Like most holidays, Valentine’s Day is centered on food, food and more food. But that doesn’t mean you should dread it or deprive yourself of the holiday’s festivities. Instead, put a healthy weight-conscious twist on Valentine’s Day this year with these delicious pink and red food ideas. Breakfast Ideas…
- Smoothie: blend raspberries, strawberries and low-fat yogurt.
- Pink/red grapefruit half topped with a sprinkle of brown sugar.
- Oatmeal topped with dried cranberries or cherries arranged in a heart shape.
Appetizer and Side Ideas…
- Cole slaw made with red cabbage, red onions and apples.
- Tossed green salad with red bell peppers, dried cranberries, and grape tomatoes.
- Smoked salmon rollups: roll smoked salmon strips into a circle, creating a cup. Fill center with a dollop of fat-free Greek yogurt and sprinkle with some fresh or dried dill.
Lunch and Dinner Ideas…
- Open-faced almond butter sandwich: cut whole grain bread into a heart shapes, spread with almond butter and top with raspberry or strawberry fruit spread. Heart-shaped crackers can be substituted for the bread.
- Heart-shaped pizza: shape pizza dough into a heart or use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make individual pizzas. Spread with your favorite tomato pizza sauce, low fat cheese and veggies.
- Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan. For added fun, serve heart-shaped pasta available at specialty stores.
- Broiled, grilled, or baked salmon topped with tomato basil relish.
Sweets and Snack Ideas…
- Brown sugar-cinnamon popcorn: use Misto Sprayer to coat air-popped or fat-free microwave popcorn with olive oil. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, and toss to coat.
- Red grapes: freeze and thaw slightly before eating.
- Frozen fruit bars: freeze blended strawberries and bananas on Popsicle sticks.
- Pudding cups: mix fat-free vanilla pudding with strawberries and raspberries.
- Kabobs: place strawberries, cherries, raspberries and apples on skewers and serve with melted dark chocolate for dipping.
Now I’d like to hear from you… What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day food? Please share as a comment below.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, why not give the gift of health. Click here to find out how.
And don’t forget to treat yourself for Valentine’s Day. Jump Start your weight loss with my Free Self-Assessment and get personalized tools and tips. Click here to learn more.
Image courtesy of Luigi Diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
