While you’re busy making a list and checking it twice, don’t forget that this holiday season presents the perfect opportunity to give your loved ones gifts that will help them stay healthy and active.

This Christmas, healthier gifts could be simple things such as a healthy cookbook. Credible sources of information include registered dietitians or organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or the Canadian Diabetes Association.

A fruit basket is an attractive way to inspire nutritious eating. You can fill a basket with fresh apples, grapefruit, pineapple, kiwi and more. Another healthier gift could be to choose an attractive salad bowl and fill it with ingredients and accessories needed to create a tasty salad.

Ideas for healthy presents can be giving a gift certificate for a healthy-living class, purchasing a yoga mat and instructional video, maps of local trails in the area for a Christmas stocking, or by offering to drive friends’ kids to their karate, dance or swimming lessons. This gives the gift of time to the parent as well as supporting the children in learning new skills and being active.

You can also give a gift that encourages active play such as skipping ropes, balls and sports equipment, passes for recreational centres, rinks, swimming pools or the bowling alley. All of these great ideas can help encourage and support the plan of active and healthy living, giving a better lifestyle.

For more information on making your holiday season a good and healthy one, call Your Health Connection at 1-877-721-7520 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and talk with a public health nurse or check www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.a