Vox’s gift guide for health and fitness nuts

Nigel Slater's Tender

As British chef Nigel Slater writes in the intro to the first volume of this essential cookbook series: "Vegetables beckon and intrigue in a way that no piece of fish or meat ever could." With that bit of inspiration, adventurous cooks can dive into this terrific resource before hitting the farmers market and taking a risk on something they've never cooked with before. The book offers helpful cooking notes and suggestions on how to pair fresh produce with meat and other flavors. Barnes & Noble/$26.86

Dohm white noise machine

Babies love snoozing to white noise machines, and lots of adults do too. Unlike gadgets that make electronic white noise, the Dohm, a cylinder about 6 inches in diameter and 3 inches tall, produces a mechanical whirring not unlike a fan. With simple adjustable settings, its light and cozy buzz can drown out most sound that interferes with slumber. Amazon/$49.97

Terrarium kit

Plants make the home more relaxing and beautiful. But upkeep can be a pain. That's why terrariums are great: soothing green succulents that barely need watering contained in an attractive, portable glass jar. This kit comes with everything needed — soil, drainage container, ornaments, and seeds. Uncommon Goods/$85

YogaGlo

Yogis will love YogaGlo, a website featuring an incredibly wide range of yoga classes they can tune in to on their laptop. Sure, it's not the same as a live teacher, but it's a great substitution, making it easy to squeeze in a relaxing or challenging practice on the road or on a dark night when it's too cold to venture out to class. YogaGlo

Digital instant-read meat thermometer

Why wing it while cooking meat when you can stay on top of the internal temperature with a thermometer? This instant-read model takes out the guesswork. Bonus: Keep dinner guests safe from nasty bugs in undercooked meat. Amazon/$24.99

Collapsible bike helmet

Excuses for not wearing a bike helmet because it's too bulky to carry around are now officially null. The Martone cycling helmet V2 folds down to about half the size. It also comes with a detachable visor for blocking the sun and a "rain cape" to keep heads dry on wet rides. Spring/$195

Misen knife

The knife is for many chefs the most essential tool in the kitchen. And the chefs who designed the Misen were unimpressed with what they had. So they set out to create a knife with better balance and control and a super-comfortable grip at half the price of other "premium" knives. The company's "Warby Parker of knives" makes chopping all those unwieldy vegetables and herbs a true pleasure. Misen/$65

Inversion table

Sufferers of lower back pain are always seeking relief. If heat pads and stretching aren't cutting it, try an inversion table, which can help release pain through spinal decompression. Dick's Sporting Goods/$249.98

Jon Kabat-Zinn's Guided Mindfulness Meditation

Of all the guided meditation programs available today, Jon Kabat-Zinn's is among the most scientifically rigorous, with decades of research on stress reduction underlying it. Kabat-Zinn, who founded the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, tries to make meditation as accessible and welcoming as possible. His neutral voice is a steadying, calming force that can support someone starting a meditation practice. Available in digital and CD formats. Amazon/from $21.25

Jump rope

Jumping rope is one of the easiest ways to get a great cardio workout on the go. This resizable, all-purpose rope comes in tons of fun colors. BuyJumpRopes.com/$8.99

Microgreens kit

Even in the darkest days of winter, people can still grown their own food in the comfort of their kitchen. And not just any food — super-nutritious, teeny-tiny microgreens, great for garnishes and salads. They're easy to cultivate and mature in just a few days. The kit comes with cabbage, carrot, and pea seeds to get started. Uncommon Goods/$48

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The Vox 2016 holiday gift guide

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