Share the Health: Great Holiday Gift Ideas

Focused on Health - December 2009

By Rachel Winters

Give the gift of health this holiday season. You don’t have to spend hours shopping to find the perfect present. M. D. Anderson’s gift guide has something for everyone.

Gym membership

M. D. Anderson recommends doing at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, every day to lower your chances of getting cancer. While this sounds easy to do on a clear, sunny day, it’s harder on days when the weather is too hot, cold or wet. A gym membership gives people a way to work out no matter what Mother Nature has in store. Memberships range from $19 to $120 a month. Sounds out of your price range? Wrap-up a fun exercise DVD for home workouts!

Sun protective clothing

For active family members and friends, nothing says love like fashionable sun protective clothing. This clothing uses a special fabric to protect the skin from UV rays that cause skin cancer. The clothing, called UPF clothing, is an easy and reliable form of sun protection that lasts through many washes. It’s a great gift for kids (the bathing suits are adorable), runners, gardeners or anyone who spends time outdoors.

Active gear for kids

Encourage the kids in your life to be adventurous and stay active. Kids should be active for at least 60 minutes every day to lower their chances of getting cancer as adults. Rollerblades, a bike, scooter or ice skates are all good ideas – just make sure to buy a helmet, too! If these items are too pricy, try getting a jump rope, hula-hoop, or any kind of ball or other sports equipment.

Dark chocolate

In addition to being delicious, moderate amounts of dark chocolate may play a role in cancer prevention. Find beautifully packaged chocolates at gourmet chocolate shops, online or at your local drugstore for as little as $2. Just be sure to check the label before buying! To get those cancer prevention benefits, the chocolate should contain at least 65% cocoa. Also, look for boxes that offer smaller serving sizes, like bonbons instead of candy bars. You shouldn’t eat more than one ounce of dark chocolate per day.

Green tea sampler

Studies suggest that antioxidants in green tea protect against cancer by stopping cancer cells from growing. So what gift could be better for your loved one than a green-tea sampler? You can find pretty sampler packs at local chains, independent coffee shops, teahouses or at gourmet grocery stores. These samplers cost as little as $10. Want to jazz-up your gift? Give green tea with a teakettle or set of china. Or, make your own sampler by using tissue paper and a wooden box. Green tea is available in mouth-watering flavors like blueberry and strawberry-rhubarb.

Fruit of the month club

Buy a gift membership from a fruit of the month club. These clubs deliver a fresh fruit basket one to four times a month to your lucky gift recipient. Membership fees range from $32 to $200 a month, depending on the amount and type of fruit. Fruit is a great gift because it contains tons of antioxidants and plant chemicals that help the body fight cancer. If a fruit of the month club membership is out of your budget, make your own! Buy an inexpensive, woven basket, tissue paper and fresh produce at a supermarket or farmer’s market.

Steamer

Do you have someone in your family who loves to cook? A steamer is a great way to encourage people to make healthy meals. A steamer allows you to cook food without using oil or butter, which can add extra fat and calories to meals. Even better, steamers make it easy to cook vegetables in as little as ten minutes and with very little clean-up. Making vegetables easier to prepare means busy family and friends will be more likely to eat the recommended five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Other healthy kitchen items include a stovetop grill to cook fish and vegetables without charring, while allowing fat to drip; a new blender for delicious smoothies; or a coffee grinder to grind flaxseed and add to foods.

Now that you’ve got a healthy gift idea for everyone on your list, don’t forget to include a card that explains how your special gift helps the recipient reduce their chances of getting cancer. Your new season’s greeting can now be “Happy Healthy Holidays!”