Mother's Day The Healthy Way

I’m different when it comes to gifts. I admit I like gadgets over Godiva (sorry). If you buy me software or books I know will challenge my thinking or motivate me to do something positive with my life I’m forever grateful. My husband gets the hint when I leave magazine ads lying around or e-mail him ideas from Amazon. He is the best gift giver.


This Mother’s Day why not spice it up a bit. Help mom stay healthy and fit. Give the gift of longevity. Let her know how much having her around really means.

Here are 10 unexpected Mother’s Day Gift ideas:



YOU BARS

Design your own custom energy bar perfectly tailored to your personal taste and nutritional needs.

The build-a-bar page allows you to design anything from high-protein low carb energy bars to gluten free protein bars.

Each customized nutrition bar is handmade and guaranteed delicious.




FLOWER FUN BENTO COMPLETE LUNCH BOX SYSTEM 2.0
From: Obentec Laptop Lunches

Tell Mom it’s healthier to take her lunch whether she works or is always on the go. It’s so much fun buying a lunchbox from an aesthetic point of view and not just for its practical use. Some of them are as pretty as the purses we love to buy. All the more reason to get one of these cute lunch bags.

This system includes:

• A black flower-printed canvas insulating carrying case

• A reusable water bottle

• A Laptop Lunch Bento 2.0 (black outer and pink inner containers)

• A set of stylish utensils

• The Laptop Lunch User’s Guide Book

Dimensions: Carrying case – H 7.5” x W 11.5” x D 2.5”

This product is free of phthlates, bisphenol A (BPA), PVC, and lead! The carrying case is made out of 100% recycled polypropylene fabric and wipes clean with a damp cloth.

  

GARMIN EDGE 605 BIKE COMPUTER

This may seem over the top but if you’re a cyclist or even a novice cyclist this looks like so much fun. Right now I have a very simple battery operated speedometer on my bike and I use it all the time. Even my husband would approve of this gadget.

With the Garmin Edge 605 you can take your fitness cycling to the next level with this GPS navigator, cycling computer and personal trainer. For competitive road racers or mountain bikers, the Edge 605 will help you achieve your personal best. The unit comes loaded with a built-in base map and a microSD card slot that lets you add maps along with storing workouts, courses and saved rides.

The easy-to-use unit attaches to your bike's handlebars or stem to show you where you're going, how far, fast and long you're pedaling, how many calories you're burning. The barometric altimeter provides precise elevation and vertical profile data. The waterproof, self-calibrating unit is small, lightweight and easy to install. The 176 x 220 pixel color LCD display with back lighting shows a map view for GPS navigation or up to eight performance data fields for full and continuous training feedback.

Store up to 100 locations that you can navigate to; the high-sensitivity GPS receiver knows your position even in tree covers and canyons. You can also set it to trigger a lap every time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance, and it records up to 1,000 laps. Training Center software helps you create workouts, record and download courses, overlay your data onto a course map and race against a virtual competitor or your own time on the course. Download your data to your PC to chart and analyze your performance.

Whew! I'm sold.

HEALTH MAGAZINES

I'm a magazine junkie! If you buy me a subscription to one of my favorite health magazines I'm a happy mom. Magazines like  Prevention, Health, Fitness etc. are some that come to mind. There are also Healthy food magazines like Cooking Light and Vegetarian Times for great recipes.




ECO-FRIENDLY GIFTS

EcoExpress creates natural and organic gifts that are unique, memorable and high quality.

You can send beautiful gifts and support the environment with a wide assortment of earth friendly gourmet, fruit, spa and rainforest green gifts and baskets.

COOKING CLASSES

Set up an afternoon where you and your mom can learn some healthy cooking. If you’re on a tight budget create your own cooking class at your home or on the more expensive side seek out classes in your area. Make sure the cooking is about healthy foods to incorporate into her diet.

DECORATIVE RECIPE BOX WITH ALL YOUR FAVORITE HEALTHY RECIPES

This is a great project for the entire family. You can buy boxes at the local craft store and decorate with Stamps, stickers or decoupage with favorite photos etc. Look through your repertoire of healthy recipes type them up and print them on your computer or hand write them on cute recipe cards you can find at the dollar store.

BASKET OF DARK CHOCOLATES AND GREEN TEAS

Your local grocery store, Trader Joes, or Whole Foods has an assortment of healthy teas and dark chocolate bars you can put in a cute basket you buy at your local craft or dollar store.

EXERCISE CLASS

Treat mom to an exercise session. How about a ZUMBA Class! Or maybe she might like yoga or jazzercise. There are tons of classes available in your city. Check online for times and prices.

Whatever you decide, this year treat mom to something that will give her stress relief and add energy to her week. She’ll definitely thank you.

Pedaling for A Purpose: Healthy Strategies for the Novice Bike Rider

I love to ride my bike. I have loved bike riding since I could get out on my own as a child and ride through my tiny neighborhood in Warren, Michigan. I remember sprucing it up with lights, orange flags, wicker baskets with flowers on them and a transistor radio. My bike took me to my friend’s house, to the corner 7-11 and to the park. It took me down dirt trails when my parents took us camping and it gave me some of the happiest memories.

Now, as an adult it's an inexpensive way to enjoy the company of my husband who works long hours during the week. It’s our date night on a Sunday afternoon and something we have in common after 22 years of marriage. It fills many purposes. It provides a healthy alternative to all the aerobics and strength training I do indoors and it decreases the stress in our lives. It’s fun, relaxing, and adventurous.

Now that the warmer weather is here I'm anxious to get started again. We are not entered in any bike races or marathons. We are the novice bike rider who enjoys the winding bike paths, the wide open areas filled with trees and streams, and the occasional wildlife sighting. Our last trip was to Traverse City, Michigan where we found several trails that led us to quaint towns and wineries, tiny lakes filled with sail boats and places to stop for a quick bite to eat and a hot steaming cup of coffee to get us going again. We watched wild turkeys cross our path and raccoons run into the brush.

Our purpose this spring is to join other novice bike riders and experienced cyclists on a bike tour in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The local Optimist Club holds a 15, 25, and 50 mile bike tour through the back roads of this little German town called “Michigan’s Little Bavaria”. The routes wind out of the village, along the Cass River, and across the lush farmlands of the Saginaw Valley. We are taking on the 15 mile tour with my brother and sister-in-law. They call it Fahrrad or Bicycle in German (pronounced Fa – Rod with a little roll in the “r”). The tour is held every May and cyclists range in age from tiny tots being pulled by their parents to 80 or 90 year olds who return every year. It’s exciting having something as simple as bike riding in common and the proceeds help their local club.

Before you start out on your own bike tour or for a ride in your neck of the woods take heed of these tips:

1. Wear a helmet

2. Take a water bottle and maybe a small snack for longer journeys.

3. Buy a portable pump and repair kit in case of a flat.

4. A Gel padded seat is a nice investment for longer rides.

5. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. I wear good fitting tennis shoes and workout shorts with a t-shirt. I usually bring a sweatshirt in case the temperature drops. I also bring my sun glasses.

6. A nice rack for the back of the bike and a cycling bag is great for carrying essentials on longer trips. I usually put my water, snack, sweatshirt, some Kleenex, aspirin, allergy medicine, money for stops along the way etc. Just in case.

7. Make sure you have a bike in working order. Take it to a local shop to fine tune anything you may not be sure of. I have a mountain bike and it works fine for what I’m doing. The more experienced you get the better bike you will need.

8. A mirror that attaches to the handlebars is also a nice idea.  The mirror helps to see traffic.

These are just the basics. As you progress and get more involved with cycling you’ll want to research more ideas or head to your nearest bike shop for more information and advice. There are guides for braking, safety, gears and shifting at Amazon.com.

Pedal for your health, pedal for fun, and enjoy your path to wellness.

Also see:

Michigan Biking

Bike Buddies

U.S. Bike Trails

U.S. Bike Trail's Store

Great Bicycle Trails

Great Bicycle Websites Link