A Day of Love & Chocolate

Posted in: Blog, You Are What You Eat by Emily on February 15, 2011 | No Comments

Today is a day dedicated to celebrating love which fortunately or unfortunately is also accompanied by fancy dinners, candy and a whole lotta chocolate to help steer us off our healthy eating track.  Here are a couple of helpful tips on how to indugle without the guilt:

• Home is Where the Heart is:  Instead of heading out to a restaurant for your romantic evening take the time to prepare your meal at home.  You’re more likely to make healthier choices if you choose to make a meal at home because you can see exactly what ingredients are going into it and therfore have the opportunity to make smarter choices.  Better yet prepare the meal together, that way you get the added bonus of bonding over the prep and sharing a meal you created together!

• Share your Food:  If you want true romance why not decide on a dish or two you can share, that way you’ll not only automatically instill portion control but you’ll also have the fun of sharing the dish with your loved one – remember that scene from ‘Lady and the Tramp’ – now that’s romantic!  

• Choose Dark Chocolate for your Sweetie and their Sweet Tooth:   Naturally occurring compounds in cocoa called flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals to support heart health.  The darker (and more bittersweet) the chocolate, the better it is for you.  (Milk chocolate has a lot less of these healthy compounds, and white chocolate has virtually none).  While you’re at it use some of that bittersweet chocolate to melt and drizzle over fresh fruit for a more healthy dessert with a sweet twist!

Making smarter choices even on the sweeter days of the year will help keep you and your fitness goals on track!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

For the Love of Health and Fitness,

Emily