This is a guest blog by Kaylie Chrismon
Valentine’s Day Healthy Food Gift Guide – part 2
Make this Valentine’s Day the best and healthiest yet! Valentine’s Day isn’t always about chocolate. Even more, some people don’t like chocolate or are trying to hold strong to their New Year’s Resolutions! With this Valentine’s Day Healthy Food Gift Guide – part 2, you can make it easy for them by giving some delicious and nutritious gifts, like fruit or whole-wheat muffins. Don’t forget to make it festive with some pretty wrapping or a bow!
For more great ideas, take a look at the Valentine’s Day Healthy Food Gift Guide part 1 blog, posted just a few days ago.
1. Scone Mix
Too busy to make something? No problem! Pick up a scone mix at a local boutique or a grocery store. If you can find a whole-wheat mix, that’s even better! Whole-wheat products have a lot of fiber and help to meet daily grain needs. To make these more festive for Valentine’s Day, suggest that the gift receiver add some raspberries or chopped strawberries when they make them!
Make it a full gift: pair this scone mix with a pink or red pot holder!
2. Red Fruit Basket
Instead of so much chocolate and sweets, don’t forget about the “sweets” of nature! Pomegranates, red apples, and red pears are some Valentine’s Day-colored fruits that are perfect for a basket. For more color variety, add oranges and green apples!
Make it a full gift: place the fruits in a beautiful basket that can be used again around the house.
3. Heart Healthy Trail Mix
Trail mix is a great snack to have for car trips and at the office. It is also a fun addition to a kid’s lunchbox! Combine almonds, cashews, dried cranberries, and dried goji berries for a Valentine’s Day-inspired trail mix.
Make it a full gift: pair this with a water bottle to give to an “outdoorsy” loved one in your life.
4. Strawberry Muffins
Baked goods are a fun way to spend time with the family and make a gift for someone. Bake with your kids some whole-grain muffins made with little sugar, Greek yogurt, and sprinkled with strawberries!
Strawberry Oat Muffin Recipe
Adapted slightly from Simmworks Family
2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
¼ cup sugar + extra for sprinkling
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
2 eggs
2 cups strawberries, diced
Juice of 1 clementine
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Combine oats, sugar, baking powder and soda in a food processor. Process until well blended and oats are finely grounded.
- Combine yogurt, eggs, strawberries, clementine juice, and oat mixture until just combined.
- Scoop muffin batter into a greased muffin tin, sprinkle sugar on top, and bake for 10-13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Make it a full gift: place these muffins in a festive tin and pair with a heart-shaped cookie cutter! Remember, cookie cutters can be used on fruits and vegetables, too!
5. Valentine’s Day Balsamic Vinegars
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting bars are popping up in many cities these days. Flavored vinegar is an easy way to add a kick to salads or sauces. Try strawberry balsamic vinegar that can be added to mixed berry and greens salads or chocolate balsamic vinegar that can be added to a pork or beef marinade.
Make it a full gift: pair this with a pastry brush for rubbing sauce onto meat!
What will you choose from this Valentine’s Day Healthy Food Gift Guide – part 2?
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.