Celebrate a Happy & Healthy Valentine’s Day
Chocolate Dipped Fruit. Fresh berries, apples, bananas and mandarins drizzled in dark chocolate are a delicious way to say “I love you.” Look for high-quality antioxidant-rich chocolate (70% cacao or greater) from local chocolatiers, like Chocklot, Cococo and Coppeneur. Check out Making Nice in the Midwest’s step-by-step recipe.
Homemade Cookies. Skip the shop-bought sugary Valentine’s treats filled with food-colouring and artificial flavours. A quick search on Pinterest promises a host of amazing, healthy cookie recipes that use only whole, natural ingredients. Our favourites include these buckwheat shortbread hearts and Detoxinista’s marshmallow-free peanut butter and honey rice crispy treats.
Heart Shaped Everything. Purchase a set of heart shaped cookie cutters and use them on everything. Seriously, kids love cute (healthy!) food, so go crazy – from heart apple sandwiches and heart-shaped egg-n’-toasts to sugar-free mini-heart snack plates for the school party.
Tickled Pink – Naturally. If you’re planning on baking pink or red coloured treats for Valentine’s Day, opt for all-natural food colouring. You can either make your own with beet juice, beet powder, pomegranate juice or cranberries, or purchase all-natural dyes like TruColor – available online at How Sweet is That?
Tea for Two. Specialty teas make for a lovely guilt-free Valentine’s Day gift. Some of our favourite blends are available online or in-store at DavidsTea. For those who need a kick of caffeine, the Love Tea #7, with black tea, chocolate, strawberries and rose petals, is perfect. Or, treat the one you love to a soothing cup of caffeine-free Raspberry Cream Pie, made with rooibos, raspberries and white chocolate.
Bath Bliss. Other sugar-free presents – suitable for all ages – on Valentine’s Day are spa-inspired products. Local producer Rocky Mountain Soap Co. makes beautiful all-natural, toxin-free bubble baths, lotions, soaps and bath bombs. The Alberta based company even offers a special product-line for kids that includes a root-beer bubble bath and juicy cherry lip balm.
The Art of Conversation. Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating the love we share with family and friends. One of the best ways to connect with loved ones is through meaningful conversation. Table Topics Family Edition is an excellent gift to help get the kiddos chatting around the dinner table. We also adore these FREE printable conversation starters that focus on ‘the secret to raising kids to be kind.’
