Try Out These Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats
You’re finally getting back on track after holiday binging—cleaning up your diet and staying away from all the sweets. And then comes Valentine’s Day, and your fridge quickly becomes a home for chocolate boxes and other goodies, courtesy of your sweetheart.
Instead of loading up on chocolate candies until you’re ready to burst, try some of these healthy alternatives.
Dark chocolate
So, the problem with boxes of chocolates isn’t so much the chocolate itself, but the creamy, high-sugar content of milk chocolate. Go for dark chocolate instead—we’re talking 75 percent cacao or higher—which is lower in sugar and full of antioxidants.
Meatless meals
A popular dinner item on Valentine’s Day tends to be steak. It feels fancier than a normal meal, but is still accessible. But if you’re on the meatless train this year, there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to prepare that will still impress your valentine—like this winter ratatouille or tikka masala grilled veggie bowls.
Share a guilt-free shake
There’s something romantic about sharing your food, especially when it’s a drink with two straws. Evoke the classic 1950’s sock hop vibes with a healthier espresso or orange-creamsicle shake.
Less cheese, please
A phrase you may never want to say, but while cheese is another popular staple at Valentine’s Day, it’s not very digestion-friendly. You can achieve the same savory creaminess that cheese provides from a number of other dishes, like this kale and butternut squash sauté or vegan corn pudding.
There’s no need to skimp on your Valentine’s Day dinner and dessert. There are plenty of ways to make a good impression on your valentine without loading them up on sweets!