Healthy gifts to gift for the holidays (Top 7 choices for families and kids)

Every year I come up with a list of healthy gifting ideas. Some years I recycle ideas from years past but this year I found some interesting contributors. I may not be Oprah,  but here is Americas Dietitians list of favorite things for the Holidays!

1. I like a gift that keeps on giving 
throughout the year. Recently I ran into a company called MightNest. They have a monthly shipment full of healthy solutions that every household needs. For only $10 a month your recipient receives simple yet useful items for the home. Check it out at Mightfix. 

2. Start your sous chef early by getting them a kitchen kit to help them cut fruits and vegetables safely in the kitchen. Curious Chef fruit and veggie prep kit is safe, colorful and fun. 

3. Give the gift of physical activity by buying: Jump ropes, balls, indoor mini trampolines, bike, skateboards, scooters, skates or a hula hoop. 

4. Gardening tools- From making their own Terrarium to kid sized gardening tools, gloves and aprons helps to promote a love of getting dirty and growing real food. 

5. So Easy Pop Maker is a fun way to eat smoothies, low-fat chocolate milk, lemonade and any other variety of frozen treat. Making a quick blend of vegetables and fruits and freezing them in an easy to use, and clean, pop maker makes for a quick and healthy after school snack. 

6. ChopChop Magazine is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. A parents choice award winning magazine will provide recipes and great ideas to keep those creative culinary skills cooking throughout the year. 

7. Help them dress the part by buying new running shoes. Shoes that fit comfortably are more likely to promote more physical activity and with all the fun colors and styles you can't go wrong. 




This past summer we did a major purging of "stuff" from our lives and as we approach the holidays I am standing by my promise to myself to think about each and every gift that the kids get. I don't want to contribute to the waste in the world and I want to make sure that the kids understand that healthy gifts can be fun! 

Share the love and share the health! Have a great Holiday! 

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Day 3 Hydrating for the Holidays...Why is water important?

On the 3rd Day of Christmas 

my Registered Dietitian recommended to me....

Stay Hydrated throughout the holidays!

It hit me like a ton of bricks while I was shopping for early Christmas presents...dry mouth, headache, fatigue and the near feeling of passing out. I could not believe it, I was really dehydrated. I had been so busy with the kids, exercising and checking off my Christmas list that I forgot to stay hydrated. I drank 2 cups of coffee in the morning but I know better than that and know that caffeine is really more of a diuretic working to take fluid away from you. The celebratory cocktails the night before were also not doing my body any favors and were contributing to my overall state of dehydration. 

Here are a few recommendations so that you do not succumb to dehydration during the holidays and throughout the year:

1. Drink at least 6-8 cups (1 cup = 8 ounces = 240ml) per day. 

2.Items that are liquid at room temperature count as fluid (Popsicle, soup etc).  

3. Watch out for caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. For every cup of these products add an additional cup of water. 

4. Foods such as fruits and vegetables can contribute up to 20% of your hydration needs for the day, so don't forget to include these foods. 

5. Stick with water, low fat milk, 100% fruit juices and stay away from sodas, sport drinks and energy drinks as much as possible.

By following these recommendations you will stay hydrated and healthy well into the new year!

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Brandi@Abcdeatright.com