Honesty is the Best Policy

Giving gifts related to your weight loss might be a touchy subject. Some people may avoid giving health-related gifts to avoid any awkward conversation (“Do you think I need to lose weight, Aunt Deborah?”). To put your loved ones at ease, be straight-forward about your journey to a healthier you. If they know you’re looking for things that will help you lose or maintain your weight, it will feel less like a hint and more like a thoughtful gesture. Having conversations about health with your loved ones can build a support system and set you all up for success!

Healthy Fat Dispensers

Healthy fats, like olive oil, are great for your health. The American Heart Association recommends healthy fats in your diet to lower “bad” cholesterol, lower rates of heart disease, and lower rates of all-cause mortality. That said, fats and oils are more calorie-heavy than other macronutrients. Each gram of fat has 9 calories, whereas a gram of carbohydrates or protein only has 4 calories per gram. To make sure you’re getting your healthy fats but not going overboard, request kitchen gadgets that will help you measure. An oil sprayer is handy for dispensing just enough oil to make sure nothing sticks to a pan, or to spray over vegetables that would be hard to evenly coat otherwise (like cauliflower steaks). One big benefit of buying a non-aerosol sprayer (like this one) is that your oil will be free of any propellants or preservatives that may be in a grocery-store spray.

If you tend to roast veggies or dress your salad in oil, try an oil dispenser that measures your pour (like this one). An easy measuring tool is especially useful for people who are logging their food intakes, and is a helpful reminder of serving size for those who tend to estimate.

Upgraded Cooking Necessities

You have many more opportunities to eat healthfully if you’re preparing meals yourself. The holiday season is a great time to find sales on good kitchen basics that can last a few years. You might not realize how dull your knife has gotten until you get a new one!

You can get great mileage out of a cool cutting board with modern enhancements, like this one with separate compartments to hold ingredients mid-recipe, or this one with grid lines for the perfect dice every time.

If you’re a person who brings a salad to work every day, consider ones like these (one and two) which have different levels for your toppings to keep your greens from getting soggy.

Egg Cooker

Eggs are incredibly versatile and are good at any time of day. If you’re doing eggs a few times a week, you might want to invest in an egg cooker to cut down on prep time (and dirty dishes!). Look for an egg cooker that can cook eggs different ways. This one has settings for hard-boiled, soft-boiled, scrambled, and poached eggs, as well as a tray for omelets and frittatas.

Flavors of the Season

It’s entirely possible to give foodie gifts that won’t throw your meal plan out the window. Depending on your preferences, a great bag of coffee or tin of tea are both great indulgent options that are low in fat and calories. Aim for fun, holiday flavors to keep things festive: notes of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and peppermint are all popular as the temperature drops.

If you’re not into coffee or tea, you can find great spice blends to transform a quick dinner into a culinary treat. Middle Eastern za’atar, Indian garam masala, or French Herbes de Provence are great options for those who shy away from spicy foods. For the more adventurous, try to find pepper-based spices blend for a little heat this winter. Turkish Aleppo pepper, Ethiopian berbere, and North African harissa are all delicious.

Body Composition Analysis

Getting a baseline measure of your body before beginning a wellness journey can make it easier to stay motivated. At Cōpare, we utilize a non-invasive body composition analysis to measure the levels of fat, muscle, and water in the body. Having a starting point is essential for tracking your progress. If you’re interested in giving the gift of health, call your nearest Cōpare to purchase a gift certificate to a body composition and personal session with one of our helpful consultants.

Wrap It Up

Whether you’re giving or receiving, health-minded gifts are the perfect mix of thoughtful and useful that we all look to find around the holidays. A little indulgence is fine, but keep your goals in mind to balance your physical and mental wellness. All of us at Cōpare wish you a happy holiday season!