Give a boost to better health

It's the season of giving, and it's time again to figure out what you'll buy the people on your list.

Here's my list of suggestions, ranging in price from a little to a lot. What they have in common is that they're special or fun, they're practical, and they support a healthy lifestyle.

You might even want to put some of these ideas on your own list.

* From the farm: a subscription to a CSA -- community supported agriculture -- farm. Here's how it works: You pay a local farmer a predetermined amount of money upfront. In return, you get a portion of the harvest throughout the growing season. Online information and lists of CSA farms in North Carolina are available at the N.C. State University Cooperative Extension Web site: www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/csafarms.html as well as through the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association at www.carolinafarmstewards.org. By joining a CSA farm, you are supporting a local, small, family farm -- usually organic -- and Earth-friendly farming practices. Some farms grow herbs and flowers in addition to vegetables and fruit. Now is the time to subscribe for next spring. Costs vary but expect to spend several hundred dollars for about 32 weeks of produce.

* For the fireside: a few good books for young and old. Great choices include "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats" by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio (Ten Speed Press, 2005, $40 hardcover). The authors in photos and essays document what families around the world eat, including a photo of each family with a week's worth of groceries.

The foodie in your life may appreciate a copy of Harold McGee's "On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen" (Scribner, revised 2004, $40 hardcover). It's a comprehensive guide to everything you always wanted to know about foods, drawing from history, folklore and science, including the chemistry of flavor and how ingredients in recipes interact.

For kids, I recommend Mollie Katzen's latest kids cookbook, "Salad People and More Real Recipes: A New Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up" (Tricycle Press, 2005, $17.95 hardcover). This is another of Mollie's very sweet cookbooks, featuring her own illustrations and kid-tested, healthful recipes.

* For the kitchen: Consider a few well-chosen appliances. If they'll help you cook more healthful meals at home in less time -- or more conveniently -- they're worth it.

For example, many people swear by their rice cookers. They allow you to steam rice while you're away doing something else rather than watching the stovetop to ensure the rice doesn't boil over. Prices range from $30 to $300, depending upon capacity and quality.

I discussed new generation pressure cookers in a recent column. A top-of-the-line Kuhn Rikon 7 liter cooker runs just under $200. I found a special on a 3.5 liter model, no shipping cost, plus a copy of a Lorna Sass pressure cooker cookbooks, for $99 at FactoryDirect2you.com. You can find good deals on other brands online as well.

When it comes to food gifts -- always welcome -- skip the salami and cheese and go for high quality fresh fruit baskets, dried fruits, figs, nuts and elegant bottles of olive oil.

If someone on your list is interested in yoga or Pilates, or in starting a fitness routine at home or at the office, a new exercise mat in a funky color or a couple of dumbbells can be a really nice gift.

As for other gifts and stocking stuffers, how about a jump rope, resistance bands, gift certificates to a neighborhood natural foods store, all-fruit preserves, black, green, oolong or herbal teas, cloth napkins and placemats, or a donation on behalf of a friend or loved one to your local food bank?

With a little thought, your gifts can support someone's health while they spread the joy this holiday season.