Did you know fitness-over-50 is one of the biggest trends in the exercise world? It’s true – has been for a few years now -- with millions of people in the demographic, and more coming every year (Hello, Gen X-ers!)
So, chances are good that you have some folks on your guest list who work out regularly (or want to start). These 10 ideas will give you a great start!
Arboleaf Body Composition Smart Scale. Why keep track of just your weight, when there’s so much more useful information to follow? The scales measure body mass index, body fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate and more to keep you informed.
Adidas Samba shoes. Footwear is important for anyone who exercises, so just take this as a starting point. But this classic model from back in the day has been resurging in popularity lately.
Bombas socks. This company found that socks are the No. 1 requested item at homeless shelters. So it donates a pair for every pair sold. That means you can feel good about these purchases, and they’ve put them in handy men’s and women’s gift bags. Very cool.
Apple Watch Series 7. For the device lover on your list, you can’t beat the latest Apple Watch, the 7. It has the most advanced health and wellness features yet, including the Blood Oxygen app and sensor and the ECG app. Go cheaper with a different brand – any good fitness tracker helps motivate us to move! From $399.
Ear pods. Adding a pair of good ear pods makes working out even better. You can listen to music, podcasts, books… all to pass the time while doing cardio or lifting weights. We are brand agnostic, but you can’t go wrong with the Apple AirPods. Save a few bucks with the Generation 2.
Audiobooks. Continuing on the ‘listening while exercising’ theme, this is a great way to keep up on reading while exercising. At Audible.com, the first one’s free, and then a monthly fee of $14.95 includes one title.
Meal delivery. Send packages of healthy, delicious foods to your loved one. You can choose from a range of diets. A few to consider: Hello Fresh, Sun Basket, and Purple Carrot.
Lessons, classes or private training sessions. Give the gift of a new experience or expert coaching. Talk to us about options here or locally that would be fun and helpful, especially since so many of us have been inside too much these last two years.
A Theragun. Post-exercise recovery is becoming more prominent, and these hand-held massage devices are among the most popular forms. They offer deeper muscle treatment to soothe chronic and acute pain, release tension and soreness, and improve circulation, flexibility and sleep. Check the website for models and pricing.
Your time. As ever, the best gift is your time. Take your friend or family member for a walk, or just enjoy a nice chat. Even better – bring them in here and let us show how we can make the new year their best yet.
Happy shopping – and happy holidays!
Cranberry Shrub Cocktails
Fresh cranberries are so full of wonderful tart flavor and health-boosting nutrients it seems a shame to serve them only in relish form to go with a holiday turkey. Another way to take advantage of them while supplies are plentiful is to turn them into a shrub: a tangy base for a drink that pairs fruit with vinegar and some kind of sweetener.
Drinking vinegars date back to pre-refrigeration days when fruits had to be preserved by natural methods. More recently, they’ve come back into vogue — in bars and in bottled form — as a healthful and satisfying grown-up drink, with or without the booze.
With its crimson hue and cool-weather flavors, this one is sure to brighten up the beverage table at any gathering this holiday season. From Susan Puckett, an Atlanta-based food writer and cookbook author. Makes about 2 cups shrub, about 16 drinks
Shrub:
12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup water
8-10 allspice berries, crushed
Juice and strips of peeled zest from 1 orange
2/3 cup cider vinegar (preferably organic
2/3 cup maple syrup
Cocktails:
Sparkling water, sparkling wine, sparking cider, bourbon, or other spirit
Orange slices, rosemary sprigs, and/or reserved cranberries for garnish
Make the shrub: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, water, crushed allspice berries, and orange juice and peel.
Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat; reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook until the berries soften and burst, 7-8 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the vinegar and syrup. Set aside some of the intact berries for garnish.
Pour the remaining mixture into a mesh strainer set over a medium bowl and press the solids with a spoon to extract as much juice as you can without getting solids into the shrub.
Transfer the strained liquid to a bottle or jar, cover, and refrigerate for a month or longer, until ready to use.
To make cocktails: Fill a cocktail glass with ice and pour ¼ to ½ cup of the shrub over the ice. Top off with sparkling water or sparking water for sparkling cider for a non-alcoholic cocktail or use the shrub as the base for a spirited cocktail.
Stir it well and garnish with an orange slice and, if desired, a sprig of rosemary and/or a few reserved cranberries.