Stacy Moretz, a dietitian in Corporate and Community Health, offers up some tips for Valentine’s Day to lavish your loved one with heart healthy gifts. These are great ways to really show that you love their heart.
Planning a romantic dinner?
Start the meal with a salad using heart-healthy fats such as avocado or an olive oil vinaigrette. Include fatty fish, such as mackerel, herring, or salmon, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, in your entrée. Pair your meal with a glass (5 oz.) of antioxidant-rich red wine or red grape juice.
Healthy gift giving
Give a delicious display with a bouquet of fruit. Fruits contain many healthy components, such as vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
Valentine’s Day treat
Include healthy ingredients into a traditional treat, such as oatmeal cookies with dried cherries or dried cranberries for a touch of festive color.
Chocolate
Indulge in this Valentine’s Day staple with a small portion of pure dark chocolate, which contains catechins (heart-healthy flavonoid compounds).
Get your heart pumping
Take a Valentine’s Day stroll with a loved one. Strengthen your and your partner’s hearts while spending quality time together.
Laugh
Hit the movies or snuggle up for a comedy. Some research suggests a good hearty laugh is in fact good for the heart. This could be due to the relief of stress, which can contribute to factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.
