10 Health Products to Invest in this Holiday Season
To help keep those resolutions this New Year!
With so many holiday gatherings and festivities, it can be easy to write-off health goals during December and set your sights on the New Year to (re)start a better routine. So it comes to no surprise that eating healthier, exercising more and losing weight are three of the top New Year’s resolutions year after year.
When it comes to resolutions, I’m have to say I’m pretty conflicted. On one hand, the concept of starting fresh in a new year can be energizing, invigorating, and even therapeutic. It’s an opportunity to let go of the missteps and mishaps of the prior year and convert thought into action. But despite good intentions, we often fall short in our approach. Some go all-in on a popular fad diet without proper research, others have no plan and just hope that willpower suddenly kicks in, or then there are those with plan that is so strict, it can’t be possibly be maintained. The combined result? 80% of us throw in the towel after 30 days, defeated and convinced it can’t be done.
What if instead of a goal losing x many pounds in y many weeks, we focused on ways to make healthier habits easy, sustainable and fun. That is the ultimate goal after all, isn’t it?
This takes getting curious about health, wellness and nutrition. Read, research and explore (check out our Healthy Living page for some great information to get started!) and experiment with changes gradually. To help set yourself up for success, consider investing in a few products that take the legwork out of implementing the healthy habits to meet your goals. Below are 10 of our favorites that we own and love, and have made a huge difference in our daily health routine (plus, some tips on how to score great deals on them this holiday season!).
But before we dive in, let us set the record straight — you do not need any of these to make progress towards your health goals. That being said, they are specifically designed to make healthy habits easier, which can be crucial to maintaining those habits despite life’s twists and turns. That’s why we view these as a true investment to your health. And when you think about how quickly you can spend $15 on lunch on-the-go or $60 on take out because you’re too tired to cook dinner, these products will pay for themselves in no time.
1. VITAMIX 5200 BLENDER
Product Link: Vitamix 5200 Blender
Price: $399.95*
Description: I know — bold move starting with the most expensive item on the list. I resisted making this purchase for a looong time for that very reason; is really necessary to spend hundreds of dollars on a blender? The answer is yes… it will blow the socks off any other blender you’ve had. Plus, talk to anyone who has one and they’ll attest to the fact that they last forever.
With my $100 Ninja, I’d let my green smoothies mix for several minutes and they were still so gritty that I could barely get them down. With the Vitamix, it takes literally three seconds and it’s perfectly smooth, zero grit. Plus, this product can make soups, dips, doughs, batters, frozen drinks, nut butters and flours, milks, dressings and juices. It’s become our go-to kitchen appliance for easy and delicious meals. Highly recommended!
*Holiday deals: If you saw our Instagram stories, you know I scored an awesome Black Friday deal on Amazon Prime ($259.00 with free next-day shipping!). Pro-tip: Check the price of every color within a given model; red and white were full price, while black was 35% off. Prices changes daily, so keep an eye out for another great deal. Right now, Vitamix.com is offering up to $125 off many models plus free shipping and there is up to 20% off with Target, Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table.
2. CACTAKI TIME-MARKER WATER BOTTLE WITH FRUIT INFUSER
Product Link: Cactaki Time-Marker Water Bottle with Fruit Infuser
Price: $19.95 (Color: Grey)
Description: I love this bottle for several reasons: it has hourly ounce markers to ensure you drink enough water throughout the day, it has a fltered fruit/tea screen to infuse a healthy boost of flavor to your water, and it has a leak-proof top, so you can throw it in your bag and take it with you everywhere you go!
Most people cite lack of flavor as one of the biggest reasons why they don’t drink enough water. Fruit/tea infused water can be much more satisfying and has a lot of health benefits, including appetite control, hydration, immune defense, heartburn prevention, blood sugar regulation and weight management. This bottle comes with a free e-book with 10 great infused water recipes, including my favorite lemon, cucumber + mint recipe. For less than $20, this one is an absolute no brainer!
3.BOWFLEX SELECTTECH 552 ADJUSTABLE DUMBBELLS
Product Link: Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Price: $298.96*
Description: Whether you have a full dedicated gym space or just a corner of your living room, this adjustable dumbbell set can help bring you results at home. Each dumbbell adjusts from 5 to 52.5 pounds with just one turn; no putting on and taking off plates and no securing them in place, and it eliminates the need for a complete set of dumbbells that can take up a huge amount of space. Leverage all of the great resources on YouTube to get creative with workouts and use these dumbbells for a variety of upper, lower and full body workouts.
*Holiday Deals: While Amazon typically offers the most competitive price; certain retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods have holiday promotions (currently $50 off purchases over $200) which may help you to get this product for less. Sign up for their emails to stay up to date with daily deals!
4. FULLSTAR VEGETABLE CHOPPER MANDOLINE SLICER
Product Link: FullStar Vegetable Chopper Mandoline Slicer Dicer
Price: $27.99
Description: If you’re like me, you want cooking a healthy and delicious meal to be super fast and super easy. This product is so helpful with that; significantly reducing the time it takes to chop, slice and dice fruits vegetables (plus easy clean up!).
Put the entire fruit or vegetable in the slicing compartment, select one of seven blades — small dice (soft vegetables, like onions), large dice (hard vegetables, like potatoes), spiralizer, ribbon, straight cut, cheese grater and julienne — and press down for the perfect cut in one shot. I was hooked after having a perfectly chopped onion in less than five seconds with no tears involved! I also use it to chop tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, radishes, peppers and keep them in the fridge for an easy grab-and-go snack with hummus. If you’re looking to save time in the kitchen, be sure to give this one a try.
5. CUISINART ELECTRIC TEA KETTLE
Product Link: Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfectTemp Electric Kettle
Price: $70.99*
Description: This is another one that I thought: do I really need this? Now, I use it several times a day. There are so many health benefits to drinking tea and I always vowed to drink more of it. This electric kettle makes it so much easier and has increased the amount of tea that I drink tenfold. Just pour in water, select the optimal temperature setting for which type of tea you’re drinking, and hit start. In less than a minute, you have hot water at the perfect temperature to steep and consume immediately.
I love having Bigelow’s Matcha Green Tea with Tumeric throughout the day and a cup of Yogi’s Ginger Tea at night.
*Holiday deals: I included this particular brand/model because I have it, love it and can speak to its quality. But if $70 sounds a little steep, there are plenty of more affordable options out there with great reviews, like Amazon Basic’s Electric Tea Kettle ($21.99) or Hamilton Beach’s Electric Tea Kettle ($22.49).
6. INSTA POT 60 DUO+
Product Link: Insta Pot 60 Duo+
Price: $129.99*
Description: This thing is a friggin’ magician — it combines nine different appliances in one: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, egg cooker, yogurt maker, warmer and sterilizer. But the real kicker is, it cooks up to 70% faster than standard appliances. Chicken takes 6-8 minutes, steel cut oats 3-5, and vegetables only 1-2 minutes. That means much less time planning, prepping and cooking — win, win, win! Just toss in your ingredients, select a setting and you’re good to go. There is a free Insta Pot app with hundreds of easy recipes to get started plus an online community of millions of Insta Pot users sharing recipes and recommendations. This one is a game changer!
*Holiday deals: Insta Pot is sold at nearly all major retailers and many are having great holiday sales. Right now its 50% off on Prime; making it only $64.99! Kohl’s, Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond are having great specials as well. Trust me, this will be the best $64.99 you’ve spent in a long time!
7. INSULATED STAINLESS STEEL BLENDER BOTTLE
Product Link: Insulated Stainless Steel Blender Bottle
Price: $19.98 (Color: Matte White)
Description: This bottle is perfect for taking smoothies/drinks on-the-go and is also my go-to for having a healthy snack on hand throughout the day to stay on track with my health goals. Every morning I stock my Blender Bottle with a scoop of vanilla protein powder (I use Life Source Vanilla Whey) and a scoop of greens (I use RX Select Greens). Pro-tip: look for the greens at Marshall’s/HomeGoods for half the price!
Some days, I drink it on my way home after a tough workout to refuel and take the edge off that post-exercise hunger. Other days, I grab it late-afternoon when I’m staying at the office much later than planned, so that I’m not going home ravenous and end up eating everything in sight. Just mix it with water, give it a good shake and you’ve got a healthy snack on the go. It’s available on Prime and comes in four colors.
8. 321 STRONG DEEP TISSUE FOAM ROLLER
Product Link: 321 Strong Deep Tissue Foam Roller
Price: $21.99
Description: Whether you’re getting back into working out or intensifying your current regime, don’t underestimate the importance of stretching and a recovery routine. A deep tissue foam roller is one of the best tools to prevent and treat muscle pain, increase performance and flexibility, and reduce chance of injury. Even just five minutes before and after exercise can increase blood flow, flush away stored lactic acid and aid in muscle in recovery. This roller is super compact and comes with a free e-book showing you how to get started and the best ways to hit particular muscle groups.
9. APPLE SMARTWATCH
Product Link: Apple Watch Series 3
Price: $329.99*
Description: The Apple Watch is a powerful health tool that can really up your fitness game. It connects directly to your iPhone and provides you with all kinds of feedback throughout the day, including heart rate, steps, distance, calories burned, hourly activity and floors climbed. Use the ring feature to set goals and track your progress for standing (with alerts to get up when you’ve been sitting too long), exercise and moving/calorie burn. Before you know it, you’ll be doing anything you can to see those rings close every day! You can also pick from a variety of workouts and see how many calories you are burning (HIIT vs. spin vs. running), which will help you to optimize your regime.
On top of being a great fitness tool, the Apple Watch has full talk, text, music, app and Apple Pay capabilities. We love this because it significantly reduces the number of times you grab your phone throughout the day (and inevitably start scrolling through email or social media). There are many advanced features as well, like connecting to home security or even starting your car. Oh, and it tells time too.
*Holiday Deals: If you’re in the market for an Apple Watch, compare all of the different models by clicking here. Then, do a quick Google search of “current deals on Apple Watch [insert model #]” to see what retailers are having deals (Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Macy’s) and if any offer total purchase coupons that can help bring the total price down. If you don’t have an iPhone and/or want a more affordable option, check out Samsung, Fitbit, Garmin, Suunto and Fossil for great alternatives starting under $100!
10. SODASTREAM FIZZI SPARKLING WATER MAKER
Product Link: SodaStream Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker
Price: $89.00*
Description: One of the hardest habits to kick is that mid-afternoon Diet Coke or Ginger Ale. Most sodas have upwards of 40 grams or 10 teaspoons of sugar per can and repeated consumption over time can contribute to serious health implications. This a great product to help transition towards healthier drinks while maintaining the crisp carbonation that is so satisfying.
I recommend buying the Sparking Water model, versus the full SodaStream set, to avoid using (and paying for) the sugar-laced syrups included. Instead, make sparkling water and add in your own fresh ingredients: honey, lemon, lime, orange, spices (cinnamon, cayenne) and/or fresh herbs (mint, basil, sage, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, dill and lavender). Holistic Ingredients has some awesome recipes to try. This simple switch will significantly improve your health without compromising on taste, and added bonus: it will reduce your environmental impact/carbon footprint!
*Holiday deals: Amazon is currently offering $20 off, so you can snatch this up for only $69.00! Also be sure to check other major retailers including Kohl’s and Target for great holiday deals!
