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Meal ideas for couples to adopt healthy eating on Valentine’s Day.
Ahh, Valentine’s Day. A celebration of love, and a time for couples to show a little more appreciation for one another than they do on a daily basis. It is also a time for individuals to show appreciation to their tummies as well, feeding them with delicious appetisers, scrumptious entrées, as well as indulgent desserts.
For that reason, here are a few easy-to-prepare healthy meal options which not only help to keep your waistline in check, but enables you to spend a little extra on getting your partner that very special gift. Cue music to “Love Is In The Air” by John Paul Young.
Four-Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
You can never go wrong with cheese. Unless you’re lactose intolerant. But if you’re not, and love cheese as much as we do, then this appetiser is the perfect, gooey way to start your Valentine’s Day meal. More importantly, it is packed with healthy goodness that comes with the inclusion of sun-dried tomatoes and spinach as part of its stuffing.
Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant that can aid in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, tomatoes are also a rich source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K. Spinach, similarly, is a good source of vitamin C and K, and folate, apart from manganese, magnesium, iron and vitamin B2. If you’re looking to cut the calories on this one, opt for tomatoes that are not packed in oil, and part-skim cheese. Oh, and did we forget to mention that mushrooms are an aphrodisiac? Lap them all up, baby!
Pomegranate Duck
Rich in flavour, this entrée is best prepared using duck breast, which is browned and roasted, and then topped with a pomegranate sauce that boasts not only a unique flavour palate, but provides a myriad of health benefits as well. This includes being a rich source of antioxidants and vitamin C, aiding with digestion, serving as an anti-inflammatory agent and preventing heart disease, prostate cancer and arthritis.
Additionally, pomegranate can aid in reducing oxidative stress, which is responsible for sperm dysfunction and decreased fertility in women. And at less than 300 calories per serving, feel free to indulge in that extra serving of dessert, guilt-free. Let’s just say this entrée is gonna let you have a quacking good time.
Steak with Asparagus and Cauliflower Rice
As for the main course, there’s no better way to treat your tummies right besides indulging in a good ol’ steak meal. Ask any man and he’ll tell you the same. Or woman, for that matter. Because try as you may ladies, deep down you know you’d take a steak over a salad any day of the week. And why shouldn’t you, especially on Valentine’s Day? Opt to pair your steak with cauliflower rice and asparagus, which are both healthy, yet delicious compliments to the meat juices oozing out from your steak.
Cauliflower is rich in fibre and B-vitamins, and is a good source of antioxidants and phytonutrients which can help protect your body against cancer. Asparagus, comparatively, is a nutrient-dense vegetable that is a good source of fibre, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K, and chromium, a mineral responsible for the transportation of glucose from the bloodstream into cells. This enables proper blood sugar level regulation. So, chomp away, lovebirds!
Fruit Platter with Chocolate Fondue
Of course, the perfect Valentine’s Day meal would not be complete without a little chocolate. And the best way to savour the delicious goodness of chocolate would be to forego the pre-packaged box of treats, and opt for a fondue of dark, rich chocolate sauce instead.
Dark chocolate, which is a rich source of antioxidants, can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and also improve brain function. Drench a platter of your favourite fruits in fondue and you’ve got yourself the perfect cap to a sumptuous Valentine’s Day meal. And don’t forget strawberries, the numero uno of aphrodisiacs (even Aphrodite swears by them).
Give these options a try today, with the assurance that you’ll enjoy every morsel without having to worry about taking hits in the waistline or pockets. If you’re big on eating healthy on the cheap, check out our list of pocket-friendly selections that you can use all-year round. Remember, a couple that eats healthy together, stays together. Oh, and our sincerest apologies if we’ve got you salivating at the thought of these tasty delights, we totally did that on purpose. Happy Valentine’s Day!
