All ready for Chocolate Day?...err...I mean Valentine's Day....

So likely you've just gotten completely rid of the Holiday 'treats' lining your pantry. As the last chocolate was disposed of (whether via the garbage or into your belly) you breathed a sigh of relief! Good riddance, right? Well, gasp! Another calorie-laden, grocery-store-aisle stealing sweet holiday is just around the corner - and it just happens to be next week.

Now, I'll be honest, I'm not a big Valentine's Day girl myself. Romance is something that I'd prefer to have on 'random' days as opposed to the day that's 'designated' to be filled of romance. That being said, no doubt, I'll receive chocolate truffles, or a bottle of wine - or some sort of gluten-free cake-y thing - 'just because' it's Valentine's Day. For some reason, people associate love, holidays and giving with sugar.

I'm not a Valentine's Day scrooge....but you'll hear the same thing from me at every holiday....just because Hallmark tells us that chocolate = romance (or a celebration requires cake) doesn't mean that it's true. Between Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Hallowe'en and Thanksgiving - not to mention birthdays everywhere you look - if you make bad nutrition choices using the excuse that you're doing it because 'it's a holiday' then you're pretty much giving yourself free reign to eat piles of crap the whole year long! Don't do it. You work too hard the other days of the year to have these major lapses in concentration!

But then, you ask, what am I supposed to give my loved one if I can't buy them Valentine's chocolates or take them out for an all-indulgence filled dinner? If you do decide to partake in Valentine's Day this year, let's try to give the people we love the gift of not sabotaging their nutrition plan! As we saw over the course of the December holidays, I showcased many other healthy gift options to give to the people you love. Check out these past blog posts for ideas:
Making their kitchen awesomer!
Gift Giving 101
Relaxation
A Good Read
Amazing (and calorie free) tea

And if that doesn't do it for you and you want to make up a special dinner, there is no reason to sacrifice the flavour and feeling of indulgence for nutrition sake - just make healthier options! Pick a nice cut of meat, roast some flavourful vegetables, make a gourmet salad and you're all set! For dessert try out the too-good-to-be-true brownies, or maybe the dark chocolate brandy cherry crepes, the fitness-friendly creme brule or the 3-minute flourless chocolate cake and your meal is complete! 

One more note....February 15th when all of the chocolate is on sale? If you wouldn't normally buy it, don't be tempted to buy it because it's 50% off.....is the $3 you save really worth the temptation of having to avoid it every time you see it in the cupboard? Or the hours you'll spend in the gym attempting to undo the evil doings of the half-priced chocolate? Doubtful.