Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and traditionally we prepare to give the gift of chocolate – “food of the gods” – to our dearest loved ones. Like hunters and gatherers, we prowl through the aisles of our nearest grocery store at the last minute in search of the most expensive and sentimental box of candy we can find. We smile in satisfaction as we purchase additional balloons and flowers that match our chosen box, adding counterfeit effort to our nutritionally-lacking gift. Nevertheless, our loved ones become ecstatic at such a heart-warming gift and you as the giver get the credit you deserve.
However, there are ways to make Valentine’s Day as affectionate and keep it as healthy as any other day. Below are some tips and ideas on how to stray from the norm, keep Valentines intimate and satisfy your nutrition goals at the same time!
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Keep it Chocolate/Candy Free
If you’ve been listening to your loved one the other 355 days of the year, you might have an idea of an even greater gift than chocolates/candy. Maybe he/she wants something specific that they’ve been hinting at for the past couple of months. These could be jewelry, tickets to a game, a trip somewhere, etc. Gifts like these are normally much more personal than chocolates/candy which make them 100% more intimate and thoughtful. However, if giving gifts like these show to be too pricey, a great alternative to chocolates/candy are an assortment of bright fruits. During this time, many stores sell fancy designed fruit assortments that scream “I love you” and they’re usually just as much as the chocolates, but look 10x prettier. Flowers can also be bundled and designed to the liking of your mate, making them much more personal than a box of chocolates. Think outside the box!
Stay Home
Another traditional move during Valentine’s Day is treating your loved ones to dinner at a restaurant. You take them out to their favorite place or somewhere you’ve never been and order something delicious for the two of you. You drink a little wine under a candlelit centerpiece as the room slowly darkens and some soothing music plays in the background. Now think about this, why can’t you have that at home? Imagine you’re at home, table is covered in a white tablecloth, a small lit candle in the center, a wine right next to it. Your loved one gets home to find red flower petals leading them to the dinning room. They see the table and the dimmed lights as you pull out their chair so they can sit. The microwave beeps as your two TV dinners finish cooking, making them laugh out loud, but appreciate all the work and thought you put into the whole thing. An experience like that will have your loved one remember that day forever. And hey! If you bought those new Lean Cuisine Dinners, you just saved hundreds of calories and cash money!!
Lastly, Stay Active
At the end of the day, Valentine’s Day may be an annual holiday, but it’s also just another day. Not only that but it lands on a Wednesday this year, right in the middle of the week. So…..Go work out! Head to the gym early that day so you can spend the rest of the day with your loved ones. Heck, bring them with you if they’re up for it and have a calorie-burning Valentine’s Day together! You know what they say, couples who work out together stay together.
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In a day of love strive to show those you care about how much you truly care for them. It doesn’t have to cost you a dime, love can be expressed through mere words. Most of the time your loved ones just want to hear HOW MUCH you love them. Treat them good, treat them fair, listen and love. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!!!