Where To Go for Creative Last-Minute Holiday Gifts
Don’t sweat it if you still have holiday shopping to do. With Christmas just a few days away, Clifton Foot & Ankle Center has several easy gift-giving suggestions that focus on healthy feet.
Here’s where to go and what to look for:
Big-box store – Go to the sports section to find gifts that keep your loved ones in shape: dumbbells, yoga mats, exercise videos, speedbags, and gym bags for carting gear. Pick up some moisture-wicking socks in the clothing department and slippers with good arch support in the shoe area. Hit the book department for cookbooks featuring healthy ingredients for the diabetic, vegan, or plant-based eater.
Drug store – Fill your shopping cart with gifts designed to keep feet looking their best: pumice stones that rub calluses away; supplies for an at-home pedicure such as foot files, emery boards, and nail polish; insoles to relieve plantar fasciitis pain; thick moisturizing cream to soothe and soften tired feet, or feet that tend to be dry from the effects of diabetes.
Grocery store – Healthy foods help to keep feet in tip-top shape! Explore every aisle to find unusual, nutritious foods. Look for items that someone might not think of buying for themselves – for example, heirloom grains, exotic dried fruits, and flavored olive oils. You might want to put together a themed package of ethnic foods. Most large grocery stores offer a broad selection of foods from Ireland, Mexico, Greece, Thailand, Poland, etc. Print out healthy recipes you find online and add them to your themed gift.
Specialty shoe store – Find fun shoelaces, lace locks that keep shoelaces in place and make putting on shoes faster (good for both kids and adults), cushioned socks for running and walking, and compression socks for runners and diabetics. This is a great place to pick up a gift certificate; an athlete in your life might appreciate having one to use toward buying a solid, new pair of athletic shoes. Remember to wear supportive shoes while you’re out shopping and give your feet a chance to rest when they’re tired. For more information about good foot care and keeping feet and ankles healthy throughout the year, contact our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm, at our office in Centreville. We serve all of Fairfax County, northern Virginia, and the western suburbs of D.C. Call (703) 996-3000 or contact us online.
