Long stem roses and chocolates are traditional Valentine’s Day gifts. But this year, show your love with a nutritious, heart healthy gift. Here are five gift ideas that are sure to make your Valentine smile.
- Fresh fruit bouquet. Make your own bouquet by using wooden skewers and a variety of bite-sized fresh fruit such as cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, pineapple and strawberries. Thread the fruit on the skewers and tie the “stems” with a beautiful red ribbon. Keep this nutritious and delicious bouquet in the fridge until you’re ready to surprise your Valentine.
- Heart healthy trail mix. In a small bowl, mix lower sodium pretzels, air popped popcorn, and low fat whole grain cereal. Toss in fibre-rich dried cranberries, dried strawberries, dried cherries, and a handful of red shelled pistachio nuts. Pour the trail mix into a clear jar and add a bright red bow on top.
- Heart-shaped cake. Enjoy a heart healthy dessert on Valentine’s Day! Make your favourite low fat cake in a heart-shaped baking pan. Instead of spreading on a creamy frosting, decorate the cake with a dusting of icing sugar and fresh fruit.
- Hug in a mug. Fill a red or pink coloured mug with hot chocolate. Make it low fat by using skim or 1% milk, or low fat fortified soy beverage. Add a few mini marshmallows for fun and enjoy some snuggle time together.
- Chef for a day. Give your sweetheart a heart healthy cookbook such as Dietitians of Canada’s bestselling Simply Great Food or Great Food Fast. Wrap the book in pink tissue paper and attach a red coloured spatula. Top it off with a hand-written coupon promising that you will make dinner next week - and your Valentine gets to choose the recipes!
Fun food ideas to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the kids
- Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out their grilled cheese or tuna salad sandwiches.
- Make a pizza on whole grain crust. Use pink and red coloured toppings like tomatoes, red peppers and ham.
- Share a home-made smoothie. Mix strawberry flavoured yogurt with frozen berries and a teaspoon of ground flaxseed. Pour the smoothie into a tall glass, pop in two spoons, and enjoy.
- Think of different red coloured foods and taste test them if possible. Try red bell peppers, red kidney beans, grape tomatoes, red lentils, red cabbage, red Swiss chard, red skinned potatoes and red apples. Can you think of any others?