Gifts for Health

Do you need last minute ideas for gifts for loved ones, co-workers, or friends? We asked all the people who work on the HealthLink web site and newsletter to come up with some ideas for holiday gifts that promote physical and mental health of the giver and the receiver. Our favorite suggestion: "How about a free subscription to a health information newsletter…like HealthLink."

1. Walking shoes.
2. A State Parks Pass or National Parks Passport.
3. A jump rope - yes, for grown-ups too.
4. An exercise video for those days when it is just too icy and cold to drive to the gym.
5. Tai Chi lessons.
6. A pair of quality non-prescription sunglasses or a gift certificate for eyewear.
7. Sunblock - great as a stocking stuffer!
8. Exercise equipment: a bike, treadmill, stepper.
9. A set of weights for the office (to lift, not throw) .
10. Gift certificates for the roller rink or ice skating.
11. YMCA or other health facility membership.
12. Day spa or massage gift certificate.
13. Certificate for babysitting or childcare help - especially for new parents.
14. Invitation to a neighborhood friend to be walking buddies several times a week.
15. How about a nice escape to a placid waterfall, the seashore or the rainforest via an environmental sound effects CD?
16. Membership in the local art museum, natural history museum, or historical society.
17. A special light box for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
18. An assortment of teas -- recent studies have found tea is quite healthy.
19. A share in a farm produce co-op for next summer.
20. Tickets to a comedy show -- laughter is healthy, and many of us don't do enough of it.
21. A healthy quick & easy meals cookbook…one that actually uses ingredients you would normally have or easily find without going to specialty markets. Or better yet, some of these meals prepared and frozen which you could just thaw and heat. Great gift for parents who work & don't have time to cook.
22. A coupon book for a friend or relative who can't drive with "free" rides to the doctor, hospital, grocery store, etc.
23. A Fruit of the Month subscription -- increasing fruits and vegetables in our diet is recommended for health. There are several mail order companies that do these, but you can even do it yourself - give a nice basket of seasonal fruit to a friend and refill it once a month.
24. A juicer for making fruit and vegetable juice.
25. Subscription to a free health e-mail newsletter (did we already mention this?)
26. A directory of local nursing homes or hospices with the names of their activities directors for those who want to volunteer to help.
27. Voice or music lessons for a lapsed musician.
28. A basket of fancy vegetables and a vegetarian cookbook.
29. A form to compile your family's medical history.
30. A crate of clementines - even kids eat these fruits, and the crates make great garages and dollhouses.
31. Take advantage of what we know about spiritual health and its influence on physical health and invite a friend to your worship service.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.