Happy Valentine's week, friends! We hope you are ready for a wonderful weekend! As we all know, this Sunday is Valentine's Day and typically that means - lots of candy and sweets everywhere we look! Valentine's Day is such a perfect holiday to take extra time to show others how you love them! Let's also take some extra time to love our bodies and ourselves this Valentine's Day?
Right now, take some time to dwell on this verse
"You are altogether beautiful my love; there is no flaw in you" Song of Solomon 4:7
These are the Lord's thoughts about you! He has created you exactly as you are for a purpose. You are so beautiful and perfectly made in His sight! Take some time today to write down things you love about the way God made you. Now, go share this verse with a friend! Encourage your sweet friends today in their own beauty, inside and out. Valentines Day is the day of love! Let's be intentional about spreading love and blessings as much as we can.
Now we know many of you will be spending Valentine's Day with your families so we wanted to share a few of our favorite healthy Valentine's Day recipes with you all! We guarantee these will satisfy your sweet tooth just as well as that box of Russell Stover- but without compromising your nutrition goals! These are treats you can feel good about, because (in moderation of course!) they will not only make your taste buds happy but make your body happy as well.
If you DO have precious kiddos that are going to be receiving Valentine's bags from school, taking cards and usually expecting a small treat from Mom and Dad- this is the perfect opportunity to practice non-food rewards for your kids! Instead of loading them up with bags of candy, make Valentine's Day fun in other ways! Here are 5 ways to have the healthiest Valentine's Day with your sweetheart, family or even roommates for all you sweet college students!
1. Make a Valentine's celebration breakfast! Make some fun Strawberry Love Parfaits to start your day with a sweet, healthy breakfast that tastes like a treat! Take some time to say 5 reasons why you love each other as you eat your breakfast.
2. Celebrate with non-food items! If you're sending your kids to school with Valentines, try sending cards along with temporary tattoos, stickers, pencils or other fun little toys instead of candy. Be sure to emphasize that these are things they can enjoy over and over and not just once! If you're a college student, get together with some friends and make some Valentines together! Get crafty and make fun, homemade cards with markers, watercolors, etc.
3. Spread out the sweets! Naturally, we're all going to eat some sweet treats on Valentine's Day. However, all of these treats don't have to be eaten on this one day! Pick 1-2 of your top choices for today, and then put the rest away to enjoy in moderation for days to come. The longer you spread it out, the more times you get to enjoy the treats!
4. Try a new, healthy recipe! Below you will find several of our most favorite healthy and easy sweet treats! Try making these for you and your family, friends or significant other!
5. Celebrate with red foods! See how many delicious and nutritious red foods you can put into your diet that day! Maybe try strawberries on a spinach salad for lunch, our beet and red onion side dish for a romantic dinner (recipe below), Tomato Tulips as an appetizer (just cut a plus sign on the top of a cherry tomato, fill with cottage cheese, then use chives as the stems) or Share the Love rice krispie treats (recipe below)
Dark Chocolate Granola Bark
2 cups dark chocolate chips
1 cup Kroger Ancient Grain granola (or granola of your choice)
2 tsp. orange zest
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1/4 tsp sea salt
Line baking sheet with wax paper. Melt chocolate. Stir in granola, zest and cinnamon. Spread out onto baking sheet and top with cherries and salt. Chill for 30 mins or until firm. Enjoy!
Thank you Jess for sharing this amazing recipe with us!!
Strawberry Love Yogurt Parfait
1 large container of greek yogurt
1 container strawberries
Granola cereal (lower sugar)
Stevia drops or honey to taste
Take 1 cup of strawberries and blend in blender until smooth. Hullrest of the strawberries and cut them into slices. Mix the yogurt with the blended berries. Begin layering the Mini Trifles. Start with a layer of greek yogurt. Add a layer of strawberries. Next sprinkle granola on top of the strawberry layer. Repeat layers until the mini trifles are full. Garnish with strawberries and/or granola.
Roasted Carrots, Beets, and Red Onion Wedges
Serves 4; 1/2 cup per serving
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 2 medium beets (about 5 ounces each), peeled, cut into 1/2-inch wedges, and patted dry with paper towels
- 3 small carrots (about 2 ounces each), cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces (not baby carrots)
- 1 medium red onion (about 4 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch wedges
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil to keep it from getting stained. Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray.
- Put the beets, carrots, and onion wedges on the foil. Drizzle the oil and sprinkle the oregano and salt over the vegetables, stirring gently to coat. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer so they don’t touch.
- Roast for 15 minutes. Stir. Roast for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are just tender when pierced with a fork.
Cook’s Tip: Avoid getting beet stains on your hands by peeling the beets under cold running water.
Share the Love Healthier Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 6 cups Whole Grain Brown Rice Krispie Cereal (I actually found this at Target Kids had no clue!)
- 1 Cup Fresh sliced strawberries (blend or chop finely)
Directions:
In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add in marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add Brown Rice Krispie Cereal and stir until fully coated. Flatten the mixture on wax paper and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts or use your hands to shape the mixture into hearts. Top the hearts with fresh sliced strawberries and gently press down to seal them. (You could also mix the strawberries in with the marshmallows). Cool before serving.
Enjoy this weekend with your friends and family! We love you all!