Business & Tech

Sweet and Frugal Tips to Make Your Valentine's Day at Home Special

Shaw's provides budget-friendly Valentine's Day ideas.

In celebration of and American Heart Month, Registered Dietitian for Supermarkets Jennifer Shea has created a list of romantic ideas to help you plan a special day for your Valentine, keeping your love, hearts and budgets in mind.  

  • Breakfast in Bed: Start the day off on the right foot with a heart-smart breakfast: oatmeal made with milk and splash of vanilla topped with sliced bananas and slivered almonds. Did you know the bananas, almonds and vanilla are love foods? It’s true! Certain aromas, food components and tastes may actually make us think of love and make us more likely to fall in love. Some additional aphrodisiac foods include: figs, chocolate, asparagus, spicy foods, garlic, radishes, seafood and oysters.
  • Table for Two: Skip the reservation, save money and have fun cooking a delicious heart-smart dinner at home together. What’s on the menu? Be creative and plan together using some foods from the list above. How about roasted salmon and garlicky asparagus with purple potatoes?
  • Fruit and Flora: Give your loved one a gift basket of fresh fruit or a beautiful house plant. Fresh fruit helps bring the sweetness of summer into chilly February. A house plant provides stress relief and positive thoughts for months to come.
  • Chocolate, the Ultimate Love Food: Try one of these dreamy dark chocolate desserts for your Valentine. contains heart-smart flavonoids that may help lower blood pressure and play a role in cardiovascular health, but just keep portions small:

o   Savor dark chocolate dipped strawberries, a classic romantic dessert that is quick and simple to make at home.

o   Sip spicy and sweet Mexican hot chocolate made with low-fat milk, dark chocolate chips, vanilla extract, chili powder, cinnamon and a bit of sugar.

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o   Indulge in light vanilla bean ice cream. Top with sliced strawberries and shaved dark chocolate.  Have two spoons for this one.

-Press release by Shaws Supermarket.

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