Gifts for the Heart

cookingholidays
Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Remember your friends and sweetheart on Valentine’s day with a gift for their hearts. You will celebrate both Valentine’s Day and February as American Heart Month. The benefits received from giving something fitness or health-related can be ongoing and plentiful.

Small gifts are really big gifts when they are homemade. Our list below has many gift suggestions that can be bought or made from scratch, and big ones for bigger budgets.

This Valentine’s Day, give a gift that genuinely symbolizes love or friendship. Show your admiration by giving a gift that can help your loved ones feel great for an ongoing period, and that does more than momentarily satisfy their sweet tooth. Make a lasting loving impression by surprising someone with the following:

Small gift:

  • Jarred hot sauces tied with a bow

  • Basketful of flavored vinegar with a bow

  • Box of flavored herb teas with a mug (can get a photo mug)

  • Heart-shaped basket of red fruit

  • Water bottle for walking/exercise

  • Exercise t-shirt (can get one with a photo)

  • Certificate for a homemade meal(s)

  • Basket with flavored pasta and pasta sauce

  • Supplies to plant an herb garden or

  • Potted herbs tied with a bow

Medium gift:

  • Subscription to a meal delivery service once a month

  • Subscription to a healthy cooking magazine, such as Eating Well

  • Healthy cookbook

  • New spices that are low-sodium mixes

  • Gift certificate to sporting goods store

  • Large gift:

  • Session(s) with a personal trainer

  • Membership in a gym

  • Gift certificate for a massage or treatments at a day spa

  • Membership in a fruit of the month club

  • Dinner in a healthy restaurant

  • Exercise classes

  • Yoga studio gift card

Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII discovered her love of cooking at her grandmother's side, stirring raisin oatmeal on a Saturday morning. By 15 she had her first food service job. At 18 she was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America, where she graduated second in her class, then went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland to study pastry arts and baking. A decade with Hyatt Hotels followed before she founded Food and Health Communications with a single conviction: food that is good for you should taste extraordinary.

Judy holds a Master of Professional Studies in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University (Summa Cum Laude), two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and the CIA's Pro Chef II certification. She has earned the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year award.

Today she develops every recipe on this site, shoots and styles food through her food photography and motion studio, and publishes nutrition education materials for dietitians, schools, extension offices, and health professionals through nutritioneducationstore.com. She uses the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to drive her creativity — whether that means a new twist on fajitas or Italian brownies made with toasted nuts and cooked honey. Her mission has never changed: help everyone make food that tastes as good as it is for them.

https://nutritioneducationstore.com
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