Father’s Day is around the corner, are you ready to celebrate Dad? Of course, it falls in the month of June, which is Men’s Health Month, so all the more reason to get dad something special. We love our fathers and male role models. They are protectors and providers and it’s important that we make sure they are happy and healthy so they can continue to lead our families and communities.

(Image: iStock/monkeybusinessimages)

If you’re like most Americans, you will spend on average between $90-$115 on a gift for dad this Father’s Day. And most gifts will be a combination of a greeting card, special outing, and clothes. Now those aren’t bad gifts, however, as America’s favorite nurse I want to help you find the perfect gift to help you keep dad’s mind, body, and soul healthy. Dad deserves a gift that keeps on giving. Here are my top five Father’s Day gift ideas:

Exercise gear

If we want dad to exercise, he should really dress the part. One of the No. 1 excuses people use not to exercise is because they say they don’t have the appropriate shoes or gym clothes. And this could be a valid point. Not having the correct shoes while running can actually cause injuries. So opt for some true “running or walking” shoes versus a pair of Air Force one high tops. Having proper fitting clothes can also prevent injuries.

Gym membership with trainer sessions

We know men don’t like instructions—or asking for directions—but that doesn’t apply in the gym. Many men actually want to know what exercises to do to work certain areas of their bodies. So go the extra mile and add a few trainer sessions to dad’s gym membership to help him get on the right track. Having a good trainer will show him how to exercise safely and can add some motivation to the workout.

Get dad a new calendar

Help dad get organized. With work, family, church, the kids, and sports events, it’s hard to stay on schedule. And let’s be honest, most Americans don’t do a good job at scheduling time for themselves. So get dad an organizer and while you’re at it insert some loving, healthy reminders in there. Jot in some important health appointment reminders like, “Make your annual eye appointment with Dr. Smith at 123-456-7890.” Make it easy for him to take better control of his health.

Healthy meal delivery

Broaden dad’s taste buds by buying him a healthy home meal service delivery plan such as Blue Apron or Home Chef. They’re cost-effective and help with healthy meal planning. This saves dad time and money on shopping for healthy foods, freeing him up to exercise, meditate, or read. He might need a little help actually cooking it when it arrives but that’s where the fun comes in and it can then become a fun family activity.

A great book

Help keep dad’s mind sharp by stimulating it with a good read. Just like you should train your muscles to increase your physical capability, you should also train your “mental muscles” to increase your mental capacity. Reading the right book can promote mental wellness, motivation, self-awareness and confidence. (Audio books are great too.) Aging men often fear losing their mental capacity and independence. So help dad ward that off. Here are two great reads I recommend written by fathers.

• Jump: Take the Leap of Faith to Achieve Your Life of Abundance by Steve Harvey – helps you engage the Divine Spirit within you to find your life’s desire and use your own imagination to make your life’s vision a reality.
• Purpose Awakening by Touré Roberts -uses personal stories, humor, and eye-opening analogies to take you on a transformational journey. You will learn how to discover your unique purpose, know God’s voice, identify and choose purpose mates, end wrong relationships, put an end to fear, grow your faith, and so much more.