This is a guest blog by Kaylie Chrismon
Valentine’s Day Healthy Food Gift Guide
While we all most likely think of chocolate and flowers as the go-to for Valentine’s Day gifts, it’s important to think outside of the box. Don’t lose sight of your New Year’s Resolutions! In this Valentine’s Day Healthy Food Gift Guide, you’ll find some pink, some red, and all healthy gift ideas that will definitely make an impression on the loved ones in your life.
1. Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
This is not so out of the box, but it is the perfect combination of sweet and healthy, as well as the ultimate Valentine’s Day treat. Strawberries contain vitamin C and are a beautiful red color, perfect for Valentine’s Day. Dark chocolate gives a boost of antioxidants, as well! Try dipping strawberries in melted dark chocolate and placing them in a festive tin.
Make it a full gift: place some decorative or witty napkins on top of the tin filled with strawberries and tie the napkin pack in place with some red and pink ribbon.
2. Homemade Pink Granola Bars
Granola bars are a delicious and nutritious snack for the busy loved ones in your life. These granola bars are chocked full of nutrition with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, peanut butter, and oats. The pink M&Ms provide some color and sweetness for your sweetie.
Recipe adapted slightly from Bran Appetit:
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup crisp rice cereal
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup pink M&M’s
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2/3 cup honey
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1. Combine the oats, cereal, dried cranberries, M&M’s, chocolate chips, and sunflower seeds into a large bowl and mix together.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, mix the honey and peanut butter. Heat for 30-45 seconds, until the honey is warm. Mix the peanut butter into the honey, and then stir in the vanilla.
3. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix together, using your hands or a spoon to get the ingredients on the bottom incorporated as well.
4. Pour the oat-peanut butter mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Press the mixture down with pressure to make the mixture packed and even.
5. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Make it a full gift: place these granola bars in a Valentine’s Day tin or a box with pink and white ribbon. Tie a Valentine’s Day spatula on top so they can use the spatula the next time they make these!
3. Valentine’s Day Tea
Hot teas are perfect to sip on during the cold winter months. You can find some delicious and Valentine’s Day-themed teas online or at your local grocery store. Try Red Velvet tea, Chocolate Covered Strawberry tea, or Sugar Cookie tea.
Make it a full gift: pair this with a Valentine’s Day mug!
4. Raspberry Jam
Raspberry jam is a simple gift that can be added to oatmeal, crackers, or on toast. It can also be a sweet but healthy dessert when a craving strikes! Wrap the jam jar with some pink and white ribbon.
Make it a full gift: give a couple different jam flavors, such as blackberry or strawberry, and pair with a festive butter knife for spreading the jam!
5. Red Wine
While Valentine’s Day is one romantic and sweet day, all of February is Heart Month. You can combine both celebrations with some heart-healthy red wine! In moderation, red wine has resveratrol, a heart-healthy antioxidant.
Make it a full gift: pair a bottle of red wine with a pretty wine glass or a wine bottle opener!
What will you choose from this Valentine’s Day Healthy Food Gift Guide?
About this week’s Guest Blogger. Kaylie Chrismon is a Nutrition Grad Student at UNC-Greensboro with the goal of becoming a registered dietitian. She loves to cook and Kaylie writes her own blog here.