Buying gifts for your nutrition-obsessed cycling friend? Much harder. Because they already track their magnesium.
They own seven types of salt. They once got emotional over the omega-3 content of wild mackerel.
But fear not. Whether they’re a Zone 2 zealot, a smoothie alchemist, or just someone who refers to peanut butter as “a performance tool,” we’ve got you covered.
Here are the best gifts for the person in your life who has strong opinions about glycaemic index and owns a NutriBullet.
1. A digital food scale (yes, another one)
They probably have one. But not this one.
This one is faster, thinner, more accurate — probably Bluetooth-connected — and reads in 0.01g increments.
Is it overkill? Yes.
Will they love it more than most of their extended family? Also yes.
Quick takes
RENPHO Calibra 1 Smart Nutrition Scale — a modern, compact scale with good accuracy and often praised for its balance of features and price: great if your foodie friend tracks macros and wants reliable grams measurements.
Platinet Nutrition Kitchen Scale Stainless Steel — a slightly more robust stainless‑steel model with a good tare function, useful if they cook often or mix wet and dry ingredients.
Wilfa Precision Uniform Kitchen Scale Black — a higher‑end kitchen scale, ideal if you want to gift a “forever” food scale: precise, durable, and with a quality feel.
2. A cookbook they’ll actually use (no, not that one)
They don’t want vague wellness books that say things like “eat the rainbow.”
They want specifics. Grams. Timing. Science.
Try:
– The Feed Zone Cookbook (for performance cooking that still tastes like food)
– Roar (for female athletes and the people who love them)
– The Nutrition Bible (for quoting at people mid-ride)
Bonus points if it includes recipes that can be frozen, meal-prepped, or eaten with one hand in a recovery boot.
3. A high-quality protein they haven’t tried yet
This is dangerous territory.
But if you know their usual go-to, level up:
– A clean, unflavoured whey from grass-fed cows
– A plant-based blend that doesn’t taste like despair
– Something with added collagen, BCAAs, or the tears of a Nordic strength coach
And yes, the packaging matters. Minimalist design = higher perceived bioavailability. It’s science (probably).
4. An electrolyte mix that makes them feel seen
Skip the sugar bombs. Go for the good stuff.
Something with:
– Sodium content they can brag about
– Actual flavour but no weird aftertaste
– Packaging that looks like it came from a luxury hotel minibar
Bonus: buy a box, repackage it in a mason jar with a label that says “For Post-Bonk Emergencies Only.”
5. A subscription to something nerdy and niche
For example:
– Levels or ZOE: if they want to stab themselves with sensors and feel closer to the data gods
– A sports nutrition journal (because light reading)
– Precision Hydration consults or DNA-based meal plans (because who doesn’t want a Christmas argument about microbiomes?)
This says: “I see you. I accept you. I want you to tell me about your blood glucose again.”
6. A tiny sauce container for ride snacks
You laugh. But they will cry.
These are perfect for:
– Honey
– Nut butter
– DIY hydration mix
– The moral high ground
They fit in a jersey pocket. They make you look like someone who supports their friend’s tiny nutrition dreams. That’s a big deal.
7. Gift cards, but not boring ones
Try:
– That fancy local whole-foods shop with overpriced tahini
– Their favourite vegan protein bar brand
– A website that sells weird supplements with Latin names
Wrap the card in a Ziploc bag, tape it to a banana, and write “for fuelling your future” on it. They will lose their minds.
8. A heartfelt, handwritten note saying “you were right about magnesium”
Honestly, they don’t want things. They want validation.
Tell them their beet juice obsession inspired you.
Tell them you do feel better when you eat more carbs.
Tell them their overnight oats made you cry with joy.
Write it down. Put it in their helmet.
And then never, ever say it again.
Final tip: avoid these
– Anything with artificial colours. They will Google it.
– Gummy vitamins from the supermarket. Don’t insult them.
– That Christmas cookie tin. You will get the glycaemic load breakdown before dessert.
Happy gifting. And remember: if in doubt, wrap up a giant sack of Maldon sea salt, slap a bow on it, and say:
“For your sodium balance and your soul.”
They’ll love you forever. Or at least until the next blood test.
