Holiday gifts that keep the heart in mind

Need some holiday gift ideas for loved ones and friends — or maybe even yourself? Here are some suggestions from two Harvard experts that may help inspire heart-friendly habits.

Kitchen tools and gadgets

Eating home-cooked meals made with fresh ingredients is a good way to make sure your diet benefits your heart and overall health. Gadgets that make food prep easier, quicker, and safer can help, says Kate Mitchell, a dietitian at the Lipid and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Clinic at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "The No. 1 tool I recommend is a food chopper, which you can use to dice onions and many other vegetables and fruits," she says. They often come with adjustable blades for different cutting styles, such as a very small dice or thin slices.

A high-quality chef's knife is an essential tool for home cooks. For an extra-thoughtful gift, pair it with a knife sharpener and a cut-resistant metal glove, says Mitchell. Made of flexible stainless steel mesh, this kind of glove protects your hand from nicks and cuts. Another small but handy gift is a set of silicone freezer food molds, which makes it easy to store single servings of soups and stews.

Food-related gifts

Having fresh produce readily available is another great way to support healthy eating. You can provide a friend with a one-time box of fresh fruit or send a "fruit of the month" for up to a full year from various online sources, if you're feeling generous. A sampler of spices and salt-free herb blends could be good for someone with high blood pressure who's trying to eat less salt. A basket filled with Mediterranean-inspired treats is yet another option (see "A Mediterranean gift basket").

Gifts to encourage fitness

With New Year's just around the corner, gifts that help people keep their resolutions to get in shape may be especially appreciated. Because strength-based exercises can improve cardiovascular health, consider home workout equipment, such as a set of dumbbells or various types of stretchy, elastic bands (called resistance bands). Shawn Pedicini, a physical therapist with Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, recommends elastic straps you can attach to a door frame to perform Pilates-based exercises, which are especially good for strengthening your core muscles.

Does the person you're shopping for have a favorite activity or sport? He or she might welcome related gadgets, gear, or clothing — think cycling gloves, swim goggles, or a yoga mat. Pedicini also has suggestions for people who enjoy two popular sports, pickleball and golf. "Pickleball requires direction-changing movements, and an agility ladder can help them practice those skills," he says (see photo below). Exercising with a medicine ball — a grippable, heavy ball — can help improve a golfer's driving distance. Pedicini recommends a 4- to 8-pound padded ball, which can be lifted as a weight or thrown forcefully to the ground or against a wall to strengthen the upper body.

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