15 Healthy Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day is right around the corner.  Are you prepared with a thoughtful gift for your dad, father-in-law, and/or someone who’s been a father figure in your life?  If you’re stumped on what to buy for that special guy, we’re here to help.  Health Advocate offers 15 great gift ideas for dads—and better yet, all 15 ideas keep Dad’s health and wellness top of mind.

Give the gift of fitness

1.       A pedometer: A pedometer can track how many steps a person walks in a day—and research shows that using a pedometer can motivate people to walk more steps than usual.  Give dad that extra little push he needs to incorporate more fitness into his daily routine!

2.       A personal training session: Has your dad always been interested in learning how the fitness machines at the gym work, or learning what types of workouts could get him better results?  Get him a personal training session at a gym in his area.

3.       New sports equipment or attire: Is Dad a golfer?  Tennis enthusiast?  Cyclist or runner?  There are so many pieces of equipment or accessories that you could give him as a gift.  If his tennis racquet is falling apart or his favorite cycling shirt is ripped, this is the opportunity to buy him a replacement.  Or get him some new golf balls or a golf towel, water bottle, sweatbands, or a gift certificate to a local sporting goods store so he can buy something that he needs.

Give the gift of relaxation

4.       Serenity: Treat Dad to a series of classes to help him de-stress, relax, and recharge. Tai chi, yoga or meditation classes are all interesting choices. On a budget?  Look to your favorite daily deals website to see if any discounted classes are available in your dad’s neighborhood.

5.       Massage: Purchase a gift certificate for a massage—getting a massage may be able to alleviate some of Dad’s stress.

6.       Help with chores: Does Dad hate weeding or mowing the lawn?  Take those chores off his hands!  Be creative—consider making a homemade coupon book with tear-out coupons for each chore you’re willing to help out with.

7.       A new hammock: Does Dad need a little R&R?  Give him a new hammock—it can be his space to relax in, and it’s a perfect spot for him to read a book or magazine, enjoy his favorite drink, watch a sunset or take a snooze.

Give the gift of fun and leisure

8.       Tickets to a ball game: Get Dad tickets for you and him to attend a baseball game. If the stadium allows you to bring in outside food, make sure to take along some healthy snacks for the game. Bring along pre-cut vegetables (like carrots, celery, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes), pre-make individual fruit cups (try including grapefruit, blueberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges or pineapple). Or make your own trail mix with peanuts, cashews, almonds, dried cranberries, raisins and sunflower seeds. 

9.       A fun day together.  What does your dad like to do for fun?  Is his ideal day spent catching fish, hitting holes-in-one, or taking a bike ride?  Whatever your dad’s passion is, take some time to enjoy it with him and give him a special day to remember.

10.   A mini-getaway: If your dad’s in need of a vacation, gift him a weekend retreat.  This is a great “group gift” idea—ask your siblings if they want to chip in!  If your dad needs some relaxation, consider booking a weekend at a nice bed and breakfast.  If your dad enjoys fishing, rent a cabin by the lake.  If he enjoys camping, rent him an RV for a few days.

11.   Boosted brain power: Help keep your dad’s mind sharp with fun puzzles!  Gift him a book of crossword puzzles, word games, Sudoku…it’s a gift he can take anywhere and do anytime.

Give the gift of healthy food

12.   A special dinner: Visit your dad and cook him a healthy, delicious meal.  If you don’t know what his favorite foods are, ask him!  Don’t forget to see if you can “healthify” the recipes—for example, bake, grill or broil the meat you’re cooking instead of frying it.  Steam the vegetables and use herbs and spices, not butter, to add extra flavor.  And if you’re baking him a cake for dessert, substitute applesauce for oil in the recipe.

13.   Grilling accoutrements: If your dad likes to barbecue, consider giving him some accessories to barbecue with.  There are so many great options—a few ideas include a set of meat rubs, skewers for grilling shrimp or kebobs, a cookbook that focuses on interesting grilling recipes, or a vegetable tray or basket to help him cook veggies on the grill.

14.   Edible plants: If your dad enjoys eating healthy foods, buy him a plant that he can harvest and eat!  Some tomato plants and strawberry plants can be grown even on small porches or balconies, and they can yield delicious bounty.  Or, give him some herbs (like chives, parsley, mint and more) planted in small pots—he can grow them outdoors or indoors and use them as needed.

Give the gift of healthy help

15.   If you are a Health Advocate member, honor your father or father-in-law by reminding them about Health Advocate’s Health Advocacy service. Health Advocate covers eligible employees, their dependent children, parents and parents-in-law.  Remember, as people age, they often have many more health concerns than before. With these concerns comes the added headache of handling and managing health insurance, doctor’s appointments, deductibles, coinsurance, Medicare coverage, medication, claims, and overall healthcare complexities. A Personal Health Advocate can help resolve many healthcare- and insurance-related issues—encourage your dad to call today! 

Not a Health Advocate member?  Consider giving Dad the gift of Health Proponent. With Health Proponent on his side, your dad can get help with the frustrating, worrisome healthcare issues that take up his time. He'll have someone who speaks "doctor," knows insurance lingo, is seasoned in problem solving and will get to the bottom of his issue quickly. Our medical and benefits experts know how to get him the answers he needs. Learn more: www.HealthProponent.com.

Give Mom the Gift of Health this Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and many people are scrambling to find the just the right gift for mom. If you’re still gift-hunting, why not give your mom a gift that helps her improve her health? Consider these healthy gift ideas that can help your mother de-stress and stay well. 

Spruce up the garden. Make Mom a gift basket that includes some gardening tools, a few packets of seeds, gloves and a broad-brimmed hat.  Not only can you give your mother some healthy goodies to plant—such as veggies or fruits she can pick and eat after they’ve grown—but there are many potential health benefits that can come from gardening, including fighting stress and improving cognitive thinking. A recent study suggests that gardening can help fight stress even better than other leisure activities.

Work out the knots. Give your mom a gift certificate for a massage.  According to the Mayo Clinic, massage can be an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension. The Mayo Clinic suggests that some studies have found massage may also be helpful for other conditions, such as anxiety, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, and more.

Find serenity.  Buy your mother a gift certificate for some yoga classes. Yoga is a form of physical activity that combines stretching exercises, controlled breathing and relaxation. According to the Mayo Clinic, yoga can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve heart function. Practicing yoga may also lead to improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength.   Bonus: If you’re also into yoga, buy yourself a package of yoga classes and enjoy this relaxing activity together.

Prepare a healthy feast. Invite your mom to a homemade brunch on Mother’s Day. When planning your menu, consider making healthy foods such as fruit or vegetable salads, a savory quiche packed with spring vegetables, soups made with low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken stock as their base, or herbed, grilled chicken breasts. If the weather is pleasant, take Mom for a walk around the neighborhood or to a favorite local park after brunch. 

Get her a helpful gadget. If your mom is interested in getting fit, get her a pedometer so that she can track the amount of steps she takes each day. Using a pedometer may even encourage her to get more physical activity. Researchers at Stanford University recently conducted a study that found that people who wear pedometers often take more than 2,000 extra steps a day – that’s well over a mile.

Give the gift of healthcare help. If you are a Health Advocate member, remind your mother or mother-in-law that she can take advantage of their health advocacy service. Health Advocate covers eligible employees, their dependent children as well as parents and parents-in-law.  Here are just some of the ways a Personal Health Advocate can help:

·         Find the right doctors, hospitals and other providers

·         Explain conditions; research latest treatments

·         Help schedule appointments and tests

·         Resolve billing and insurance claims issues

·         Secure second opinions

·         Clarify benefits coverage

·         Estimate costs of common procedures

·         Help you make informed decisions

·         And more!

Not a Health Advocate member?  Consider giving your mother a Health Proponent membership.  It’s the perfect gift for Mother’s Day or any other occasion!

Celebrating Valentine’s Day in a Healthy Way

Valentine’s Day often brings to mind cards, candy, dinner out, and romantic gifts. It’s a day that gives us all a chance to express how much we care about those nearest and dearest to us. But there’s no greater gift to someone you care about than the gift of good health and well-being. This Valentine’s Day, why not give the holiday a new meaning to those you love by giving gifts that can promote good health? Consider these fun gift suggestions that keep health top-of-mind during this heartfelt holiday:

·         For the busy person who often burns both ends of the candle, consider a gift certificate for a massage. A massage may help relieve tense muscles, alleviate stress, and promote relaxation.

·         For someone in your life who loves to cook, how about giving them a cookbook that features delicious, gourmet, healthy recipes? This can encourage eating healthier foods without taking the fun out of cooking. As an added bonus, they can always invite you over to try out those fat-free, lower calorie dishes—it’s a win-win for everyone!

·         Looking to get your loved one to exercise more?  Consider giving a pedometer, a device that counts the number of steps a person takes, which can help foster more interest in daily exercise.  Use Valentine’s Day and February—which is Heart Health Awareness month—as an opportunity to commit to fitness for a healthier heart. Come to think of it…could you benefit from a few extra steps in your life, too?  Why not buy two pedometers and take those steps together?  (You can become “sole mates!”)

·         Stumped about what to get the kids for Valentine’s Day? How about giving them a gift that starts their day off right—the gift of breakfast! Start their day off with a healthy smoothie made with fresh, antioxidant-packed fruits (berries, bananas, oranges, pineapple) and low-fat yogurt. Serve the smoothie in a plastic thermos or water bottle decorated with hearts or another seasonal design.  The kids can reuse this bottle and fill it with water or other healthy drinks.

·         Instead of gifting a high-calorie box of chocolates, how about giving a gift that has more permanence? Either write your own poem, or search online for a poem, that describes your feelings towards your loved one. Type the poem and put it in a festive frame for a gift that can bring a smile to someone’s face!

·         Go nuts on a food basket filled with healthy snacks.  Use Valentine’s-themed treat bags to create single-serve packets that contain a handful of heart-healthy nuts like walnuts, almonds or cashews.  For an extra-special touch, consider adding a little love note to each bag. Create a gift basket that includes fresh fruit like apples and bananas in addition to the treat bags.

Use this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care, and share ways that you can support each other’s health and wellness. If you are a Health Advocate member and want to learn about more heart-healthy ideas, call us!  Our Personal Health Advocates can guide you in finding a new doctor who can perform a blood pressure and cholesterol screening, a nutritionist who can help you improve your diet, and more.