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Megan Boitano

Registered dietitian nutritionist Megan Boitano, MS, RD, helps dietitians leverage their expertise and generate income via creation and sale of online nutrition resources. She is the founder of Well Resourced Dietitian, a digital marketplace for dietitians to both sell and buy original, digital materials for use in their nutrition practices, including ebooks, handouts, presentations, webinars, worksheets and more.

70+ Wellness Challenge Prize Ideas that Motivate

Designing and hosting a wellness challenge is a fantastic way to engage employees while promoting healthier lifestyles. But what can you do to ensure that your participants are truly motivated until the finish line?

Have great prizes!

Thoughtful, creative wellness challenge prizes can provide that little extra nudge in participation, which means your target audience is getting the most benefits from your wellness challenge. Whether it’s a fitness contest, walking challenge, or water-drinking competition, offering great incentives shows employees you value their efforts while making the initiative more fun.

This guide shares over 70 wellness challenge prize ideas—perfect for HR professionals designing workplace challenges or dietitians pitching corporate events. You’ll learn why prizes matter, what works best, and even what to avoid.

Let’s dive in!

Why Use Prize Ideas for Wellness Challenges?

Offering prizes isn’t just a nice-to-have: prizes are an important component of your challenge to boost engagement.

Research shows that incentives can improve participation rates and outcomes in wellness programs. A study published in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that employees who were offered financial or non-financial rewards were more likely to meet wellness challenge milestones compared to those without incentives (1).

Here’s why prizes matter:

  • Motivation: Knowing there’s a tangible reward keeps participants going for gold with their goals.
  • Engagement: Prizes encourage more employees to participate fully – and stay dedicated – for the whole challenge.
  • Appreciation: Recognition makes participants feel valued, strengthening employer-employee relationships.
  • Team Spirit: Group-based awards can also promote collaboration and camaraderie among employees

Prizes create a sense of fun and gamification that transforms wellness challenges from “just another HR initiative” into something employees look forward to. Now, let’s explore some prize ideas that will excite, inspire, and energize your team!

Medal background with the text "why use prizes for wellness challenges? shown.
Medal background with the text "why use prizes for wellness challenges? shown.

Wellness Challenges Prize Ideas

When selecting prizes, remember that personalization and variety go a long way. Choose incentives that fit your company culture and appeal to diverse interests. Below, we’ve categorized wellness prize ideas into four major themes.

Fitness Prizes

When planning a nutrition challenge, consider what length of program will have the biggest impact. It is a balance between long enough to form habits but short enough to maintain interest.

For many settings, a 4-week challenge works well. It’s long enough to build some healthier habits. This is also long enough that even if someone isn’t consistent every single day, they can still get back on track and see progress.

  • Yoga Mats, Blocks and Straps
  • Foam Rollers for muscle recovery
  • Resistance Bands for strength training
  • Adjustable Dumbbells
  • High-Quality Running Shoes or Gift Cards for Sneakers
  • Bike or Cycling Accessories
  • Fitness Class Pass (e.g., barre, pilates, or spinning)
  • Compact Walking Desk Treadmills
  • Weighted Vest

Nutrition Prizes

Healthy gifts can fuel participants’ wellness journeys while supporting better eating habits. 

  • Blenders or Smoothie Makers
  • Soda Stream Machines for sparkling water enthusiasts
  • Healthy Snack Gift Baskets
  • Herbal Tea Collection or Premium Coffee
  • Grocery Store Gift Cards
  • Cookbooks for Healthy Meals
  • Spice Sets or Gourmet Cooking Oils
  • A Knife Set
  • New Appliance (e.g., An air fryer, bread maker, or Ninja CREAMi)

Experience Prizes

Sometimes, the best reward is an unforgettable experience. These options provide employees with activities that are as exciting as they are fun and relaxing.

  • Gym Membership or Studio Pass
  • One-on-One Personal Training Sessions
  • Massage or Spa Gift Certificates
  • Rock Climbing
  • Tickets to a Local Sporting Event
  • Subscription to MasterClass or other Skill-Building Platforms
  • Wine Tasting or Brewery Tours
  • Membership to Your Local State Park
  • Tickets to a Theme Park
  • Passes to Go Bowling or Play Laser Tag
  • Movie, Playhouse, or Concert Tickets
  • Zoo, Aquarium, or Wildlife Center Gift Certificates
  • Meeting with a Financial Planner

Monetary and PTO-Based Prizes

Monetary rewards and extra downtime are universally appreciated by employees.

  • Coffee Gift Cards
  • Extra Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Monetary Bonuses
  • Professional Development Opportunities (like course funding)
  • Charity Donation in the Winner’s Name
  • Payment Towards Student Loan
  • Career Coaching
  • Free Parking Spot for a Month
  • AAA Membership
  • Public Transportation, Uber, or Lyft Vouchers
  • Bike Share Credits
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution
  • Company Stock
  • College Savings Account Contribution (e.g., 529 Contribution)
  • Scratch Off Lottery Tickets
  • Gift Certificate for House Cleaning or Window Cleaning Service

Office Swag Prize Ideas

Perhaps the best prize is something to make your employee’s office space more cozy or functional. Here are a few ideas to consider:

  • Coffee Warming Mug (e.g., Ember)
  • Bluetooth Headphones
  • Laptop Stand
  • Standing Desk
  • Massager
  • Desk Chair
  • Weighted Blanket
  • External Monitor
  • Ergonomic Keyboard or Mouse
  • Small Desk Humidifier

Unique Customizable Ideas

If you’re looking for something extra special, here are some standout ideas for employees who appreciate creativity:

  • Custom Kits (e.g., a mini wellness care package with candles, bath salts, and journals)
  • Audible or Spotify Subscriptions
  • Electric Scooters or Bikes for Commuters
  • Combined Prizes (e.g., Tickets to go ice-skating, plus a gift card for a local coffee shop for a treat afterward)
Wellness challenge prize ideas grouped together in categories.

Special Considerations

As you plan your prizes for your next wellness challenge, also keep in mind the diversity of your staff. Make sure that there are prizes available that are a match for your range of ages, physical abilities, and handicaps.

For a round-up of body-positive resources, check out this post: 14 Body-Positive Workouts and Fitness Resources.

Recognize Your Winners

As your wellness challenge comes to a close, be sure to give your winners their due praise! This might look like:

  • A shout-out in the company newsletter
  • A standing ovation during a meeting
  • A note from the company CEO to the winners
  • A trophy to place on the winner’s desk (until the next wellness challenge, that is!)

What NOT to Give as a Prize

While the right prizes can increase motivation and participation, there are a few things to avoid:

1  –  Generic Company Swag: Branded mugs or pens may not actually feel special enough to incentivize participation.

2  –  Overly Specific Items: Avoid gifts that might only appeal to a small segment of participants (e.g., niche books or hobbies). 

3  –  Cheap or Poor-Quality Items: A low-quality water bottle or flimsy yoga mat might leave employees feeling less appreciated…exactly the opposite of our goal!

Most importantly, knowing your company culture and tailoring prizes to your employees’ interests will make a huge difference.

How to Distribute Prizes Effectively

To make the prize-giving process fair and fun, consider these strategies:

  • Random Raffle Drawings: Increase inclusivity by rewarding participation, not just top performers.
  • Team-Based Competitions: Foster camaraderie with team prizes.
  • Most Improved Rewards: Recognize those who go above and beyond to improve their personal wellness milestones.
  • Streak Rewards: Celebrate consistency by giving prizes to those who sustain healthy habits.

Wellness Challenge Ideas

We’ve spent a while brainstorming a wide range of wellness prize ideas for you and your team to consider. For inspiration, be sure to bookmark these three articles!

Final Thoughts to Energize Your Next Challenge

Wellness challenges are more than just fun competitions; done right, they can kickstart long-term improvements in employee health and team morale. And prizes are the key to driving engagement and making the challenge as memorable as possible.

With these 70+ ideas, you’re sure to find the perfect options to fit your company’s culture and budget. Whether you’re rewarding fitness achievements, promoting healthy eating, or strengthening workplace bonds, the right prize can make every step and sip worth it.

Don’t leave motivation to chance—plan your wellness challenge prizes today!

Recommended reading

Ready to learn more? We’ve hand-picked a few favorites from the blog. 

  • 11 Health Fair Ideas Everyone Will Love (with Photos!) – Whether you’re planning a wellness fair for your employees or you’re a dietitian or health care professional that’s setting up a booth at a health fair, you’ll find tons of helpful ideas and tips in this post.
  • The Ultimate Guide to Workplace Wellness Challenges – Looking for an idea that you can start at your workplace – or just want a fun nutrition or fitness challenge to try on your own? Check out these health challenge ideas that will help inspire and motivate you!
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