Are you ready to have a healthy Valentine’s Day? This is the healthy Valentine’s gifts blog you’ve been waiting for. We won’t just stop there though; you’ll need healthy Valentine’s snack ideas, healthy Valentine’s Day recipes, that perfect valentines gift for someone on a diet, fun valentine fruit ideas (think strawberry hearts), and of course healthy date ideas? 

Let’s face it Valentine’s Day may simply be a Hallmark Holiday, but also everyone deserves to feel the love and it doesn’t solely have to come in the form of chocolate and wine (although if you know me, you know I enjoy both of those things, together, separate, one at a time, at the same time). OK it’s Friday night and I just got a little excited about the idea of chocolate and wine, but that is not the point of this blog. This blog will point you in the right direction to have a heartfelt, healthy, happy Valentine’s day.

How to Have a Healthy Valentine’s Date Night

Stay at home! I have so many fun ideas for at-home date nights. First of all, you don’t have to fight the crowds or make some reservations at a way too expensive restaurant with way too high of calorie foods to “prove” your love to your partner. Stay in!! Whether it is at your place, their place, or “our place” you can create magic in your very own living room or backyard. When you’re at home, there are just so many more variables to control, it the quality of the food and front row seat entertainment. Let’s start with the entertainment, then we will get to the food! 

At-Home Date Night Entertainment Ideas

This first at-home date night idea happens to come from a pair of my favorite love birds (they have since been married for many years and their anniversary is now in September)! Anyway, they are creative, photographer, musician, beach type folks. I distinctly remember visiting their little beach bungalow home and them talking about their little date night where they ate their homemade meal al fresco (outside) and used a movie projector off a blank wall to watch a movie under the stars. How cute is that? I know you’re probably thinking that sounds complicated, but it really isn’t. You can find projectors that connect to your computer or phone on Amazon that are fairly inexpensive. The best part is, it isn’t a one time throw away on your dollar bill, it is something you can use for many date nights to come. I mean, you know there will be more after a creative evening like that!

Another inexpensive entertainment option is a simple Red-box flick.

One of my favorite simple ideas is a beach picnic because the sunset itself is an entitlement. Make your date a special playlist on your Apple Music or Spotify and watch them swoon.  

At Home Date Night Food Ideas

Ok, now for the food, the moment you have been waiting for. If you’re not control freaks, cooking together can be quite romantic and allows you to control the health factor on your food and dessert choices.

Making a heart-shaped pizza comes to mind (yes some of these ideas I have actually used with my ex-husband and at the time they were quite successful and fun, our divorce is no reflection of these ideas LOL). You may be thinking how is pizza a healthy option? Well, by making your own you can easily make it healthy!! You can start with a cauliflower crust. There are many pre-made doughs that are organic and/or gluten-free. These are all good bases to start with. When it comes to toppings you can now control the amount of cheese and oil that goes on the pizza. Then top with whatever you and your date enjoy!

Another fun food option that can also serve as entertainment is making your own sushi (if you live somewhere that has a grocery store where you can get sushi-grade fish. This is definitely not available in the small town of Leadville where I live now. When I lived in California many markets could accommodate this such as H Mart, 99 Ranch Market, Zion Market, and Mitsuwa. You don’t have to have one of those bamboo rollers if you have good finger dexterity, but it can be helpful! If you don’t have access to fresh fish you could try for some veggie rolls with avocado, carrot, rice, sprouts, etc. You could also use cooked salmon with asparagus, rice, and cream cheese, (my mouth is watering just thinking about it)! There are many bloggers out there that specifically reference easy homemade sushi ideas, here is one.

Valentine’s Dessert

Chocolates and flowers are the quintessential Valentine’s gift, and also jewelry (depending on where you are at in your relationship…we’ve all seen the KAY commercials). While candy is a big seller and easy go-to for a Valentine’s Day sweet treat I will provide you with some other healthy holiday recipes, courtesy of my go-to TBB blog.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup natural smooth peanut butter
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 3/4 cup coconut flour
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• hot water
• 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate 62% cocoa or higher, chopped
• 2 tsp extra virgin coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Combine peanut butter, cornstarch, coconut flour and maple syrup in a medium bowl; blend well with a spatula until the mixture forms a uniform dough.
3. Using clean hands, shape dough into twenty-four 1-inch balls*; place a toothpick in the center of each ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate 20 minutes.
4. Fill a small saucepan with 2 inches of water; bring to boil over high heat. Then reduce heat to low.
5. Place a heatproof mixing bowl over a saucepan. Add chocolate and oil. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes, or until just melted. Make sure water does not splash into the bowl.**
6. Remove balls from the refrigerator. Hold a ball by the toothpick and dip into the chocolate, swirling to completely coat. Return to the baking sheet. Repeat with each ball. (For any uncoated areas, coat carefully with a spoon dipped into chocolate.)
7. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until chocolate has hardened.
8. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-oz.) can beets, drained 
• 1⁄3 cup extra-virgin organic coconut oil 
• 1½ tsp. pure vanilla extracts 
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 
• 2 large eggs 
• ½ cup coconut sugar 
• ½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt) 
• 1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour 
• ½ cup almond flour 
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder, gluten-free 

For Avocado Cream Frosting:

• 5 Tbsp. coconut sugar 
• 1 tsp. cornstarch (preferably GMO-free) 
• 2 very ripe medium avocados 
• 1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 
• 1½ tsp. pure vanilla extract 
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

Special Equipment:

• Muffin papers/cupcake liners 
• Nonstick cooking spray 

Instructions: 

For Cupcakes: 

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. 
2. Line two muffin pans with eighteen muffin papers and lightly coat with spray. Set aside. 
3. Place beets, oil, extract, almond milk, lemon juice, eggs, sugar, salt, and cocoa powder in the blender (or food processor); cover. Blend until smooth. 
4. With the blender running, add flour, almond flour, and baking powder. Blend until a smooth batter forms. 
5. Pour batter evenly into prepared muffin pans, filling each cup approx. ¾ full. 
6. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. 
7. Set cupcakes aside to cool while you prepare the frosting. 

For Avocado Cream Frosting:

1. Place sugar and cornstarch in the blender (or food processor); cover. Blend until powdered. 
2. Add avocados, lemon juice, extract, and cocoa powder; cover. Blend until smooth peaks form. 
3. Evenly spread frosting on cool cupcakes.  

And finally, I am sure you are wondering about the WINE! Yes, wine is, of course, OK on special occasions, though I indulge often. I always recommend finding a sulfate-free organic option. Check out FitVineWine for some great options. 

As far as gifts go, after all the cooking and date planning, my advice is to MAKE A CARD! It is simple, thoughtful, inexpensive, and your thoughts and feelings can go a long way!

If you feel like you are wanting more recipes, tips, and tricks to living your healthiest life, I have lots more tips where those came from. All of my meal plans include access to hundreds of recipes and short, easy, all levels workouts. If you have any specific recipes you would like or fitness program questions, always feel free to reach out to me. Thanks for reading I hope this information was useful and finds you in a space of the heart. 

Love and Light Always,

Sarah

“Sarah Savino is my recommended Wellness and Nutrition Coach who resides in Colorado but has a community of clients she guides and manages nationally. She has her frequent retreats that her clients are encouraged but not required to attend and someone who knows first hand how it is to be overworked and overweight. She is a living truth that once within the right community and with the right guide, everything is possible. She can be reached thefitphilanthropist@gmail.com and facebook.com/sarah.savino IG- the_fit_philanthropist ”- Dr. Shakib, your Irvine Chiropractor