Valentine’s Day is coming up which means it’s time for me to think about any special food I’m going to fix. We aren’t big Valentine’s Day people – never have been, but I do like to do something a little extra special when it comes to food. Now that we have a fun 2 1/2 year old, it makes me want to celebrate special days even more. And because we have a fun 2 1/2 year old I don’t have the time to be elaborate and cook much. Or truth be told, I’m not an elaborate person anyway, so fancy dinners just aren’t happening here.
Here are a few quick, easy, and simple things to fix on Valentine’s Day…
Strawberries + Cream
Who doesn’t love strawberries and cream? It’s sweet, it’s fresh, and it’s a low-calorie option for something special on Valentine’s Day. A dietitian’s favorite option! By using low-fat Cool Whip, you can make this dessert for 2 for under 100 calories.
Love Brownies
Also known as brownies from a box and a cookie cutter. Quick quick. I made my very favorite boxed brownies – which took all of 5 minutes – and after I pulled them out of the oven, I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out brownie hearts. It just looks cute and like I put effort into it. Which I did. Six minutes of effort.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
A Valentine’s Day favorite. Not only do I love chocolate covered strawberries, but they are really easy to make at home. With just a little bit of time, and a fair amount of melted chocolate everywhere, I can make something super sweet and romantic. The dietitian in me likes that I am getting some fruit in with my chocolate by going this route. Last year I did this and we enjoyed them after we put the little one to bed.
Vegetables
Veggies are always appropriate. They make for a great appetizer or snack food, depending on your plans. If you’re cooking a nice dinner at home, put some veggie cups out while you’re preparing. Your family can start by filling up on some healthy food before they get to the main dish. If you’re going out to dinner, try eating a veggie cup before you head out the door. It will curb your appetite and help you to eat less while you’re out.
I hope you and your family have a sweet day! And you can find more ideas from me here. What do you do for Valentine’s? Big dinner? Not much? I’d love to hear what you do!
I love all these ideas! Last year we had a play group at my house, and we did marshmallows dipped in chocolate…hmmm strawberries sounds like a healthier option, right? 🙂
That sounds very fun! Maybe a little healthier 🙂
Great ideas!! We have done chocolate covered strawberries for the last 12 years!!! Love them!!
That’s great! I used to think they were hard to do — not hard at all!