The 2011 Integrative Nutrition Holiday Gift Guide

Offering gifts that promote wellness is a great way to help others get on the path to better health just in time for the New Year. Enter our holiday gift guide – consider us your personal elves. We’re here to help you give a gift you can feel good about.

You’ll find some make-it-yourself ideas so you won’t have to break the bank as well as special gifts from the heart so you can spread joy to those in need. From your great aunt to your daughter’s first grade teacher, we’ve got something for everyone on your list.

Charitable Giving

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and forget about those who won’t be able to celebrate this year. If everyone considered charitable giving in at least a small form, think about what a difference we could make in the world!

Make a Donation

Help us donate $50,000 to young women around the world
Each year at this time, we make a major donation to a charity aligned with our mission to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness around the world. Last year, we gave $30,000 to the Japan Tsunami Relief. This holiday season, with your help, we will be contributing $50,000 to an exceptional organization that will move you to tears. Stay tuned. The official announcement will be next Friday.

If you want to find a charity that fits your values but aren’t sure where to start, The Charity Navigator is an excellent resource. Some great organizations that help make the world a healthier, happier place include: 

ChildFund International: implements child development, protection, and emergency assistance programs to aid deprived and vulnerable children around the globe.

Operation Frontline: a cooking-based nutrition education program that teaches families how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget.

Food Fight: founded by an IIN grad! Fights childhood obesity by providing high schools with a comprehensive nutrition curriculum.

Farm Sanctuary: works to protect farm animals from cruelty and inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals.

HealthCorps: a proactive health movement co-founded by Dr. Oz that aims to fight the obesity epidemic through education and community outreach programs.

Check out our Charitable Giving page for other ideas. We also suggest donating toys, clothing, or food to a local drive. Check churches, grocery stores, schools, community centers, or start a drive of your own with friends or co-workers.

Volunteer

Giving your time is one of the most valuable gifts. Find a shelter or soup kitchen near you, or launch a virtual food drive online at Feeding America.

Shop with a purpose

Giving furry friends is quite popular during the holidays. Instead of shopping at a pet store, consider adopting a pet from a local rescue organization.  You can find more information at the ASPCA or Pet Finder.

Several businesses support campaigns through their sales, such as Whole Foods who partnered with No Kid Hungry Campaign. Your purchases and gift card orders directly support the effort.

Do-It-Yourself

Some of the best gifts are homemade! They show you care, plus you can get creative and extra thoughtful in the process.

Handmade Recipe Book: Fill a binder with recipes that are written or clipped from magazines for someone special. This could be a very touching gift for someone who cherishes old recipes, plus it’s fun to make!

Gift baskets: Who doesn’t love a gift basket? Pick a fun theme like Spa Day, filled with candles and bath salts, or Holiday Cooking, with kitchen gadgets and jarred jams or nuts.

Personal vouchers: The classic last-minute “I’m a little broke but I still care” gift can be a big hit if you do it right. Decide on something the recipient would want to redeem whenever they choose. Delicious home cooked meal? Unlimited back massages for a month? Think primary food!

Products

As you make your way through your list, give your friends and family a little nudge toward better health with one of these great gifts they can really appreciate.

Culinary

Purely Elizabeth mixes: Choose from tons of delicious organic, gluten-free vegan baking mixes including cookies, muffins and pancakes, created by IIN grad Elizabeth Stein.

Garden in the Koop: A wonderful idea for all ages, choose different seeds (or get them all!) to help someone grow their own healthy garden. Grad Laura Baldwin co-created this business.

Spice rack: Encourage your loved ones to cook more and cut down on salt with a nice spice rack. Add a bunch of your favorite spices to get them started.

Teavana Tea of the Month Club: Choose a six or 12-month membership for your favorite tea drinker.

Vitamix Machine: The ultimate machine for adding more fruits and vegetables to a daily diet. The Creations package includes a cookbook with hundreds of recipes.

Organic Avenue: IIN grad Denise Mari founded this health food store famous for its juice cleanses. The Juice Card makes the perfect holiday gift for a post-festivity detox!

Lollihop snack boxes: Healthy, organic eating delivered in the form of a monthly snack box! Choose from 6 or 12-month memberships, including vegan options.

How to Cook Everything: Mark Bittman shares 2,000 simple, healthy recipes. Check out all of his books for more options!

Fitness

Affirm Water: Durable, lightweight bottles made from leach-free, BPA-free stainless steel, created by IIN grad Alicia Grimaldi. Each bottle comes with caps, loop caps and logo options.

Audio Yoga Mat: Includes a built-in speaker for calming music or a downloadable instruction program.

ACE Fit Kit: An easy-to-use four-piece exercise kit for fitness newbies.

EcoWool winter socks: Socks that are good for the environment and keep toes nice and cozy during long hikes or while hitting the slopes.

Kettler Go-Green Trike: Get the toddlers pedaling with this bike that you can feel good about – the 95% recycled plastic material is great for the environment.

Just Dance 3: This one’s for the kids (…or maybe not.) Make it a family affair and get moving and grooving with this fun dance game!

9’ Speed Jump Rope: An intense workout for your on-the-go friends, this comfort-molded rope from Harbinger can be adjusted to height.

Great Body Great Life: This inspirational workout DVD created by Patricia Moreno combines cardio with positive affirmations to help strengthen body and soul at the same time. Yes you can!

Beauty

We are so proud that all of the companies below are founded, owned, and operated by our grads!

Sprout: Adina Grigore created this line of all-natural, sustainably sourced skin care products that are healthy for both your skin and the environment. 

Be Well with Arielle JeWELLry: Gorgeous jewelry created by Arielle Fierman designed to help women feel inspired and empowered.

Cush Cosmetics: Natural hair and skin care products formulated without toxic ingredients or chemicals, created by Toni Parker and her husband Joseph.

Arganica : Therapeutic oil products, created by Bianca Beldini that help your face, lips, and skin feel restored and refreshed.

Knowledge

The best way to spread health to others! Help them stock up on great health and wellness resources.

Books

Spontaneous Happiness by Dr. Andrew Weil
Dr. Weil, who recently spoke at our Rock the Ripple Effect Conference, has proven that the best way to maintain optimum physical health is to draw on both conventional and alternative medicine. Now, in Spontaneous Happiness, he gives us the foundation for attaining and sustaining optimum emotional health. 

Deepak Chopra
Integrative Nutrition speaker and world leader in the field of mind-body medicine, Deepak Chopra has a variety of books and meditation CDs … we couldn’t pick just one!

Lost and Found by Geneen Roth
Integrative Nutrition teacher and New York Times-bestselling author of Women Food and God explores how emotional issues with money mirror those with food and dieting. See her at the upcoming Integrative Nutrition Mega Conference!

Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe
In Eating For Beauty, IIN teacher David Wolfe shows how to cleanse, nourish and beautify by reaping the benefits of a fresh-food diet.  We are excited that David will also be speaking at our next conference in March. 

Season Pass

Give someone you love a season pass to somewhere educational or interesting: a state park, a zoo, the theatre, a museum, a flower or butterfly garden, an aquarium, a ski slope, or a yoga studio.

The Health Coach Training Program

Give the give of health to a friend or family member this year by offering to pay for tuition or part of the cost. And don’t forget about you! Help yourself become the healthiest, happiest you can be by enrolling just in time for the New Year.

And More…

Forks Over Knives: An excellent documentary about disease caused by processed and animal-based foods (check out our review).

Food, Inc.: Another great film that examines the cost of convenience over nutrition and environmental impact.

Men of IIN Calendar: Stay organized and check out the grad-of-the-month at the same time. Plus, your purchase will contribute to grants that will help men attend IIN!

Services

Spa or salon service: Head to a local spa or salon for a gift card or service voucher, or check out SpaFinder (especially if the recipient lives somewhere else) for locations, services and deals.

Personal trainer session: A session with a personal trainer is something many people don’t get for themselves, so it makes for a perfect gift. Many health coaches are certified personal trainers or yoga teachers, and can suit programs to specific client needs. You can also check out in-house packages at a nearby gym, or visit PersonalTrainer.com to find options in your area.

Cooking class: Cooking with others and learning new healthy, recipes is such a fun activity and definitely a gift that the aspiring chef in your family is guaranteed to enjoy. Look for a health coach that offers private or group classes with hands-on learning, or browse local culinary classes for various types and interests.

After you finish shopping and all the names on your list are marked off , remember – the most important part of the holiday season is spending quality time with friends and family. Sometimes your presence is gift enough.

Happy holidays!