A Healthy Dozen "Gift" Ideas for Father's Day

Filed in archive Men's Health on June 16, 2009

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In lieu of Fathers' Day, Dr. Erika Schwartz is giving tips on how to give the gift of better health for Dads.

Cinergy Health's Medical Director, Dr. Erika Schwartz, offers these 12 easy, fun and effective ways to help improve Dad's overall health and outlook on life:

1. Take him for a morning walk after a healthy Father's day breakfast (egg whites, berry smoothie, chicken sausage and Green tea).

2. Get him a set of 20 pound weights to use every day before dinner or at work, if that is feasible.

3. Get him a 5 pound bag of apples or other fruit and nuts he likes as snack basket he can enjoy every day for the next week.

4. Get him a six-pack of soda water to replace colas, other caffeinated drinks and beer.

5. Get him a muscle vibrator that will help relax his shoulders (a better after-work stress reliever than a cocktail)

6. Buy him golf lessons, a month's membership at a gym

7. Find a hiking or biking group and join together (or just get him a bike)

8. Clear his work materials from his bedroom so he can get a better night's sleep.

9. Get him a video on good nutrition

10. Go away for a weekend together on an activity trip (hiking, fishing, boating, camping)

11. Line up his father or brother to engage in family-designated physical activity days.

12. Give him hugs.

I know that fathers are the hardest to convince to live a healthy life. Try to tell them anyway. Happy father' day to all the fathers out there.