The Ultimate Guide to a Healthy and Happy Valentines Day

By Shellie Lynn | February 3, 2019 |

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt. ~Charles M. Schultz

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Have fun celebrating Valentine’s Day this year AND keep it healthy. It really is possible 🙂

Keep reading for some fun and healthy Valentine’s gift ideas, as well as breakfast, lunch and dessert ideas.

Fun No-Treat Gifts For the Kids on Valentine’s Day

Everyone deserves a little treat now and then, especially during the holidays. The problem is, for most of us, we have treats so often that they’re no longer special during the holidays. Even worse, most candies sold now, especially those marketed during the holidays, are loaded with tons of chemicals and preservatives in addition to the mounds of processed sugars.

There are so many ways to show our love and appreciation to one another, so why would we do it by giving them loads of toxic chemicals that will fast track them on their way to obesity and chronic disease?

Show them how much you love them with the following gifts.

Heart Shaped Earbuds

These can be purchased at most dollar stores as a novelty item for Valentine’s Day. Consider this your gift too if your kids spend a lot of time on their tablet or listening to music. For boys, look for other options like solid red earbuds or something similar. If you can’t find heart-shaped earbuds, try some regular buds with cute hearts on them like this one.

Red Jenga Games

Let’s take a break from technology and bring back game night! Jenga is a great game that uses problem-solving, strategizing, fine motor and visual motor skills. To make it even more fun, try Truth or Dare Jenga.

Pajama Movie Night

It’s cold in February. Stay warm and cozy inside. Try a new tradition like pajama movie night. Get your jammies on, pick a family friendly movie, make some popcorn and cuddle up on the couch for an evening of bliss with your family.

Skip the toxic candles and add a special touch by diffusing essential oils. They are scientifically proven to effect of us physically and emotionally. And they smell amazing, so you have nothing to lose.

Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

Movie Ideas:

The Princess Bride

Be My Valentine Charlie Brown

Valentines Pajamas

Pajamas for mom

Mother-daughter matching PJ’s

Pajamas for little boys

Pajamas for dad

Healthy Valentine’s Day Breakfast Ideas

The last thing you want to do is start the day off with a sugary, fatty, heavily processed breakfast. You can serve a healthy and delicious breakfast on this special occasion.

Strawberry Topped Banana Pancakes

Try these protein-packed pancakes and top some strawberries or raspberries. Make it more special by making them heart-shaped, add just a touch of whipped cream or healthier sprinkles. For healthier whipped cream, skip the Cool Whip and Redi Whip.

Make your own with organic cream from grass-fed cows, vanilla extract and maple syrup. If you’re avoiding dairy, use coconut milk. It whips up in seconds in a Vitamix. Or you if you want to be extra fancy, try a whipped cream dispenser. These make coffee drinks really fun too.

Red Heart Smoothie

Smoothies are the easiest way to pack a ton of nutrients into a small meal or snack.

Try this simple recipe:

1 c milk of choice

1 c frozen red fruit (any combination of raspberries, strawberries, pomegranates, and cranberries)

1 banana

1 scoop collagen peptides (optional)

Blend in a high-speed blender and enjoy all the delicious health benefits of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein. To make it extra special add a dollop of whipped cream and healthy sprinkles (see above).

French Toast with Red Coconut Whipped Cream and Honey

It’s time to upgrade your packaged, processed, frozen french toast sticks. Instead, make homemade french toast with organic whole grain bread and add cinnamon and non-dairy milk to the egg mixture to amp up the nutrients. Top with fresh fruit and coconut whipped cream (see above). If you prefer syrup, it’s time to say goodbye to Aunt Jemima ? Use real maple syrup instead.

Fun Healthy Valentine’s Day Lunch Ideas

Heart Healthy Sushi

If you’re not a regular sushi eater, introduce your kids to a fun and exotic new food for Valentines Day. If you’ve never made it before, make it easy on yourself and visit your local sushi shop. Most grocery stores now sell fresh sushi too. Start with something simple like California rolls. When serving them, lay them out in a heart shape. Serve with sparkling water and a splash of heart-healthy pomegranate juice.

Heart Shaped Mock Chicken Salad

If you’re trying to cut back on meat, make a mock chicken salad with chickpeas. Or keep the chicken and add chickpeas to it for added fiber, vitamins, and protein.

To make mock chicken or tuna salad:

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 celery stalks, chopped

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/3 cup red cabbage, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

1/4 cup avocado oil mayo or vegan mayo

(avoid mayo made with canola or soybean oil)

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1-2 tablespoons mustard (regular, spicy brown or dijon, depending on your taste preferences)

1 teaspoon celery seeds

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add more mayo or mustard as needed to get the consistency you like.

You can serve this over lettuce cups or on a sandwich. Create a heart shape with the lettuce leaves or with the bread you use for the sandwich. Try a cookie cutter like this one. You can add fruit on the side that is also in a heart shape. Or keep it simple and just add some red fruit ?

Pink Cauliflower Soup

Stay warm and cozy on Valentine’s Day with heart-healthy soup. Pair this with mock chicken salad from above.

To make the soup:

Use purple cauliflower. Chop and add to a pot with chicken or veggie stock. Add some salt, pepper, onion, and garlic too for extra flavor. Cook until cauliflower is soft. Blend with an immersion blender or transfer to a regular blender. Add a bit of cream to make it extra smooth and creamy. Remember to use high-quality organic, grass-fed cream.

Healthy Chocolate Desserts For Valentine’s Day

You don’t have to skip the chocolate to have a healthy Valentine’s Day! In fact, when used correctly, chocolate promotes heart health.

Chocolate Cherry Superfood Balls

Makes about 12 medium-sized cookies
1 cup pumpkin seeds
½cup brazil nuts
8 dates
¼cup dried cherries
¼cup dried coconut
2 tablespoons cacao powder
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon raw honey (optional)
hemp or sesame seeds (optional, to roll balls in)

How to make it:

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend. You want everything to be combined, yet not fully blended. Some chunks are nice! Form into small balls and either keep as is, or roll in hemp or sesame seeds.

Chocolate Crepes with Berry Sauce

Chocolate crepes are easy to make and they don’t pack the fat punch that some other desserts do. All you need for this dessert is a crepe mix kit, organic cacao powder (not the same as cocoa powder), and a berry sauce. Mix the crepe mix and add cocoa to taste. While your crepes are cooking, start your sauce. You can take the easy route and buy a pre-made organic or non-GMO berry sauce from the local health store. Or make a simple sauce with your favorite berries and a simple sugar base. Cook down the berries into the simple sugar base. Roll the crepes, pour on the sauce, and enjoy. You can also fill the crepes with a berry and coconut whipped cream filling to add a bit to the dish.

Chocolate Covered Crisped Peanut Butter Bananas

This is a fun dessert to get the kids involved. Grab a bag of dark chocolate morsels or chips, a can of organic sweetened condensed milk or coconut milk, organic, all natural peanut butter, crisped brown rice cereal, and bananas. Melt the chocolate and peanut butter in separate bowls. Place the crisped rice cereal in another bowl and set up a three-step station for your bananas. Slice the bananas and use a toothpick to dip them in the 3 stations. Start with the peanut butter, then the chocolate, and finally the rice cereal. You can also freeze between each layer to give a solid layer between each dip on the banana.