Give a loved one the gift of wellbeing this Christmas, with one of these body and mind-boosting stocking-fillers. By Abi Jackson.

 

:: Eat Yourself Young by Elizabeth Peyton-Jones (Quadrille), £12.99, EPJ Health (www.epjhealth.com)

Dietician, herbalist and neuropath Elizabeth Peyton-Jones has a string of A-list clients, and reveals some of her top tips and secrets in this colourful and easy-to-follow guide. Forget Botox; eat your way to vitality and a youthful glow.

:: I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Lotion with Myrrh, £29.50 for 150ml, Marks & Spencer (available in selected stores and online)

There's nothing like a good massage to ease stress and muscle tension, but don't worry about pricey spa visits, master the art at home. The myrrh adds a festive touch to this luxurious lotion.

:: Sweet Dreams Balm, £8 for 50ml, BF Aromatherapy (www.bfaromatherapy.com)

Sleep is essential to wellbeing. Applied to the temples, neck and chest before bedtime, this dreamy balm, which contains calming (and festive) frankincense, soothing lavender and harmonising petitgrain, helps you drift off naturally.

:: Chakra Life Force Herbal Infusion Pyramid Bags, £5 for pack of 12, The East India Company (www.eicfinefoods.com)

Based on ancient Eastern principles, wellbeing is intertwined with keeping the chakras - the body's energy flows - in balance. The East India Company's range of luxury teas aims to help you do just that. This Siberian ginseng, ginger and black pepper blend promotes vibrancy and makes an invigorating morning pick-me-up.

:: Gourmet Marshmallow, £6 for box of six pieces, The Marshmallowists (www.themarshmallowists.co.uk)

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without sweet treats. The Marshallowists have given marshmallow a luxurious and mood-boosting twist, flavouring them with essential oils. Flavours include strawberry and basil, passion fruit and ginger and coconut.

:: Scholl Elite Shiatsu Neck Massager, £49.99, Boots

Whether you work at a desk or repeatedly heave heavy shopping bags, sore and tense necks are a modern-day hazard. This electronic massager will soothe sore spots and release tension.

:: Nutribullet, £99.99, NutriBullet ™ (www.buynutribullet.co.uk)

Homemade juices and smoothies are a great way to improve your diet and ensure you get your five-a-day. The Nutribullet promises to be the best machine for the job, breaking down ingredients fast but keeping nutrition and fibre intact.

:: Fragrance Lamp Gift Set, £32.99 - £41.99, Ashleigh & Burwood of London (www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk)

Smells are closely linked with emotions and certain scents are famed for their calming or uplifting properties. This gift set looks gorgeous and can help transform your home into a tranquil haven too.

:: Tanita CJ-688 Calorie Jump, £10.99, Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk)

There's a reason boxers love skipping; it burns calories, works muscles all over and really gets the heart pumping. This Tanita rope allows you to monitor your calorie-burning progress, as you tone those arms and boost cardiovascular fitness.

:: CHOC Chick Starter Kit, £12.99, CHOC Chick (www.chocchick.com)

We don't need to be told that eating chocolate makes us feel good - but avoid the 'naughtiness' of sugar-laden varieties and make your own dairy and gluten-free luxury chocs with this fun starter kit, which contains antioxidant-rich 100% organic cacao.

:: Microwavable Cozy-Boots, £14.99, Getting Personal (www.gettingpersonal.co.uk)

Pop these comfy boots into the microwave for a super-soothing slipper experience. They're infused with lavender too; a perfect addition to your wind-down regime before bed.

:: Get Running: How to Get Started, Stay Motivated and Run Your Best by Matt Roberts (Quadrille), £12.99, various stockists including Waterstones and Amazon

Great for fitness and relaxation, running has always been popular, and lately thousands seem to have caught the bug. If you're tempted but not sure where to start, this practical guide will get you on your way and help keep you motivated.

:: Bach Rescue Balm, £5.99 for 5g, Boots

As well as soothing dry lips, this nifty balm contains Rescue Remedy's renowned flower essence blend so has the added benefit of nurturing relaxation and calmness too. A handbag essential.

:: Fitbug Orb, £45, Fitbug (www.fitbug.com)

This button-sized wireless 'orb' is designed to aid anybody on a fitness mission by tracking activity levels and sleep. Results are synced with an app where you can also read personalised motivation, nutrition and exercise tips from an online 'wellness coach'. Available in white, black or pink.

:: Emma Bridgewater Live Well Look Well Tea & Oranges Scented Candle, £18, Marks & Spencer

Emma Bridgewater's range incorporates mood-boosting fragrances, and this tea and oranges scented candle, in a festive red glass, has a delicious smile-inducing marmalade smell.

:: Timex Performance Men's Ironman Sleek 250 Lap Full Size Alarm Chronograph Watch (T5K589), £94.99, Watch Shop (www.WatchShop.com)

The Timex Ironman Performance watches range comes in 'his', 'her' and unisex designs. Stylish and robust, they're packed with special settings to monitor your fitness levels and performances.

:: Iris Aroma Diffuser, £49.99, Madebyzen (for stockists visit www.madebyzen.com)

Give your home a spa-like ambience, with this quirkily designed diffuser, available in a choice of four colours. Simply fill with your chosen scented oil and water, then, using ultrasonic technology, the Iris will work its aromatherapy and light therapy magic to calm body and soul.

:: Rosemary and Juniper Bath Salts, £9.95, Greenwood Organics (greenwoodorganics.co.uk)

For centuries, bath salts have been used for their unwinding qualities, and Dead Sea minerals and Epsom salts are famed for their detoxing properties. Infused with uplifting rosemary and juniper, this little pot will turn bathtimes into an added treat.

:: Dodo Book Of Wellbeing, £18.99, The Dodo Pad (www.dodopad.com)

If you love being organised and keeping lists - and want to incorporate more relaxation, exercise and uplifting activity into your life - then this fun, colourful wellbeing organiser is a dream come true.


Tried and tested

Abi Jackson ditches supermarkets for a week and tries a fresh home-delivery service


What it is?

Hello Fresh deliver specially prepared food boxes to your home, containing fresh, high-quality food, and just the right amounts to make your meals (including spices and fresh herbs), which you prepare by following the included recipe cards. You can choose between a Classic Box, Veggie Box or Family Box, and they have three or five meal options, for two or four people, available. It's all about reducing waste (which recent headlines highlighted as a huge problem) and enabling you to cook good, nutritious meals.


What's it like?

Opening up the box was rather exciting. The food had been wrapped with special ice-packs, so the fact I'd been out at work all day didn't matter. If you choose the Classic Box, you can log onto the website and swap some of the meals if they're not to your liking, but I just went with the given menu for the week, which included a fish dish, chicken dish, sausages and sweet potato mash, and a couple of veggie dishes - overall, a good nutritional range for the week. The recipe cards provided were easy to follow. However, preparing the meals took me a little longer than the 30 minutes stated. They were all very enjoyable and tasty, particularly the fish, and sausages and gravy, and the portions were far more generous than I'd imagined - there were even leftovers for the next day's lunch. Making everything from scratch, and not wasting anything along the way (a regular supermarket hazard!), was very satisfying - though I still had to go to the supermarket, of course, for other weekly staples. For convenience, cutting waste and adding variety to your weekly meals, the service is definitely worth a try.


Information

Hello Fresh boxes range from £36 to £64, including delivery. For more information visit www.hellofresh.co.uk

Prices correct at time of transmission