This year as the holiday season approaches and we all scramble to find the perfect gifts, I encourage you to give your friends and loved ones gift packages that will promote a healthy and happy lifestyle.  Give them items that will last throughout the year and inevitably change their lives for the better.

My friends and family always know that the gifts I give them will have some sort of theme wrapped around them.  A few years back, everyone got gift packages that revolved around living a healthy and happy lifestyle.  I bought Nalgene water bottles and filled them with different items that I felt would encourage each person to be healthier.  Another time I gave friends monogrammed gym bags and filled the bag with items that fit their personality and enabled them to be active.

Below I have offered suggestions for packages you can put together for your friends and family that are designed to promote healthy and happy lifestyles.  I encourage you to get creative with the contents and think of alternative ways to package the gift—just have fun with it and look for things that fit your friends' and family members' specific interests.  Also, remember, these do not have to break the bank.  My water bottle gift packages cost less than $20 per person!

Beginner Exerciser Package:  Gym bag, exercise clothes, health and fitness magazine, gift certificate for sporting goods store/activity at local fitness facility

Gym Package:  Gym bag, exercise clothes, gym lock, water bottle, sweat towel, gift certificate for local fitness facility

Family Fitness Package:  Activities that you can do with the children such as outdoor game sets, walking shoes, gift certificates for fun zones

At-home Exercise Video Package:  Various exercise videos based on the person's interests

At-home Gym Package:   Exercise ball, dumbbells, exercise tubes, yoga mat, stability disc, medicine ball

Dancer's Package:  Gift certificate for dance lessons, dance-related exercise videos, loose fitting clothing, lotion (to rub on sore feet)

Yoga Package:  Yoga mat, yoga block, yoga band, yoga videos, gift certificate to yoga studio, subscription to a yoga magazine

Walker's/Runner’s Package:  Running water bottle, energy gels (for distance runners), cool/hot weather gear, gift certificate to running store, subscription to a runner’s magazine

Biker's Package:  Gel seats, energy gels, protective gear, subscription to a biker's magazine, gift certificate to bike store

Climbing Package:  Hand chalk, hand cream, harness or shoes, gift certificate to climbing facility, subscription to a climbing magazine

Gardening Package:  Gloves, bucket, shovels, bulbs, gardening knee pads

Golf Package:  Golf balls, golf tees, golfing gloves, gift certificates for rounds of golf or the driving range, subscription to a golf magazine

Camping Package:  Camp stove, camp furniture, backpacks, flashlights, gift certificate for camping supply store

At-home Spa Package:  Massage oils, manicure kit, pedicure kit, facial kit

Sleep Package:  Pajamas, pillows, sleep masks, environmental sounds alarm clock

Relax Package:  Candles, massage oils, relaxation CD

Spa Trip Package:  Gift certificate to spa for various treatments

Fruit-of-the-month Club Package:  Subscription to fruit-of-the-month club, cookbook of fruit recipes

Tea-of-the-month Club Package:  Subscription to tea-of-the-month club, tea cups

Red Wine Package:  Couple of bottles of red wine, wine glasses, book about health benefits of red wine, bottle opener, gift certificate for wine bar or wine store

“Nuts about Nuts” Package:  Various packages of nuts, cookbook focusing on nut recipes, nutcracker

Vegetarian Food Package:  Locally grown fruits and vegetables (from farmers market), cookbook focusing on vegetarian recipes, gift certificate to local health food store

Healthy Eating Package:  Cookbook focusing on healthy recipes, cooking utensils, healthy Ingredients

Healthy Dining Package:  Gift certificates to local healthy dining establishments

First Aid Package:  Water bottle, bandages, hand sanitizer, pain killers, gauze, antibacterial ointment

Book Lover's Package:  Cookbooks, fitness books, subscription to a healthy living magazine

Professional's Package:  Personal training sessions, registered dietitian sessions, life coach sessions

Written by:

Summer S. Griffith
Health Advocate
Wellness Coalition America
summer@wellnesscoalition.com