5 St Valentine's Day healthy recipes

5 St Valentine's Day healthy recipes

10 February 2017

With St Valentine’s Day just around the corner, here are few simple recipe ideas for you to enjoy with your loved one.

 

  1. A juicy story

How about getting your St Valentine’s Day celebrations off to a healthy start with a nutrient packed juice? Try an Acai berry based juice for its notable antioxidant qualities and pretty colour – perfect as a romantic gesture. Mix with bananas for a smoothie-style drink or summer berries for a berry-tastic start to the day.

  1. A very berry romance

Long-associated with romance, strawberries are a must-have for any valentine’s meal.  Whether it’s breakfast in bed or a decadent dessert you’re whipping up, strawberries are a must. Pop them on pancakes, dip them in your favourite yoghurt – or simply eat them as they are. Strawberries are top of the pops for a romantic (and healthy) valentine’s meal.  Not only do they speak of romance, but they’re a superfood too – what could be better?

  1. Aphrodisiac oysters

Heralded for their aphrodisiac qualities, Oysters take centre stage when it comes to the food of love. Oysters also pack a powerful nutritional punch, so you’ll be boosting your protein, iron, calcium and essential fatty acids intake, as well as your romantic life.

Many people eat Oysters raw; Jamie Oliver recommends eating fresh Oysters simply, with just a little seasoning of your choice.  It’s certainly a food that has the wow factor.

  1. Wildflower salad

Ever tried edible flowers? Woo the love of your life with a beautiful flower-decked salad accompaniment.  Borage, Marigolds and Nasturtiums are all well-known for their culinary properties, with many supermarkets now carrying ranges of these flowers to add to your cooking. Marigolds and Nasturtiums both add a peppery element, while borage has a cooler cucumber-like character.

Needless to say, you’re unlikely to find these flowers outside at this time of year, but if you do hope to find them outside of your local supermarket, then be extremely careful with your identification. 

  1. A darker shade of chocolate

Another food considered to have aphrodisiac qualities is chocolate, improving mood and boosting energy. The traditional gift for St Valentine’s Day, you can’t go wrong if you sidestep the more commercial brands and choose a good quality, high cocoa content chocolate instead. 

Like me, you might be quite happy eating a good quality chocolate just as it is, with no adornment (or scattering individually wrapped chocolates over a pillow for someone else to find and enjoy).

If you do want to cook a healthy, chocolate-inspired recipe; try the BBC Good Food’s chocolate sorbet. It does contain sugar, but it’s low-fat, and it doesn’t stint on flavour. Quick and easy to prepare, it’s a simple mixture of sugar, cocoa, dark chocolate and vanilla extract.  Make it the night before, so you can leave it for its required chilling time and have more time with your loved one.

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