66 Best Healthy Holiday Gifts for the Family

We Tested Healthy Holiday Gifts for the Whole Family — Here Are Our Top 66 Picks

A family gift is a great way to show your relatives or friends that you care. But if you’re buying one item for an entire family to share, finding something that everyone will enjoy can be a challenge.

We think that looking for a gift that taps into the family’s values and hobbies is a great way to knock a shared gift out of the park. And prioritizing something that will encourage and support a healthy lifestyle, while facilitating connection, is a great framework for your search. We’re here to lend a hand. We scoured the internet, dug into the research, tested hundreds of gifts, and compiled a list of the best holiday gifts for families.

For the Foodie Family

gobble meal delivery

For Busy Families

Gobble 15-Minute Meal Kits

Gobble’s 15-minute meal kits make it easy for families to have dinner together, even on busy nights when kids have extracurricular activities and parents are exhausted. Unlike other meal kit services, Gobble provides meals that are fully prepped, so all you’re responsible for are the finishing touches.

“You can customize your protein in some dishes: For example, you can swap in plant-based chicken or upgrade from standard ground beef to Wagyu,” writer Mary Dennis wrote in her review of the subscription service earlier this year. “It also offers prepared meals, salads, sides, soups, breakfasts, and desserts.”

jams

For the Family Who Loves Saturday Breakfast In

Cliff Family Holiday Jam

Is there anything sweeter than a jam trio made in small batches by the dedicated preserve maker at Cliff Family, Dulce Noonan? We love the company’s commitment to high-quality, organic ingredients in all of their products, especially these jams. This trio includes organic plum jam, Meyer lemon marmalade, and organic apple butter — all perfect for pairing with biscuits or a slice of sourdough bread. “This is a fun, original gift set, perfect for a foodie,” says editorial director Simone Scully. “The plum jam went really well on crackers with a little goat cheese.”

For Hungry Snackers

CraveBox Health Snack Box

$51.95 at Amazon

The CraveBox Healthy Snack Box includes 55 shelf-stable snacks that are healthier for snackers. We love the variety of snacks in this box, which includes Mott’s fruit snacks, Annie’s cheddar bunnies, and veggie straws. Because CraveBox offers a wide variety of boxes, there’s bound to be a great option for small and large families alike. We love that CraveBox offers themed packages, including healthy, classic, and Christmas packages. There are also birthday packages and Halloween packages, for showing your loved ones that you care beyond the holiday season.

For Pizza Lovers

Ototo Kitty Cut Pizza Cutter Wheel

$13.76 at Amazon
$19.95Now 31% Off

The Ototo Kitty Cut Pizza Cutter Wheel is paw-sitively perfect for the pizza lovers in your life. This is a fun pizza cutter that features a black cat handle and a mouse on the rolling blade. We think this would be a great gift to combine with a pizza stone or cookbook for a family who loves to cook together.

“This is a cute, fun pizza cutter that makes pizza night just a little more fun in our home,” Scully said. “My son definitely loves it when we bring it out.”

For Families Who Love Pasta Night

Pastabilities Dog Lovers Pasta

$24.99 at Amazon

Make mealtime fun for the dog lovers in your life with Pastabilities Dog Lovers Pasta. Each piece of pasta is shaped like a paw print or bone and is made with all-natural ingredients, including enriched durum wheat flour, tomato powder, and beet powder. Pastabilities pastas are available in a variety of themes, including Princess Pasta, Baseball Pasta, and Reindeer Pasta. 

“I think these would be a good stocking filler or item to throw in a gift package for someone with kids or who loves making pasta,” says Scully, noting that the festive versions would be a great addition to a holiday-themed dinner. We think these nutritious little pasta shapes are a fun, thoughtful gift for families who love to cook, or for families with little ones who are being introduced to new foods.

For Friends With Food Allergies

Free2b Foods Sweet Sunshine! Trial Pack

$37.99 at Amazon

Free2b’s treats are free of the 10 most common allergens, making them the perfect stocking stuffers for families who need to practice extra care around the foods they eat. This trial pack contains four serving-sized packs of chocolate cups, including two delicious flavors of Free2b’s signature Sun Cups (milk chocolate and dark chocolate), which are filled with allergy-friendly sunflower butter. This bundle also includes their mint chocolate cups and sea salt caramel chocolate cups. “These are truly, truly delicious,” says writer Jana Pollack. “I love that they are free of so many allergens (not just nuts but dairy, egg, gluten, soy, and sesame) while being so genuinely good.”

pastry and bread box

For the Family Who Loves Pastries and Baked Goods

Wildgrain Bread & Pastry Subscription

Give the gift of fresh baked bread this Christmas. WildGrain is a subscription service featuring fresh baked bread, pastries, and other baked goodies that are delivered on a monthly basis. Subscriptions begin at $99 for six items. Some of our favorite options include the pumpkin English muffins, sourdough rosemary garlic loaf, and the gluten-free, slow-fermented bagels. 

“I grew up in France, so good bread was just part of every single meal we had,” says Scully. “This subscription goes a long way toward bridging that gap for me. I could get frozen loaves to cook right before dinner, and they were incredible, as well as get pastries like croissants for breakfast, scones, seasonal cider donuts, fresh pastas, and even essentials like butter, pasta sauce, and more.”

rainbow bagels baking box

For Aspiring Bakers

I’m the Chef Too! Kids’ Baking Subscription

I’m the Chef Too! Kids’ Baking Subscriptions are monthly baking kits that include everything an aspiring baker needs to prep fun sweets and treats. These kits can be purchased on a month-by-month basis, or in bundles of 3, 6, or 12 months for a lower per-box rate. Many of the boxes are seasonally themed, with recipes like Snow Globe Cupcakes and Turkey Pudding Pies. We love that each cooking kit has a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education tie-in for learning while you bake.

“They send you everything you need, minus things like eggs,” Scully says. “This makes it so easy for me to actually sit down and make time to do this with [my son] because I don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of ingredients.”

For the Family Who Loves to Cook Together

Ratatouille baking set

For the Family Who Loves Baking Cookies

Great Jones Baking Mat and Sheet Pan Set: Disney and Pixar’s Ratatouille

Whether you’re making chocolate chip cookies or roasting veggies for a healthy dinner, this baking mat and sheet pan set adds a little fun to cooking and baking. “The bakeware pans are thick and sturdy,” says Scully. “My favorite part of this set is the Ratatouille baking mat. I am always running out of parchment paper when baking, and this helps eliminate that need. They clean easily, they hold up well, and my son loves them.” This set includes a large and small baking sheet, as well as two Ratatouille-themed nonstick mats, so you can skip parchment paper for a more sustainable option.

water pitcher

For the Ones Worried About Water Quality

Culligan With ZeroWater Technology 10-Cup Pitcher

We are big fans of the Culligan with ZeroWater Technology 10-Cup Pitcher because it’s a convenient way to keep water filtered and cold without taking up a ton of valuable shelf space in the fridge. “This is an aesthetically pleasing water filter pitcher that monitors the water in real time, so you always know if it’s time to change your filter,” says editor Nicole Bonaccorso. “This gives you great peace of mind about the safety of the water you’re drinking.”

Admittedly, the 10-cup pitcher may be too small for bigger families, but it’s also available in 12-, 22-, 32-, and 40-cup sizes.

blender

For Families With Littles Who Need a Bit More Fruit and Veg

Vitamix 5200 Blender, Professional-Grade

Smoothies are a quick and easy way to introduce more fruits and veggies into your family’s diet, but making smoothies for an entire crew requires a blender that is up for the task. We found that the Vitamix 5200 Blender handles everything from smoothies to soups to hummus well, efficiently pureeing them into a smooth consistency. “Truly, this blender can whip through just about anything,” says Tuttle. “This was my first ‘investment’ blender that I purchased back in 2023 because my old, cheap blender just couldn’t hack it when it came to more fibrous veggies and frozen fruit.” In addition to its quality, we also love the self-cleaning feature, enabling families to get out the door and off to work and school without the hassle of an involved cleanup.
luxe air fryer and oven

For Quick and Healthy Air-Fried Meals

Pampered Chef Deluxe Air Fryer

Families with multiple kids know that most air fryers don’t have the capacity to cook for everyone all at once. Not so here. We love the Pampered Chef Deluxe Air Fryer because it’s both a toaster oven and an air fryer — and it has plenty of room for food for the whole family. This small appliance has two shelves for air-frying, along with a toaster oven shelf. Since the trays are dishwasher safe and the crumb tray can be removed, cleanup is quick and easy after family dinner.

“I liked that you could cook different types of food at different temps and times, and have them done at the same time,” says writer Raki Swanson. “I like that the top oven has its own door, the bottom has its own door, and you can open them together or individually.”

kids kitchen tools

For Young Chefs

Opinel Le Petit Chef Knife Set

One way to encourage children to eat a variety of foods is by involving them in meal prep. Research has found that children who participate in cooking their dinner eat, on average, one more serving of fruits and vegetables per day, compared with children who don’t help in the kitchen.

In my home, we use Opinel knives with our son, and I love how they have a different knife for each age and ability. We started with a fairly dull pocket knife for him, but through practice and supervision, he has graduated to the Le Petit Chef Knife set.
pure delicious cook book

For Families With Allergies Who Love to Cook

‘Pure Delicious,’ by Heather Christo

For families who are navigating food allergies, the time spent planning and cooking food can be overwhelming. This gift removes some of the stress and helps introduce new recipes to those who feel like their cooking is limited by allergies. Pure Delicious features 150 recipes that are free of top allergens, including tasty entrées and treats for hosting friends and family.

“The recipes are all free of dairy, gluten, shellfish, peanuts, eggs, and tree nuts,” says Pollack. “The book feels hefty and the photos are beautiful, which makes it feel giftable.”

ice cream maker

For Families Who Love a Frozen Treat

Cuisinart FastFreeze Ice Cream Maker

The Cuisinart FastFreeze Ice Cream Maker makes a homemade, frozen treat super convenient when your sweet tooth is calling. This is a small kitchen appliance, so it is perfect for families who live in apartments or have smaller kitchens. It can make ice cream, sorbet, slushies, and milkshakes, and it can work with a wide variety of ingredients and dietary restrictions too.

“I’ve thought about making my own ice cream at home, but with a small kitchen, I just didn’t have the cabinet space,” says Scully. “This solves that problem — and also means you don’t make too much ice cream at once. My son also liked that it made ice cream much faster than other ice cream makers we’ve tried — and the dessert cups it comes with are easy to store in my relatively small fridge.”

cookware set

For Families Who Love Cooking Healthy Meals Together

Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set

With a cookware set you can rely on, getting in the kitchen to prepare family meals may just feel a like little less of a chore. We love the Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware set because it is free of substances and materials you don’t want leaching into your dinner, including polytetrafluoroethylene, polyfluoroalkyl substances, cadmium, and lead. These substances can leach into food when cookware is overheated or chipped.

 These cookware pieces are also oven safe up to 550 degrees F, so they can move seamlessly from stovetop to oven.

“Caraway’s 12-piece set is quite complete and should cover the needs of most home cooks,” says editor Katie Tuttle, who tested this set. “While all the pieces performed well, I found myself reaching for the 8-inch mini fry pan, the Dutch oven, and the 10.5-inch ceramic coating fry pan the most.”

cakelet pan

For Holiday Baking

Le Creuset Nonstick Metal Bakeware 12-Cup Holiday Cakelet Pan

This cute cakelet pan is ideal for baking during the holiday season. Even with all the grooves and ridges in these intricate designs, we found this nonstick pan to be easy to use. Perfect for cupcakes, coffee cakes, and even donut recipes, we love this as a seasonal gift for a family who loves to bake.

“Because I have had friends who have struggled to get elaborate holiday cakes or cookies out of pans like this, I’ve always been skeptical,” says Scully. “But these worked really great and came out of the pan very easily, with minimal oil. It’s also a lightweight pan but doesn’t feel flimsy.”

For Making Food Prep Fun

Fullstar Ototo Croc Chop Veggie Chopper and Slicer

$29.99 at Amazon
$44.99Now 33% Off
Everyone agrees that kids benefit when they eat more vegetables, but we also know that talking kids into carrots, beets, or broccoli isn’t always easy. Studies show that kids who help prepare meals are more willing to consume vegetables.

This crocodile-themed chopper is a great gift for friends or family with young kids because it matches whimsy with practicality, allowing little hands to safely prep veggies for family meals. 

“I think the Croc Chop is such a fun, whimsical way to create a meal full of veggies,” says writer Sarah Garone, who tried this product. “It’s a unique kitchen tool that could be fun for the whole family.”

For the Families Who Love Having Bubbly Drinks

Carbon8 Sparkling Water Maker

$181.99 at Amazon
$199.99Now 9% Off

If your loved ones enjoy sparkling water, they’ll be thrilled to receive the Carbon8 Sparkling Water Maker this holiday season. They’ll be able to ditch aluminum can waste for good and enjoy a fizzy drink any time of day. But not only does this machine add carbonation to your water or flavored drink — it also removes chlorine and adds magnesium, potassium, and calcium, essential minerals for health. 

”You can make carbonated water with the push of a button,” says Swanson. “It is very narrow and tall, so it doesn’t take much room on your counter or bar area.”

For Families Who Love Making Saturdays Special

Dash Multimaker With 7 Removable Plates, Holiday Themed

$21.51 at Amazon
$23.90Now 10% Off
Dash waffle makers are well known for their themed waffle irons, which are perfect for holiday breakfasts or adding a little fun to everyday meals. What we found so great about the Dash Multimaker Waffle Iron are the seven removable plates. “I have very limited cabinet space in my small kitchen,” says Scully. “The plates are removable, and Dash sells a plate storage box, which takes up way less space than a bunch of different irons.” This easy-to-use waffle iron makes the perfect kid-sized waffles. And with the fun patterns, little chefs will be excited to help in the kitchen.

For Families Who Love Integrating Tech in the Kitchen

Kalorik Vivid Touch Toaster

$119.99 at Amazon

The Kalorik Vivid Touch Toaster is an easy-to-use kitchen appliance with custom settings, so you can prepare your toast according to your exact preferences. This compact toaster features a touch screen, where users select from presets or customize both time and temp. We love the sleek design and we think it is a gift that would pair perfectly with the jam trio from Cliff Family, mentioned above.

“I like the wide slots for toasting other breads that are thicker, like bagels and English muffins,” says cooking and dining writer Amy Sowder, “and the touch screen with pictures and five levels of toasting is nice!”

For Indoor Grilling and Searing

Hamilton Beach Indoor Searing Grill With Hot and Cold Smoke Infuser

$99.99 at Amazon
$164.95Now 39% Off

During testing, we loved that this indoor searing grill was simple to use and easy to clean. The parts of the grill, minus some of the smoker elements, can be taken apart and put in the dishwasher after use. This is an electric grill that is compact enough to use on the kitchen counter and then stash in a cabinet between meals.

“When we cooked dinner with this grill, I thought it seared chicken well,” says nutrition writer Alexandra Ginos. ”I liked that you can adjust the temperature easily.”

For Getting the Measurements Just Right

Taylor USB Rechargeable Digital Kitchen and Food Scale

$24.15 at Amazon

Serious bakers know that sometimes it’s easier to get the measurements right when you have a kitchen scale handy. We love the Taylor USB Rechargeable Digital Kitchen Scale because you don’t have to fuss with batteries; just plug it in when it is running low on juice. The tray on this scale is dishwasher safe, so cleanup is simple. It has the capacity to handle up to 11 pounds.

“[This product is] simple to use,” says writer Caitlin Beale. “[It is] small enough that [it] won’t take up a ton of room in the kitchen, but still large enough to be functional for measuring food.”

pizza oven grill

For the Family Who Loves Backyard Entertaining

Pizza Oven Discovery Bundle

This is the ultimate foodie gift. The Pizza Oven Discovery Bundle from Current includes the Model P Smart Pizza Oven on a cart for easy transportation, along with all the accessories necessary for your next outdoor pizza night (a pizza slicer, a perforated pizza peel, a cordierite pizza stone, a weather cover, and more). The oven heats up quickly and can be programmed as hot as 850 degrees F. You can control the temperature and cook time through the app, and make adjustments to cook specific types of pizza like wood fire, pan, and deep dish.

“I love that the pizza oven is smart. It makes it so much easier to know when your pizza is ready or the temps are right,” says Scully. “I also like that I can use this inside and outside — I can keep it on my patio all summer, then move the oven inside in the winter for family pizza nights all year round.”

For Rainy-Day Fun

catmas puzzle

For Feline-Friendly Families

Catmas Chaos 500-Piece Foil Puzzle

Say “Meowy Christmas” with this festive feline puzzle. The Catmas Chaos Puzzle is a 500-piece jigsaw featuring cats in a chaotic frenzy of Christmas cheer. The puzzle pieces feature foil details that will catch lights in your house and sparkle along with your Christmas tree.

“This is a fun, whimsical holiday puzzle with cats and stockings and gifts,” says Scully. “It’s colorful, not too difficult, but not too easy either, and has foil for a little bit of holiday sparkle.”

advent calendar

For the Family Who Never Says No to a Challenge

Meowy Christmas 12 Days of Puzzles

While many Advent calendars are full of treats, the Meowy Christmas 12 Days of Puzzles is one big puzzle you put together by Christmas Eve. Each day you open a door with several pieces that build one section of a 500-piece puzzle. It’s a great way to challenge yourself as you count down to the big day.

“I’ve never seen a puzzle Advent calendar, but this is fun,” says Scully. “I like this as an adult Advent calendar-type gift. Plus, the cat theme is cute for any cat-lover in your life.”

geode magnetic fidget set

For Fidgety Fun During Meals Out and Road Trips

Geode Magnetic Fidget Set

We love these portable toys for taking to a dinner out or keeping fidgety fingers busy during a road trip. These magnetic toys are available as a pyramid or sphere and include 12 triangles or pentagons that snap together and pull apart. It is worth noting this is not a great gift for families with very young kids, as the pieces of this fidget toy are small enough to choke on or swallow.

“This is like a smaller, more portable version of Magna-Tiles,” says editor Olivia Campbell. “They really engaged my son for quite a while. It would be a good fidget toy for when it’s okay to make a bit of noise and have noticeable hand movements.”

For Families With Older Kids

Hues and Cues

$24.97 at Amazon
Hues and Cues is a board game built around a simple idea that is a ton of fun for family time. Players take turns guessing a color on a card based on provided clues, and their score is based on just how close their guess comes to the actual color. This is a game for 3 to 10 players over the age of 8 years old, so it’s best suited for families with kids who are elementary school–aged and older.

For Little Detectives

Outfoxed!

$28.49 at Amazon
Young children learn important prosocial skills from cooperative game play, which they’re able to use and apply outside of playtime. These skills are learned from child-to-child and adult-to-child interactions and include thinking and caring about the well-being of others, cooperation, sharing, and helping others.

Outfoxed! is a popular cooperative game for families with kids ages 4 and up that encourages working together to solve the mystery of who stole Mrs. Plumpert’s potpie.

For Littles Getting the Wiggles Out

Nex Playground

$249 at Walmart

The Nex Playground turns screentime into a chance to get the whole family moving. This console is a projector that connects to the family television. Using AI technology, the camera detects your movements for interactive exercise-based games. The Nex Playground comes with five games, and more can be added to the console at an extra cost, or you can purchase the Play Pass for unlimited access to games for 3 or 12 months.

“We absolutely love this little system,” says editor Ashley Ziegler, who tried it out with her family. “It gets my kids moving in a fun way. It’s great for any time, but especially on rainy days when we can’t get outside.”

For Toddlers and Preschoolers Who Love to Climb

Edostory 5-in-1 Pikler Triangle Set

$69.99 at Amazon
Climbing and risky play is important for kids’ development, and while watching their little ones climb, dangle, and jump may cause a bit of anxiety on the parents’ end, the kids will be building climbing, spacial awareness, and confidence.


“One of the best purchases I’ve made for my kiddos is a Pikler triangle,” says Bonaccorso. “We like to set up the whole thing like an obstacle course for our boys.” This set comes with a climbing triangle and a climbing arch, and you can connect the climbing ramp, which has handholds and footholds much like a rock wall. Flip that ramp over, and you’ve got a sliding board that connects to the triangle or the arch.

For Counting Down to the Big Night

Disney Stitch Advent Calendar: A Storybook Library

$26.99 at Amazon
$31.99Now 16% Off

This Advent calendar is the perfect gift to encourage a love of reading as kids look ahead to the holiday season. Twelve different books are included in the calendar, and each book takes about five minutes to read. We love the Lilo & Stitch themed characters, but this gift is also available in a Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas version, Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends, and more.

“I’ve always been a big reader, as was my mother,” says Scully. “But I always worry that I won’t pass that same love of reading onto my son. Reading can be a great self-care habit, as well as highly educational — and as he’s entering first grade, I’m doing everything I can to keep his interest up in books, [and] this is a gift you’d give during the holidays to foster a love of reading and screen-free activities.”

For Screen-Free Family Time

Large as Life Red Panda Puzzle

$34.99 at Amazon

Sometimes the simple gifts are the most meaningful. We love a puzzle as a family gift that encourages connection and learning. The Large as Life Red Panda Puzzle is three feet wide and color coded to make sorting pieces easier for younger kids. The pieces are large enough that very young kids can handle them without much help from their parents, but it is a puzzle that can grow with older kids.

“On the back of the puzzle are animal facts, which will help this puzzle remain interesting to my son even as he grows up,” Scully says. “The puzzle also comes with a fact sheet about the animal.”

paint your own santa

For a Chocolatey Art Project

Bissinger’s Paint Your Own Santa

You’ve heard of paint-by-number, but have you ever painted an edible Santa Claus? Bissinger sells this adorable and delicious chocolate Santa along with four different colors of paintable chocolate and two paint brushes. We love this as a gift for Advent or an activity to break out on Christmas Eve.

“You do have to melt the chocolate paint, but that’s fairly easy if you’re used to working with chocolate and baking,” says Scully. “My son really had fun, but eventually got a little bored and wanted to jump to eating ... which we did and the chocolate was really delicious.”

dinosaur box of stuff

For Sensory Fun and Learning Through Play

Meemzy Magic When Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth Sensory Kit

Encourage pretend play with these dinosaur-themed sensory toys from Meemzy Magic. This kit includes small, wooden dinosaurs, molding dough, and kinetic sand. It also contains loose parts like sea shells, wood rounds, pipe cleaners, mushroom crystals, and more.

“I like that this comes in a nice storage box that everything fits in,” says Scully. “The items themselves are also very nice. On the whole, my son had a lot of fun making little scenes for himself for the toys to play with.”

For Smooth Bedtimes and Deeper Sleep

hatch baby

For Sweet Dreams for Newborns and Toddlers

Hatch Baby Sound Machine

Families with newborns and toddlers will adore this darling night-light for a little one’s room. We love the soft light the Hatch Baby provides, illuminating the room just enough for night feedings or potty breaks, without disrupting good dreams. The Hatch Baby also functions as a sound machine, playing calming sounds while little ones drift off to sleep.

“These are just great quality sound machines, and this model comes with extra sleep guidance, which is good for new parents,” says mental health writer Julia Childs Heyl. “Plus, the design is really cute.

nectar mattress

For Families Wishing for a Good Night’s Sleep

Nectar Classic Hybrid Twin Mattress

Your littlest loved ones will sleep in heavenly peace on the Nectar Classic Hybrid Twin Mattress. This mattress is great for growing kids, because the inner coil layer offers plenty of support but is paired with soft foam that improves comfort and pressure relief. This mattress has great temperature management because the coils improve breathability. Plus, Nectar offers a 365-night home trial to ensure it is a good fit for the sleeper.

“There’s good support throughout most of the mattress, including the edge, so you’re less likely to roll off or sink in when you’re near the edge,” says Scully. “Best of all, I can tell this mattress has better air flow than my son’s prior mattress. He used to wake up drenched in sweat in his room, especially on the side [that was] face down on the mattress — here, he woke up without any sweat, and we haven’t changed the temperature in his room or the bedding.”

For Families Teaching Self-Care Habits

Brusheez Kids’ Electric Toothbrush Set

$22.99 at Amazon
$29.99Now 23% Off

Good dental habits don’t have to be a bore. This electric toothbrush set from Brusheez is an adorable gift for families with kids who are ready to learn to care for their own teeth. The set includes an electric brush, a replacement for the head attachment, and adorable brush cover, mouth rinsing cup, and a timer. It is available in a number of fun designs, including a dinosaur, llama, elephant, or giraffe.

“The toothbrush itself is electric, but it is very gentle, so my son didn’t mind using it,” says Scully. “My son loved that he got to try out the red dino. If you’re looking for an electric toothbrush for your kid, this is a pretty good option.”

For the Active and Outdoorsy Family

bird feeder with camera

For Bird-Watching With the Fam

Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo

Do you know a bird-obsessed family? If so, this smart bird feeder with triple-lens cameras is a great gift this holiday season. The Birdfy Feed 2 Duo captures visiting birds from multiple angles and has exceptional focus to provide the clearest shots. Using AI-technology, it can also identify more than 6,000 species of birds, so your loved ones can learn more about the feathered friends visiting their backyard.

“It helps you identify the birds too. You don’t have to study or be a bird expert,” says Scully. “It will also start to give you hints as it learns about the birds that come to it and will tell you if, for example, a chickadee tends to visit your feeder in the early afternoon.”

basketball

For Families Who Love Shooting Hoops

Spalding TF-DNA Smart Basketball

Shooting hoops after dinner just went high-tech. The Spalding TF-DNA Smart Basketball provides precise feedback in real time through a Bluetooth-connected application. “The app tracks the release angle, spin rate of the ball when it is shot, and the arc of the ball,” Swanson says. “It also tracks release time, distance from the hoop, and the made or missed rate. The amount of data that is collected is truly amazing.” We think that this is a great gift for families who love basketball and athletes who want to improve their performance.

yoga mat for kids

For Families Who Yoga Together

Liforme Majestic Kids Classic Yoga Mat

Yoga is an exercise that helps relax the body and mind, and it is a great way for families to prioritize their health together.

We love Liforme yoga mats because they are nontoxic and available in a variety of colors in both adult and kid sizes. Nonslip grip covers the top of the mats, and they are designed with a guide on top of the mat for proper alignment, so it is a great option for both seasoned and new yogis alike.

Liforme mats are high-end yoga mats, and might be priced too high for beginners. However, our testing experience showed them to be high-quality and durable, making them a great option for someone with a regular yoga practice. “If you or your family does a lot of yoga, this one is built to last,” says Scully.

For Soccer-Loving Families

Soccer Bot Ultimate Indoor Soccer Opponent

$59.99 at Amazon

Dribble, kick, and score with this smart training tool for soccer-loving families. The Soccer Bot uses sensor technology to help improve footwork and speed, while making learning fun. We love that the challenges provided by the ball are customizable, and skills practice can be changed based on the level of the player behind the ball.

“The set comes with a ball, four smart disks, and a bot, which looks a bit like a baseball diamond or mini cone, and can track your child as they kick, dribble, and control the ball,” says Scully. “It will keep score as they score and has three speed settings to help your child work on their footwork and ball control as they practice keeping the ball away from the little robot that scoots around the floor after the ball with them.”

portable hammock

For a Relaxing Afternoon Outside

Eno DoubleNest Hammock

“The DoubleNest hammock is colorful, spacious, and feels durable and sturdy when you sit or lay in it,” says Scully. This easy-to-transport hammock collapses down very small and can be paired with a hammock stand if you don’t have trees in your yard. It’s incredibly durable and comes with carabiners designed with safety and stability in mind.

“It was big enough to fit me and my 6-year-old son when we sat — and very relaxing on its own,” says Scully. “This is going to be something I bring with me on trips for years to come.”

For Active Families With Young Kids

BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie Double Jogging Stroller

$899.99 at Amazon
Establishing the habits of an active family life can start long before your kids are on the move. Lead by example and take your littlest ones along for morning runs and long walks at the end of the day. Our research found that the BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie Double Jogging Stroller can provide a smooth ride for passengers on a wide variety of terrains. We love the extra storage space for snacks and drinks, so families are equipped with everything they need to spend some time together outdoors.

For the Aspirational Volleyball Player

Park & Sun Sports Spectrum Classic Outdoor Volleyball Net System

$289.99 at Amazon
When the weather starts warming up again, volleyball and badminton are excellent ways to get the whole family outside for physical activity and fun. Our research found that the Park & Sun Sports Outdoor Volleyball Net System is remarkably easy to set up and durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of regular play. We also love how easily this set disassembles for compact storage.
trailer stroller for child bike passengers

For Those Who Like to Hit the Trail

Burley Honey Bee 2-Seat Kids Bike Trailer and Stroller

Cycling is great exercise that can improve cardiovascular health and mood, while lowering the risk of obesity.

Why not make regular bike rides a family affair? The Burley Honey Bee is a two-seat bike trailer that can also be used as a jogging stroller. Our research found that this model is comfortable for riders and glides smoothly over bumpy terrain.
bicycle

For Little Cyclists

Priority Bicycles Priority Start 16-Inch

A great gift for brand-new cyclists, this kids’ bike from Priority Bicycles is low maintenance, lightweight, and just the right size for 3- to 7-year-olds. Priority Bicycles are well-loved because they are made from durable, high-quality materials and they’re easy to assemble. The 16-inch kids’ bike is a single-speed bike perfect for learning how to ride, but Priority also offers other kids’ sizes, as well as multispeed bikes. “The kids’ bike is nicely sized and comes in fun colors too,” says Scully. “It also has a lightweight aluminum frame and rust-resistant paint.”
bicycle

For the Whole Family That Rides

Priority Bicycles Priority Coast

The Priority Coast is a bicycle for casual adult riders designed for use on the coast. Priority uses rust-resistant paint for durability, and this bike stands up against salt, sand, and water. The Priority Coast is available as a one-, three-, or seven-speed bicycle. There is a vintage feel to the design, and it is available in white, mint, and sky blue. During testing, we found these bikes were comfortable to ride.

“Both bikes were shipped to my house in such a way that I did have to put them together, but it didn’t take long,” Scully said. “I could have also chosen to have them shipped to a local bike shop too, if I wanted help getting them put together. They also don’t seem to require a lot of maintenance.”

For the Techy Family

smart watch

For Families With Kids Venturing Out of the Nest

Bark Smartwatch

As kids get older and more independent, personal devices become an integral part of family life, allowing families to stay in touch between activities and allowing kids to chat with their friends. Screens are great for these purposes, but they do come with risks. Studies have found that too much screen time can negatively affect much of development, including sensorimotor development, academic outcomes, language development, and executive functioning.

We think Bark’s kid-safe smartwatch is a great compromise, allowing families to stay in touch, while keeping kids away from risky websites or unsafe text communication.

The Bark Smartwatch puts the controls in the parents’ hands and alerts them if there is anything to be concerned about in their kids’ texts. It’s also enabled for GPS monitoring, which means parents know where their kids are at all times. “The Bark would be good for a kid’s first entry into technology, before getting a phone,” editor Olivia Campbell says. “It’s great for kids who like to run around the neighborhood, so you can keep track of where they are, and they can text if they need help.”

interactive digital calendar schedule screen

For Families With Busy Schedules

The Skylight Calendar

This digital calendar is the ultimate organizer for busy families who could use a little extra help managing their schedules. There is a lot to love about this calendar — it easily syncs up to the calendars on your phone, so you don’t have to manually add events to the wall unit. You can also send events from school and extracurriculars to an email address that will import the info to the calendar for you. 

“I have to admit, I had my doubts about this,” says Scully. “Boy, was I wrong!” She says that users can each be assigned a specific color, so that it’s easy to see who is doing what. “Plus, it’s more than just a calendar,” she says. “You can also assign chores and set up routines, then assign your kids ‘points’ that can be cashed in when they’ve completed their chores or routine.”

tune box for kids

For Screen-Free Storytelling

Toniebox 2

When it comes to screen-free entertainment, Tonieboxes are hard to beat! This audio storytelling device pairs with figurines to tell your kiddo’s favorite stories or play their favorite songs. We love that Tonieboxes promote independence, since most children will be able to stop and start the stories on their own. The Toniebox 2 has many of the same features as the original Toniebox, but now children also have the option to play screen-free games and puzzles on their Toniebox when they’re interested in more interactive play.

“They also made the top more durable, and the ring light is a nice touch,” says Scully. “It works as a night-light and a sunrise alarm, which is great for setting routines and makes the Toniebox more versatile. My son also just likes the rainbow light in general. It is also just a little sleeker.”

kids toy

For Families Who Love Their Toniebox

Tonies Creative-Tonie

“My kids love their Tonieboxes,” says Bonaccorso. And her kids aren’t alone. Tonieboxes are a popular audio player for toddlers. If you’ve already got one for your kiddos, consider adding on to their audio collection with Creative-Tonie, a DIY Tonie that allows you to record up to 90 minutes of your favorite audio media. “I love that I was able to create recordings for [my kids] to play whenever they want,” notes Bonaccorso. A Creative-Tonie is a great stocking stuffer or stand-alone gift for families who already own a Toniebox and would be excited to customize their Tonie library.

yoto player

For Families Who Need a Screen Detox

Yoto Player

The Yoto Player is a kids’ audio player that doubles as a night-light. This screen-free speaker uses preprogrammed cards to play songs, stories, and podcasts. It is simple enough for kids to use independently — just pop in the card of your choice, and it plays automatically. We think it would be the perfect gift for a family with young kids. “This is a true screen-free toy for kids,” says Scully. “My son loved being able to pick out his own stories and listen to them at night, when he got home from school, or in the car on long road trips.”
digital photo frame

For the Ones Who Take All the Pictures

Aura Frames

Aura Frames are digital picture frames that cycle through a slideshow of pictures. “The frame works entirely via Wi-Fi,” says Scully. “When you set it up, you pair it with an app, and it’s through that app that you can upload images directly from your phone.” One of our favorite features is the ability to add pictures in advance if you are giving it as a gift. The frames are available in 9-, 10-, 12-, and 15-inch sizes, in both portrait and landscape orientations.
smart watch for kids

For Staying in Touch on the Go

Xplora X6Play Kids Smart Watch

The Xplora X6Play Kids Smart Watch is a kid-friendly device parents will love. This watch has limited capabilities, so it’s great for a younger child who needs to stay in touch with their parents during the day. Wearers can call or message approved contacts, and parents can keep an eye on their child’s movements with GPS tracking. This watch also features safety zones and alerts parents when their child moves outside of the customizable parameters. The watch comes with both a pink and green faceplate, so your child can choose the one they like the most. 

“I like that the watch has an SOS button in case of emergencies, and there is a school mode to limit interruptions,” says writer Ysolt Usigan, who tested this out with her daughter. “The watch can also track her steps, like other grown-up devices do, which is fun for her to see.”

smart phone for kids

For Families With Kids Ready for a Phone

PinWheel Slim 6 Phone for Kids

We love this phone as a gift for teens who are ready for a phone with more capabilities, as well as parents who appreciate the safety of being able to monitor their kids’ tech use. Pinwheel is a great starter phone, as it lets parents keep an eye on their kids’ phone usage throughout the day, with the ability to add and remove apps based on their comfort level. The caregiver portal enables parents to schedule their kid’s phone time, setting schedules for emergency use only or full use.

“I love that you can manage most of the phone’s settings and apps from the Pinwheel Caregiver app on your personal phone,” says writer Lindsay Modglin. “You can also track the phone’s location through the app. Plus, image permissions can be turned on and off based on the contact.”

For Families on the Go

For Families Who Take Treks

Simple Modern Kids’ Backpack

$49.99 at Amazon
Whether your loved ones are hitting the road, hopping on a plane, or headed back to school, these darling backpacks are just right for little travelers. The Simple Modern Kids’ Backpack is available in a wide variety of themes, including Harry Potter, Outer Space, Barbie, and Bluey. “This backpack is light, durable, and has sections and compartments that make sense,” says Scully. “The straps are adjustable too, and they’re padded so they don’t hurt, with a buckle to help keep them on your kid’s back. Best of all, they come in fun patterns.”

For Families With School-Aged Kids

Omie Insulated Bento Lunch Box

$49.91 at Amazon
One of the tenets of good nutrition is eating a variety of foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Because the Omie Insulated Bento Lunch Box is a hot and cold bento box, it’s the perfect gift for families who are focusing on packing healthy school lunches in the new year. “I love that the bento box comes with a handle, a thermos food jar, and multiple compartments, making it kind of a one-stop lunchbox for my son’s lunch,” says Scully. “Pasta stays warm in the thermos, and his food stays well separated.”
bento box

For Families With Preschoolers

Lalo Bento Box

Because the Lalo Bento Box is plastic-free and made of eco-friendly, stainless steel and food-grade silicone, we think it would be a great gift for families who value sustainable purchases. This lunchbox is made for preschoolers, so it is best for families with younger kids. It’s available in either neutral or bright colors, and we’re a bit partial to the Berry & Cream option or Citrus Peel. “It’s also machine washable, so you don’t have to worry or spend a long time cleaning it,” notes Scully, adding how much she appreciates the overall aesthetic.
looney tunes snack box

For the Ones Who Need a Snack on the Road

Looney Tunes by b.box Snackbox

We love the Looney Tunes by b.box Snackbox for keeping nutritious snacks handy while you’re on the go. Families are busy, and it’s hard to avoid unexpected trips through the drive-through, but Snackbox helps tide hungry kiddos over on busy days. “These products are cute, and my son really likes using them every day for lunch,” Scully says. There are two compartments in this container, and one even stretches to fit whole fruits. “The Snackbox is the perfect size for a clementine and another snack, like Goldfish,” says Scully.

For the Ones Who Like to Keep It Cool

PackIt Freezable Lunch and Snack Bag

$31.27 at Amazon
$32.99Now 5% Off

The PackIt Freezable Lunch and Snack Bag is equipped with EcoFreeze lining, allowing parents to ditch the ice packs altogether. Instead, you can pop the entire bag in the freezer the night before and feel confident that your child’s lunch will stay cold all day at school. We love that PackIt Freezable Lunch and Snack Bags are available in fun patterns, including dinos, rainbows, and sharks.

“Every family with kids needs these,” says Scully. “My son loves fruit: berries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwis, etc. But these things just do not travel great to school ... and I can’t tell you the number of times [my son has] come home with raspberry soup and warm strawberry mush [left over in his lunchbox]. These lunchboxes and snack boxes help a lot.”

For Family Movie Night

teddy bear

For Family Night In

Marshmallow Bear Warmies

The Marshmallow Bear Warmies is a microwaveable stuffed animal that provides a soft snuggle on cold winter nights or soothing warmth for pain relief. It’s filled with lavender and natural grains, and weighted to provide a stress-relieving experience. ”It may seem like it’s for kids, but honestly, it’s one of my favorite self-care items to this day,” says Scully. ”It’s heatable and freezable, and because they come in plushy form, they kind of snuggle next to whatever you need it to.”

Warmies are available in a number of styles, including seasonal and holiday themes.

throw blanker

For a Cozy Night on the Couch

Biquette Easy Breezy Throw Blanket

We love the throw blankets from Biquette, because they feature designs by artists and feel truly unique. Bright colors and abstract shapes define the artwork by Amber Vittoria on the Easy Breezy Throw Blanket. It’s made from 100 percent Egyptian cotton, so it’s both warm and soft against the skin.

“It is warm enough to keep you warm while you watch a movie,” says Scully. “It has quickly become my favorite blanket in the living room. It’s also pretty enough to keep out all year long.”

kids pajama set

For Sweet Dreams All Year Long

PatPat Bamboo Snug-Fitting Pajamas

During testing, these pajamas stood out because they are silky soft, and we think they’d make a great gift for kids with sensory sensitivities. This two-piece set is made of bamboo and is available in a darling holiday print as well as cars and trucks, unicorns, dogs, and more. These pajamas have great stretch and fit close to the skin. We love the affordability of this set, and we found them to be cheaper than many of the brands selling holiday-themed pajamas in natural fibers.

“These are buttery soft to the touch and the patterns are super cute,” says Bonaccorso. “I love that these are made of bamboo, and not plastic, polyester, or anything unnatural. This would make a cute holiday gift!”

For Families Who Love to Chat

Bright Littles Convo Cards

$19.95 at Amazon
Families that prioritize conversation, allowing each member to share their feelings, beliefs, and opinions, are more likely to build a pattern of older children sharing information with their parents.

Bright Littles believes that meaningful conversations can start small. That is the mission behind the Convo Cards. Each card contains a question or activity around five core topics: diversity, safety, nature, health, and self, and is appropriate for ages 4 to 12 years old. “I would recommend it to families who need conversation starters and ways to communicate with their kids,” says Usigan, who tested it out with her two daughters. “I love the design. It would make for a nice stocking stuffer because it’s small.”

Each card takes no more than 10 minutes to complete, so these are perfect for dinnertime, bedtime, and car rides. We love that the Bright Littles Convo Cards are a screen-free way for families to connect and build emotional intelligence and learning into their everyday lives.

pajamas

For That Perfect Holiday Photo

Dreamiere Isle Be Home for the Holidays Two-Piece Pajama Set

A great night’s sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle, playing a role in mental health, immune function, and heart health.

Cozy pajamas, like the matching family two-piece sets from Dreamiere, will keep the whole family comfortable at night.

We love these pajamas for their comfort — they’re extra stretchy, super soft, and tagless — as well as for their fun holiday patterns, available in a wide range of sizes. “The fabric is very soft, smooth, and lightweight,” says Usigan. “They fit snugly on my 6-year-old, which will help her feel cozy at bedtime so she can sleep better.”

How We Chose the Best Gifts for Families

testing items
Everyday Health

We chose the best gifts for families by researching what some of the most popular, family-friendly gifts are in 2025. We also sent out a call to our team of writers to see what their families have enjoyed this year. Then, we tested more than 400 different gifts, paying attention to things like usefulness, overall enjoyment, quality, and ease of use. Based on our testing results, we narrowed our choices down to these top recommendations.

Why Trust Everyday Health

We independently investigate and recommend products and services we believe will enrich the lives of our readers and meet their specific needs. You can trust our reviews because we do the legwork for you. Read more about why you can trust us.

Mary Sauer

Author

Mary Sauer is a freelance health and parenting writer whose work often covers mental health (especially maternal mental health), grief, and caregiving. Her work has been published by the Washington Post, Verywell Mind, Parents, Vice's Tonic, and ARC Poetry Magazine. She's also the managing editor of the upcoming Salt Tooth Press and an MFA student at University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Sauer is a mom of four and lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She enjoys hiking, trying new coffee shops, and shopping at used bookstores. At home, she spends her precious free time reading, rewatching Fleabag, and gardening.

Nicole Bonaccorso

Nicole Bonaccorso

Editor

Nicole Bonaccorso is a writer and editor with more than 12 years of journalism experience. She has been writing for Everyday Health since 2025, and has also been published on NBCNews.com, Treehugger, Verywell, Mashable, and Upworthy, among other publications.

Nicole was also a senior editor at Weather.com for more than 11 years, covering everything from weather and climate change to health, science, and travel.

In addition to writing, Nicole has also found a passion in helping new parents reach their breastfeeding goals and is working towards becoming a certified breastfeeding specialist.

In her free time, Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her two young sons, husband, and dog.

Simone Scully

Tester

Simone Scully is the editorial director for service commerce and marketplace content at Everyday Health. She has nearly 15 years of experience as a professional health and science journalist, covering topics such as the psychological impacts of living with chronic conditions, nationwide gaps in menopause healthcare, grief, neonatal loss, and the latest wellness trends over her career. Her byline has been published by over 35 publications, including Healthline, Well+Good, InStyle, Psych Central, Romper, Narratively, Nautilus magazine, and more.

Before joining Everyday Health, Simone was an editorial director of health and parenting commerce and service content at Dotdash Meredith. She oversaw a team of editors and writers that published content across nine different sites, including the Verywells, Parents, Health, and Shape. Prior to this, she also worked as an editor at The Weather Channel's Weather.com, Upworthy, theSkimm, and Business Insider. A project Simone oversaw at Weather.com on the health and environmental impacts of global water shortages won several awards in 2020, including the CMA award for Best Series of Articles, an IAC award, and an Eppy award, among others.

Simone received a master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where she focused on science and health long-form reporting and photojournalism. Her master's thesis explored the treatment of prolonged grief disorder following a miscarriage or the loss of a child. She was also awarded the John Horgan Award for Critical Science and Health Journalism at graduation.

Born in Minnesota, Simone lived 14 years in France until she graduated high school, then three years in London to get her bachelor's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She currently lives in the Hudson Valley of New York with her husband, son, dog, and cats. When she's not working, you can find her writing fiction or plays, hiking in national parks, or tending to her garden and indoor plants.

Ashley Ziegler

Tester

Ashley Ziegler is a full-time writer with extensive experience covering women’s health, babies' and kids' health, mental health, and wellness. Her work has appeared on websites including The Bump, Health, Pregnancy & Newborn, People, Parents, Romper, Scary Mommy, and more.

Before transitioning into her full-time writing career, Ashley worked in the departments of pediatric cardiology and general medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and later at the North Carolina Medical Board. During undergrad, she majored in communications at Purdue University and then earned her master’s degree with a concentration in healthcare management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Ashley lives with her husband and two young daughters in North Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys reading, walking, taking barre classes, and catching up on her favorite podcasts.

Ysolt Usigan

Ysolt Usigan

Tester

Ysolt Usigan is a veteran writer, editor, and commerce journalist with more than a decade of experience creating lifestyle, health, wellness, and shopping content for brands including BestProducts.com, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, WhatToExpect, SheKnows, and RetailMeNot.

Ysolt specializes in product testing and reviews, shopping guides, and service journalism that help readers make smart, confident choices.

Lindsay Modglin

Tester

Lindsay Modglin is a former nurse and health writer who specializes in covering chronic illness, women's health, oncology, and wellness products that help empower readers to take control of their health and well-being. Her byline has been featured in many digital publications, including Healthline, Verywell Health, Parents, Forbes, Yahoo, AOL, Insider, and more. Her print work has been published in oncology magazines like Cancer Today and Cure.

Prior to becoming a writer, Lindsay started working in healthcare in 2012 as an optician while she was pursuing her nursing license before working as a registered nurse in a clinical healthcare setting. This experience gave her firsthand knowledge of the challenges and complexities that patients face when managing chronic illnesses and navigating the healthcare system.

Today, when Lindsay is not writing, she enjoys camping and traveling across the United States with her husband and three children. She also volunteers as a creative writer for a non-profit organization that supports children with life-threatening illnesses and as a soccer coach for her children's teams.

Olivia Campbell

Tester

Olivia Campbell is the New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine and Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scientific History. She is a freelance editor at Dotdash Meredith and a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, New York Magazine, Health, Parents, History, and The Guardian, among other outlets.

Campbell received a journalism degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in science writing from Johns Hopkins University, where she now acts as a thesis advisor. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.

Campbell lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and two cats.

Raki Swanson

Tester

Raki Swanson is a Minnesota-based freelance health writer and married mother to two adult children. She has experience covering mental health, fitness, food, and lifestyle topics, as well as significant experience reviewing and testing products for the Marketplace team, including online therapy, fitness gear, and food.

She received a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from St. Cloud University in Minnesota. She has also worked as a business development manager at a Fortune 500 company in Minnesota, and spent several years living in the south of France while growing up, which inspired her love of travel and food.

When she's not writing, you can find her reading, blogging, and enjoying being an empty nester with her husband, two dogs, and tabby cat named Kevin.

Sarah-Garone-bio

Sarah Garone

Tester
Sarah Garone is a licensed nutritionist, registered nutrition and dietetics technician, freelance health and wellness writer, and food blogger in Mesa, Arizona. She has written for The Washington Post, Healthline, Greatist, Verywell, and Eat This, Not That, among other outlets. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Mary Dennis

Tester

Mary Dennis is a Singaporean American health and science writer based in New York. Her work has been published in the Beijinger, Nautilus, South China Morning Post, Motherly, and Verywell Mind.

Her interest in covering mental health increased after the pandemic revealed our society's increasing need for care and information about how to manage our emotional health. She is passionate about maternal mental health issues in particular, and is the founder of Postpartum Brain, a website designed to educate and encourage people to learn more about perinatal mental health issues.

Mary has a masters degree in science journalism from Columbia University.

Jana Pollack

Tester

Jana Pollack is a freelance writer, editor, and creative strategist with significant experience writing about health, wellness, and lifestyle topics, including mental health, fitness, parenting, and food. She values conversational writing that puts the reader at ease while conveying real value, and always aims to leave the reader feeling calm and prepared to take action.

Previously, she worked for theSkimm and BuzzFeed in their branded content studios, and she has bylines at Romper, Insider, and Jenny Mag. Early in her career, she spent two years as an editorial assistant at UpToDate.

She lives in Boston with her husband and young son, and spends all of her free time reading.

Katie Tuttle

Tester

Katie Tuttle is an editor and writer specializing in food, nutrition, and product testing. Her work has appeared in EatingWell, Food & Wine, The Spruce Eats, and Real Simple. She has written about meal kits, kitchen tools, fitness, and wellness, and has tested and reviewed a wide range of products, with a particular focus on meal delivery services and their impact on nutrition and convenience.

Beyond food, Katie has covered fitness and wellness topics, drawing from her own experience as a powerlifter and an occasional runner. She’s always interested in how products and services can make healthy living more accessible and practical.

When she’s not researching or writing, Katie is usually surrounded by houseplants or spending time with a foster dog. She firmly believes there’s no such thing as too many books or too much coffee.

Amy Sowder

Tester

For more than two decades, Amy Sowder has dedicated her journalism career to covering food, fitness, health, and lifestyle topics. Her work has been published in Bon Appétit, Women's Health, Men's Health, USA Today and its regional newspapers, Farm Journal, The Packer, Greatist, Chowhound, Verywell Fit, Eat This, Not That, and Brooklyn Magazine.

Prior to this, she worked as managing editor at Westchester Magazine in the greater New York metropolitan area, covered the national fresh produce industry as a magazine and newspaper editor, worked as an associate editor at Chowhound, a food trends consultant with Food Network, and as an editorial assistant at the award-winning blog and two-time bestselling cookbook Smitten Kitchen.

In addition, she's completed courses at the International Culinary Center in New York City and worked in numerous restaurants. She's run two New York City marathons and countless half-marathons, 10Ks, 5-milers, and 5Ks, as well as mud and obstacle course runs.

Alexandra Ginos, MBA, RD, CSP, CLC

Tester

Alex Ginos is a registered dietitian who specializes in pediatric nutrition. She received a bachelor’s of science in food science and human nutrition from the University of Illinois and completed a dietetic internship at the University of Virginia Health System.

Her 12 years of experience have spanned many areas of nutrition, including caring for children with complex healthcare needs, supporting healthy nutrition habits for families, and diabetes. Though she specializes in pediatric nutrition, she is passionate about helping people of all ages lead a healthy lifestyle.

Alex lives in Philadelphia, and loves to spend time outdoors with her dog, garden, explore new areas, and spend time with friends and family. She also enjoys cooking and trying new foods and recipes.

Julia Childs Heyl, MSW

Tester

Julia Childs Heyl, MSW, is a California-based clinical social worker and mental health writer. Her writing often focuses on mental health disparities and uses critical race theory as her preferred theoretical framework. She has been published by Verywell Mind, Health, Parents, Shape, Yahoo, and more.

In her clinical work, Julia specializes in treating people of color experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma through depth therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) trauma therapy. Identifying as a holistic-minded clinician, Julia views mental health as a relationship between the soul, self, and systemic structures in our lives. Her formative training includes developing mental health programming specifically for Black survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and conducting research on generational trauma within the Black community.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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  2. Cole M et al. Microplastic and PTFE Contamination of Food From Cookware. Science of the Total Environment. June 15, 2024.
  3. Asigbee FM et al. The Association Between Child Cooking Involvement in Food Preparation and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in a Hispanic Youth Population. Current Developments in Nutrition. March 3, 2020.
  4. Toppe T et al. Playing a Cooperative Game Promotes Preschoolers’ Sharing With Third-Parties, but Not Social Inclusion. PLoS One. August 19, 2019.
  5. Ibanez A et al. Can Prosocial Values Improve Brain Health? Frontiers in Neurology. June 5, 2023.
  6. Bauer ME et al. Children’s Risky Play and Resilience: Perspectives of Emergency Care Practitioners. Child: Care, Health and Development. February 26, 2025.
  7. Khajuria A et al. Reducing Stress With Yoga: A Systematic Review Based on Multimodal Biosignals. International Journal of Yoga. February 9, 2024.
  8. Bicycling. Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. December 2022.
  9. Muppalla SK et al. Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management. Cureus. June 18, 2023.
  10. Healthy Eating Plate. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. January 2023.
  11. Gong W et al. The Role of Family Communication Patterns in Intergenerational COVID-19 Discussions and Preventive Behaviors: A Social Cognitive Approach. BMC Psychology. September 26, 2023.
  12. Why Is Sleep Important? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. March 24, 2022.