- A healthy gift for the man in your life can support long-term wellness, not just short-term enjoyment. Giving him something that encourages physical activity, better nutrition or stress relief shows that you care about his health and longevity.
- Fitness-inspired options like fitness trackers and massage guns offer real health benefits for everything from your heart health to pain management. Similarly, fitness gifts like a personal trainer session, adjustable dumbbells or pickleball gear can help dads stay strong and motivated. These gifts encourage dads to stay active in fun, accessible ways that match their lifestyle, while encouraging regular physical activity to promote strength, mobility and heart health – all of which are important, especially as dads age.
- Because taking care of the mind is just as important as caring for the body, mental wellness gifts – like meditation and a sleep sound machine – are a great option to help them reduce stress and boost overall well-being.
- Personalized health services and tools – like nutrition counseling, personal training, posture correctors and air purifiers – offer targeted ways to support his specific health needs and goals.
If you’re searching for a gift for your dad’s birthday, Father’s Day or a seasonal holiday, gifts that can help him stay healthy and vibrant for years to come are a great option.
Instead of giving the man in your life another tie or pair of slippers, consider these 12 healthy gift ideas.
1. Fitness Tracker
If he doesn’t already have one, consider a wearable fitness tracker, such as a Fitbit or Apple Watch.
These wearable devices can help him keep track of his steps, measure his heart rate and log his exercise. Many of the more advanced fitness trackers also include features that can monitor blood pressure, measure blood oxygen levels and keep track of sleep patterns to help him gauge his overall health every day.
“Because movement is vital to heart health, a fitness tracker will help keep your father’s heart strong and ensure he gets the recommended 30 to 45 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (working hard to raise your heart rate and breaking a sweat) every day,” says Dr. Kinjan Parikh, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health in New York.
With all the helpful features, he can get the most out of the fitness tracker by wearing it regularly.
2. Massage Gun
While going to a spa for a massage is a great way to relieve tension and sore muscles, busy dads may not always have the time in their busy schedules to book an appointment. That’s where massage guns come in: They’re portable and convenient, allowing dads the ability to alleviate muscle aches and pains wherever they are.
These handheld devices use fast, repetitive pressure and vibration – known as percussive therapy – to increase blood flow, reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery in targeted areas of the muscle.
3. Sleep Sound Machine
Quality sleep plays an integral role in our physical and mental health, so it’s important to get the right amount of sleep.
Most adults should get at least 7 hours of quality rest each night. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 3 American adults don’t get enough sleep, increasing their risk of developing chronic health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and mental health issues.
Whether stress is affecting his sleep or he struggles with a sleep disorder, like insomnia, a sound machine can help dads get better rest. These devices have several noise options – such as white or brown noise, nature sounds or soothing tunes – to block background noises and promote quality sleep.
4. Meditation Session
A meditation session, in particular, is a generous gift to help the man in your life sharpen his focus, improve his awareness and boost his overall health.
Like massage therapy, meditation can relieve anxiety, tension and worry. When practiced properly, meditation can help eliminate streams of thoughts that may be crowding the mind and causing stress.
If he’s never experienced any of the various forms of meditation, he may come away from a session wanting to learn and experience more. It’s a great way to decompress, relax and learn techniques to enhance attention, emotional awareness, kindness and compassion.
Should he decide to take up the practice on a regular basis, it requires only a quiet setting, comfortable positioning, relaxed breathing and an open attitude to engage in mindfulness exercises to reduce stress and anxiety.
5. Personal Nutrition Counseling
If your dad is interested in healthy living or if he could benefit from eating a healthier diet, you might consider giving him a session with a registered dietitian or nutritionist. After all, it’s always a good idea for your father to plan for healthy living and aging
“We use nutrition to prevent and treat disease because food is medicine,” says Dr. Zhaoping Li, a nutrition physician specialist at UCLA.
If you’re looking for a nutritionist to send your dad to, consider a nutrition physician specialist. You can find one through the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists.
A nutritionist will look at what dad is eating and assess his individual needs. They’ll help design an eating plan for him that will maintain body function, muscle mass and bone mass.
6. Personal Training Session
If your father doesn’t work out with a personal trainer or needs to spice up his fitness routine, you might consider giving him a session with a certified fitness specialist. A personal trainer can motivate dad to work out when he doesn’t feel like it, give him exercise tips and help him level up with different ways to build muscle.
