Gifts for the Heart

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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

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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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