5 Ways to Stay Healthy this Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, resist the urge to simply buy your sweetheart a box of candy and show her you really care by doing something that supports a healthy lifestyle instead.

• Set the mood – Whether ordering take-out or cooking your own meal from scratch, take the time to create a romantic atmosphere for dinner. Put aside the cell phone, turn off the TV, set the table, maybe even bring out the good china and linens, light some candles, and linger over dinner with a glass of red wine. Give each other the gift of time. Not only will you enjoy your food more but you might just enjoy the company too!
• Massage for two – Instead of getting gouged at a prefix “dinner for two”, surprise your Valentine to a couple’s massage. You will both reap the benefits of this healing treatment and enjoy the time spent relaxing together.
• $20 Challenge – Looking to save money this year? Challenge your loved one to a Valentine’s Day “cook off.” Each person is allotted $20 to spend at the grocery store (choose whatever denomination works for you but the less money you spend the more creative you must be and the more fun the challenge will become). You then have an hour to prepare each other a lovely meal to enjoy together. This challenge takes a little planning but if time allows can become a fun tradition for the entire family.
• Don’t stop at a dozen – Rather than give into tradition with a dozen long stemmed roses, surprise your Valentine with an entire rosebush. This gift can be enjoyed for years to come and will encourage your honey to partake in the healthful act of gardening. If you don’t have a green thumb, try a culinary plant like a rosemary bush, which can sit on your windowsill and be used in your cooking.
• Go cacao – If you really must do the chocolate thing make sure to buy good quality dark chocolate that is at least 60 percent cacao. Cacao is the part of chocolate that is loaded with heart healthy flavonoids. You can also buy raw cacao powder and make some guilt-free but tantalizingly seductive hot chocolate. To learn more about the potential benefits of chocolate go here.