6 Father's Day Gift Ideas to Keep Dad Healthy

How can we celebrate one of the most important men in our lives? One of the best things we can do is to give him the gift of health, adding precious years to his life during which we can keep showing our love to him.

Here are 6 Father's Day gift ideas to help support dad in his journey to better health.

For the food-loving dad

As they say, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Appreciate dad by whipping up a hearty and wholesome meal for him. The best part about cooking for him? You're able to serve a healthier version of his favourite dish with a generous sprinkling of vitamin L – love!

To create a healthier version of dad's favourite dish, try the following suggestions:

Replace simple carbs with complex carbs – Replace white rice with wholegrain alternatives like brown rice, barley and quinoa.

Cut down on fat – Use a good non-stick frying pan to reduce the amount of oil you need. Opt for unsaturated over saturated fat (eg. extra-virgin olive oil instead of butter). Instead of deep-frying your food, pop it into the air fryer, or coat it with some extra-virgin olive oil and bake in the oven.

Use healthier seasoning – Pepper, herbs, spices, lemon juice, vinegar and mustard are flavourful yet healthy options. Avoid pre-packed sauces, marinades and seasoning packets as they often have added sugar and sodium.

Incorporate vegetables into your meal – Add vegetables of different colours for different nutrients and increased dietary fibre. They'll also help to make your dish pop!

For the chef dad

If dad delights in gastronomy, some neat gift ideas would include nifty cooking equipment such as an air-fryer or a spanking new cookbook of healthy recipes. If he has time to spare, you may want to consider signing him up for a series of nutrition cooking classes where he can pick up healthier cooking techniques. He gets to expand his repertoire of deliciously healthy meals, while learning to make his everyday dishes more nutritious!

For the dad who sleeps little

A good night's sleep is not a luxury but an integral part of good health, says Dr Tay Hin Ngan, ear, nose and throat specialist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Besides affecting our quality of life, poor sleep has an adverse effect on our cardiovascular health.

If sleep constantly eludes dad, you may want to consider gifting him a memory foam pillow. While it's a one-off purchase, it may help improve dad's quality of sleep in the years to come.

For the active dad

Another great way to honour dad would be through spending quality time as a family. Why not take part in an activity before enjoying dinner together? If dad is adventurous, try new activities like rock climbing or kayaking. If such high-intensity activities are not his thing, you can also take part in less strenuous activities like hiking or bowling. Exercise can help improve his mood and heart health.

According to Dr Leslie Tay, cardiologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, regular exercise helps to control weight and regulate blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, preventing hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

For the dad who wants to look suave

While dad may vehemently protest, sun protection items and skincare products that protect against ultraviolet (UV) light will do him good. A pair of sunglasses and sunblock are necessities in sunny Singapore. Without them, his eyes will be more prone to cataracts and his skin more prone to premature ageing and skin cancer.

For the dad who needs to exercise

There are multiple gifts you can get to encourage dad to adopt an active lifestyle. For dads who love gadgets, a stylish new fitness tracker may just motivate them to get moving as they try out the various functions, like the distance and heart rate trackers.

To further motivate dad, you can even get him a brand new pair of kicks or sports equipment so that he feels compelled to work out. A cool gift for golfer dads would be personalised golf balls.

If routine is what appeals to dad, consider signing him up for fitness classes. Better yet, sign up for classes with him. Family support will mean the world to dad.

Have a happy and healthy Father's Day!