Rather than sending friends and family high-calorie treats for the holidays that only derail their healthy diets (truffles, anyone?), why not give them presents that actually boost their wellbeing? That way, you look like the rockstar gift-giver that you are and you improve their health at the same time. Pretty fantastic, right?
Here are 16 gifts you can feel good about giving. No need to send us a thank you note.
1Join the Band
Here’s a thoughtful gift for your running fanatic friend: the HEX Watch Band. The device transforms an iPod Nano into an easy-to-wear watch that’s much more convenient that clipping your Nano to your shirt when you’re going for a run. And it comes in nine fun colors.
2Step It Up
Yes, a treadmill desk is a major splurge, but getting off your tush and walking while you work just might save your life. How many gifts can do that? To make walking and working even more seamless, the treadmill’s controls are built right into the desktop.
3Yoga on the Go
Even the most devoted yogini doesn’t always want to schlep around her yoga mat, especially on vacation. With these yoga pants, she won’t have to. Simply slip them on and head to yoga class—no mat required. Genius!
4A Randy Gift
It’s Birchbox for sex—need we say more? For $25 per month, you can send your significant other a lubricant to try, along with other small sexy items. For $50, you can up the ante with a box of lube, sex toys and other fun items to explore together. Each box also comes with a list of ideas and suggested activities using the goodies in the box. Healthy bonus: Sex makes you look younger and helps you ward off the flu and colds.
Boink Box, $25-$50/month
YouBeauty readers get 20 percent of when they use the code YOUBEAUTY20.
5A Smart Scale
The high-tech scale weighs you once, and then tells you how much you’ve gone up or down in pounds without revealing your weight again. That way, you stay motivated without having to obsess over the number on the scale. And it comes in six cool colors.
6Feel-Good Giving
Want a gift you’ll truly feel good about giving? Make a donation in honor of a loved one to Globalgiving, a charity fundraising website that allows you to make a variety of tax-deductible contributions to important projects, such as Project Mosquito Nets, which aims to provide 20,000 children in Zambia with lifesaving nets to protect them from malaria—the number one killer of children in Africa. Or you can help provide crucial medicine to 200 terminally ill cancer patients in Bangalore, India. The opportunities to improve the lives and health of people in need are endless. And you’ll get an instant mood boost, too, just for doing such a good deed.
7Guilt-Free Frying
This handy gadget helps you easily cook seafood, chicken, red meat, vegetables—even fries!—using only 1 teaspoon of oil, saving you time and calories. It also comes with a recipe book with more than 30 meal ideas.
8Measure Up
Make measuring fun with these decorative measure cups inspired by Russian nesting dolls. When not in use, they stack neatly inside each other, but chances are, you’ll want to display these on a shelf.
9Kitchen Helper
.jpg)
When you cook at home, you’re more likely to eat healthier. To encourage a budding (or even experienced chef), pick up this tool, which props up your iPad so you can watch healthy cooking videos or scan the next step in the recipe without getting Salmonella all over your iPad. But that’s not all: The Bluetooth speaker at the bottom lets your rock out to your favorite tunes while you whip up a healthy dish.
10Hanging Gardens
Bring the outside in with these beautiful hanging teardrop terrariums—a great, not to mention original, hostess or holiday gift. And if your gift recipient finds out she doesn’t exactly have a green thumb, she can swap out plants for votive candles.
11Olive You
Adopt an orphan olive tree in southeastern Sicily as a gift, and the recipient will receive olive oil from their very own tree for a year. How original and amazing is that? You’re not only getting them a cool gift, but also one that helps reduce their risk of heart disease and promotes beautiful skin. Olive oil contains a polyphenol called hydroxytyrosol, which has more antioxidant power then green tea and helps reduce inflammation to the skin.
Nudo, $69 (plus shipping)
12Hit the Mat
Have a friend or family member who desperately needs to unwind? Spend 20 to 40 minutes lying on this acupressure mat, which has 6,210 stimulation points designed to energize you in the morning (see ya later, coffee!) or relax you in the evening (buh-bye, lavender pillow spray!).
13Pop Art
Remember when you were a kid and would make homemade ice pops in your freezer? Meet the next generation. Simply fill the molds with low-sugar fruit juice or delicious smoothies to make healthy, tasty frozen treats in under 10 minutes.
14Om Sweet Om
Give your favorite yogini her own monogramed yoga mat from the aptly named My Custom Yoga Mat. Choose the mat color, thread color and monogram style—and then throw in a free class or two, such as one to YogaWorks ($22 per class), which has locations all over the country, so she can get her ‘om’ on.
15Cool Cruising
How can anyone resist this beautiful, lightweight cruiser? The eight-speed bike is ergonomically designed for women—and the color combo is to die for. Happy cruising!
16Blend In
Know someone who is jonesing to make healthy smoothies and soups at home but can’t afford to buy them a Vitamix? No problem. Consumer Reports recently compared the top blender models and turns out, the affordable Ninja and pricey Vitamix tied for first place. Now you can blend away without breaking the bank.
