HEARTY ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUR LOVED ONES THIS VALENTINE’S DAY
When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of the heart, so cooking a heart healthy meal seems like a logical fit. Here are a few hearty alternatives to give your loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
For an entree, think fish it’s the richest source of heart-healthy omega 3 fats. Walnuts are also a good source of omega 3′s, try grinding them up to make a crispy crust the fish which can be sautéed in heart-healthy olive oil, or toast a few walnuts to bring out their flavor and toss into a green salad, or add a touch of walnut oil to your salad dressing.
Stimulate the visual sense with a phytonutrient-rich colorful salad that includes tomatoes, carrots, parsley, peppers, beets, purple onions along with avocado one of the richest sources of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Round out the meal with some ‘sweets for the sweet’ – try oven roasting a sweet potato or some winter squash with a bit of honey and fresh ginger until it’s tender and sweet as candy.
The squash is rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant. Dark chocolate has more beneficial polyphenols that milk chocolate but the health benefits of chocolate can be significantly diluted if the dessert is full of butter and cream. A square of delicious dark chocolate pairs nicely with a tart blood orange sorbet, or a drizzle of melted dark chocolate on fresh berries provides heart-healthy benefits from the chocolate, along with heart-healthy anthocyanins from the purple pigments in the blood oranges or the berries.
Issued on behalf of Herbalife
