When I was younger, we usually got one or two treats at most on Valentine’s Day. In the morning, we had a special breakfast of heart-shaped Jell-O. Since it was a once-a-year treat we were always very excited about digging into the red jiggling hearts.
Later that day, we each received a small heart-shaped box of assorted chocolates, usually featuring a fun cartoon character on the front.
Times have changed a lot since then and while I still prefer a minimalist approach to the day, there’s not much I can do about the huge packages of candy my boys bring home from school.
Valentine’s Day has become almost like a second Halloween for many, and every cute paper Valentine that is exchanged at school now also includes chocolate, lollipops or other treats.
So what’s a parent with a desire for healthy Valentine’s Day snacks to do? Get creative of course!
February is also Heart Health Month and one of the best ways to ensure a healthy heart is by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. That’s why, instead of Jell-O this year, I’ll be feeding my boys these adorable Fruit Pops for breakfast!
Not only are they delicious and nutritious, they provide a boost of energy to help ensure my kids are ready to power through their day.
Just stick a skewer into a strawberry or slice of banana, dip it in your children’s favourite natural yoghurt and then roll the pop in granola! While I store the pops in the refrigerator until serving, I’m sure they would be delicious frozen as well.
And for a sweet yet satisfying after-school snack, Chocolate Raspberry Drops are always a favourite. Simply pop a chocolate chip into a raspberry and serve!
The berries are full of antioxidants and are also a source of potassium, a mineral essential to heart health. While white chocolate chips stand out more inside the bright red raspberries, I prefer to use a high quality dark chocolate for even more antioxidant benefits!
While a healthy diet is all that’s needed for the moment to ensure my boys’ heart health, I often feel that, as an adult, I need to be more proactive. After all, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for Canadian women, second only to cancer.
That’s why the heart health supplements from Orange Naturals are a must in my health and wellness routine.
My personal favourite product is the Omega-3 Fish Oil Softgel supplement. While I am a huge fan of seafood, living in a landlocked province means that finding good quality fish isn’t always easy. That’s why I’ve always had Omega-3 supplements in the house both for my boys and myself.
Initially I did so because I knew that Omega-3 was essential to healthy brain development. I was surprised to learn the supplement is also an important element of heart health!
It’s easy to get swept up in the sugar-fuelled fun of a holiday like Valentine’s Day, but with a little planning you can ensure that your whole family has fun while still being heart healthy.
Healthy Valentine’s Day snacks can be as easy as cutting fruits and vegetables into heart shapes with cookie cutters or as extravagant as preparing a fancy, yet healthy, gourmet dinner for two.
And with supplements and tinctures from Orange Naturals, you’ll be able to maximize your heart health all year long!
Disclosure: I am part of the Orange Naturals Mom Ambassador Program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
oh these look so yummy!!
They look absolutely delicious!!!
I love what you done with the raspberry’s, I never thought of doing that myself!! I would to try the Onatural products!!
Great ideas! Looks delicious!
Treats for the whole family. Yummy
Fabulous treat! Love it
Those fruit pops look absolutely yummy!
even adults would like these treats
This looks good like try this for my grandkids
Yum, yum and yum!