Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! In the past, thoughts of flowers, chocolates and other gifts that appeal to my sense of sight, smell and taste, would have sent me to the bakery or searching for recipes filled with sugar, artificial ingredients and hydrogenated oils—not to mention empty calories and carbs.
Since discovering I have an allergy to artificial food dye that will leave me incapacitated for days, as well as a child who has allergies to milk, eggs, soy and corn—my fight for real food unaltered with chemicals has become a serious one.
If you share my love for Valentine’s Day (sweets and all), but would like a ToxicFree® alternative to the chemical-filled artificial flavors and dyes in most candy, here are a few ideas to try this year!
Valentine Heart Fruit Skewers
Make fruit skewers with your favorite fruits—many of which you can cut in the shape of a heart. Some great choices are cantaloupe, pineapple and strawberries. Did you know that strawberries are naturally heart shaped if you half long ways? Use a blueberry, grape or pomegranate seed at the end to hold the rest of the fruit in place.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
For those strawberry lovers out there, who can resist heavenly chocolate covered strawberries? A simple, beautiful treat that is both appealing visually, and to your taste buds!
- 8 ounces dark organic chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 pound large organic strawberries (about 20), washed and dried well
- 1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios or other nut of choice (optional)
- Place chocolate in glass microwavable bowl and microwave in 20-second increments until you can whisk chocolate together smoothly.
- One at a time, dip each strawberry in chocolate, twirling to coat; then sprinkle chocolate-covered portion with pistachios, if desired, and place on a glass dish.
- Chill chocolate-dipped strawberries at least 15 minutes to set chocolate. (Strawberries should not be stored in refrigerator longer than 1 hour as condensation drops may collect on the chocolate.)
Chocolate Banana Bites
- 2 large organic bananas
- ¼ cup of organic peanut butter or almond butter
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup of milk of choice.
- Strawberries, raspberries or cranberries as garnish (optional).
- Slice bananas into round wheels about ½- ¾ inch thick. Spread a dollop of your choice of peanut or almond butter on top of each wheel.
- In small bowl, combine the chocolate chips and milk. Microwave in 15 second increments until you can whisk them together. Make sure your consistency is dippable.
- If needed add a splash or more of milk.
- Using a fork, dip each banana wheel into the chocolate and place on glass dish. Then cover dish and place in freezer for 3-4 hours.
You can decorate by placing a strawberry heart on top of each one or sprinkling with dried cranberries or raspberries. Serve and enjoy this sweet, protein packed treat!
Valentine’s Day Flowers
Want to show someone you care with a beautiful, flowering, plant? Roses are usually the go-to flower on this holiday, but why not consider a plant that will last longer and absorb dangerous toxins in the home at the same time? NASA says household plants are a fantastic way of removing common cancer-causing chemicals found indoors. Here are two of my favorite “Valentine’s Plants.”
Sweet in Pink—The Orchid Dendrobium 
The Dendrobium makes an excellent Valentine’s flower in pink! It’s one of the easiest orchid varieties to grow, with typically a long bloom period, and absorbs common household toxins while promoting oxygen!
Exotic Valentine's Flower—The Anthurium 
Anthuriums make an exotic Valentine’s Flower! Its green heart-shaped leaves are topped by heart-shaped pink, red or white long-lasting blooms. It makes for a wonderful Valentine’s gift! The bonus is it’s a natural air purifier! It absorbs harmful, common household chemicals and indoor air pollution.
Why not spread some love and ToxicFree® awareness at the same time? Attach a cute ToxicFree® Valentine’s note to your plant or sweet treat! Check out a Valentine's Heart idea from Women’s Voices for the Earth for inspritation.
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