 or visit them online at www.traderjoes.com.

Whole Foods Market, located at 2918 East Walton Blvd. You can contact them by phone at 248-371-1400 or check out their site at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

But Heidi also reminds us the grocery shops like Kroger continue to expand their health food sections so don’t forget to scour their weekly deals for the products you need to fill this recipe gift idea.

Funding for the fall harvest: Who doesn’t love a refrigerator or counter full of fresh, local produce in the late summer months? Owner Ann Gendich shares a scrumptious take on gifting food: She recommends purchasing a local farm share for the special someone on your list.

If you connect through organizations like Community Supported Agriculture, buying a farm share ensures a selection of harvest in upcoming seasons. It might not be an immediate return, as Mich. embarks on its wintery trek, but you can think of it as celebrating Christmas in July!

You’ll want to take a look at how to do this if you plan to wow your loved ones this holiday: Visit www.csafarms.org to learn more about doing farm share.

“Look good, feel good, play good”: Whether you are shopping for an avid fitness guru in your family or someone who is just starting on their journey to a healthier self, everyone enjoys looking good when working out. Especially when they don’t have to worry about doling out the extra cash for active wear. As a personal trainer in Rochester puts it: “Look good, feel good, play good.”

And your options are endless. (See Amazon.com.)

From new gym bags, shorts, sweatbands to the best fitness equipment—gifting healthy gear will only fuel the motivation behind your loved one’s goals. Another multi-dimensional gift, indeed.

If you need a starting point, some popular items this year include kettle bells, weighted jump ropes, medicine balls and all sorts of yoga gear.

Check out local shops like Trekt Oudoors or Red Lotus Yoga Studio for their holiday deals.

The gift of laughter: This falls under the category of gear, but another way to gift healthy goodness is to make others laugh. We know you have your favorite jokes, but a way to continue the smiles after out-of-town family has flown home is to gift laughter. Wait, what? How? Through books, books on tape, movies and videos.

 

If you enjoy giving the gift of memories and experiences rather than returnable items, here are several ways to keep the healthy gift going well-past the holidays:

Memberships and classes:

Gym memberships: You can sign up a family member for a gym membership to spark or reignite their health mission—Even if you pay for just the first month. And there are plenty of gyms in the Rochester and Rochester Hills area. Some include:

The Rochester Gym, found at 278 East Auburn Road. To learn their holiday membership deals, give them a call at 248-844-5500 or visit them online at www.therochestergym.com.

The Rochester Athletic Club, located downtown at 637 North Main Street. You can call them at 248-650-6200 or check out their website at www.rochesterathleticclub.net.

Spa treatment:

Which brings us to the next gift idea that is sure to dazzle both men and women in your family: Spa packages. (The RAC also has a spa inside.)

As holiday schedules fill up, stress is sure to creep into your plans. And a great way to show someone you care about his or her well being (and sanity!) is to gift a spa trip or spa package.

There are several around town: For a list of local spas, check out our recent article on eliminating holiday cortisol, or stress, here.

Never had a massage? You’ll also want to read our story on the health benefits of massage therapy here.

Yoga experience:

You can really purchase any sort of fitness class you want, we are just highlighting a few to get your idea ball rolling. A popular class (and there are several, too) are yoga classes or packages. With a few nearby studios to choose from, the gift of yoga is one that will extend into the New Year. You might even consider joining your family member, for an added dimension of joy!

Some studios include:

Red Lotus, found at 1900 South Livernois Road. Find out what their holiday specials are by calling 2480601-9642 or visiting their website at www.redlotusyoga.com.

Yoga Planet Studio, located at 3062 Walton Blvd. Give them a call at 248-375-3070 or check them out online at www.yogaplanetstudio.com.

If your family yogi already attends plenty of classes and doesn’t need a membership, try gifting some of the fun items found at yoga studios during the holidays like handmade jewelry, a gratitude journal or a new practice mat.

To learn more, you might be interested in our recent story on gratitude here: We had the chance to chat with two Rochester and Rochester Hills instructors on how to live more gratefully—Some powerful stuff!)

Cooking courses:

Ah, here we are, back to food again—Our favorite! A great way to create new memories with your parents, pals or coworkers is to enroll in a cooking course. It can be a fun night of socializing and you pick up some new culinary tricks along the way. There are a few spots around town that host cooking classes through the winter. Some include:

Whole Foods Market (see address and phone number above). Here is the site with class listings.

Williams Sonoma, found at 352 North Adams Road. Give them a call at 248-375-5891 or visit them online at www.williams-sonoma.com. Here is a listing of their upcoming cooking courses.

Purchase a spot in the community garden:

Similar to the idea of doing farm share, or reserving a selection of harvest, you can give the gift of self-sufficiency by purchasing a plot of the community garden for a family member.

Recently new, the Rochester community garden is located in Scott Street Park on Woodward Avenue, adjacent to Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve. Learn more on purchasing a spot for your family to grow fresh veggies, fruits or herbs here and here.

Suggestions?

What will you gift this year for your family and friends? Have an out-of-this-world idea that you think will benefit others in their holiday shopping endeavors? Share it here! We’ll keep the idea train rolling and update our list as the season draws near.