Valentine's Day -- The Healthy Way

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  It's a fun day to show family and friends how much you love them!  You don't have to fill the day with unhealthy candy and desserts; you can have a great Valentine's Day with healthy alternatives.

Healthy Valentine's Day snack ideas:

• Yogurt parfaits.  Make layers of granola, non-fat yogurt, and some yummy red berries.
• Chocolate covered strawberries.  Dip strawberries and/or raspberries in some melted dark chocolate.
• Heart shaped whole wheat sandwiches.  Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to shape whole wheat read.  Fill the heart shapes with peanut butter, red veggies & hummus or turkey and low-fat cheese.
• Trail mix:  Mix together pretzels, cheerios, almonds and some pink and red M&M's for a filling afternoon snack.

Don't forget to take some cute Valentine's for your child to take to schools.  Forget the candy and use fruit instead!  Or don't use food at all; you can help your child make some cute bookmarks that their classmates will love.

Giving fruit to your Valentine's can be extra special by adding a little card.  Below are some examples:

• Banana -- "I'm bananas about you!"
• Pear -- "You are pear'fect to me!"
• Apple -- "You are the apple of my eye!"
• Grapes -- "I like you bunches!"
• Orange - " 'Orange you great!"

Have a great Valentine's Day filled with healthy treats that you can eat in moderation.