The average American will spend $143.56 showing their honey some love this Valentine’s Day, according to Wallethub, with candy and wine topping the list of the most popular gifts.
Don’t get us wrong; we’re all for making your special someone, feel, well, special. But wouldn’t it be better to show how much you care with a gift that says, "I want to make sure you’re around for a long time?" These heart-healthy gifts and date ideas can help you do just that! Consider them healthy alternatives to the typical box of chocolates.
Start Valentine’s Day off right with breakfast in bed. Stay true to the spirit of the holiday by making a batch of heart-healthy double chocolate pancakes developed by Annessa Chumbley, a nutritionist and American Heart Association volunteer. What makes them so good for your ticker? The dark chocolate is a good source of heart-healthy antioxidants, and the fresh fruit topping is rich in inflammation-fighting flavonoids that may play a role in warding off heart disease. To make the meal even more festive, cook the pancake batter in a heart-shaped pancake ring. (Bonus: You can use them to cook eggs into the shape of a heart, too!)
Want to help someone you love fit in the recommended 10,000 steps in per day? Get them this simple pedometer from the American Heart Association. Its heart shape will remind them why it’s important to walk more and sit less.
Olive oil and a selection of vinegar
Treat the cook in your life with a basket of olive oils and vinegar, suggests Erin Morse, the chief clinical dietitian at UCLA Health. Make sure you get cold pressed, 100% extra virgin olive oil, she says, which is full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. And if only the very best olive oil will do, gift your loved one with Cobram Estate’s California Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It was named the World’s Healthiest Extra Virgin Olive Oil at the 2017 Health & Food Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards Competition for its ideal level of polyphenols and balanced fatty acid profile, two things that can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. To make the gift even more personal, pair the oil with a homemade infused vinegar. Peppered strawberry or ginger apple vinegar, anyone?
A healthy cooking class
Lucky for food lovers, you can find great cooking classes everywhere from big cities to cookware stores (like Sur La Table) to your local high school. You can bond while you’re learning how to make healthy—and tasty—dishes that will fend off high cholesterol and heart disease. It has relationship perks, too. “It’s such a fun way to get rid of technology for a little bit and focus on the relationship, ” Chumbley says.
A fitness class pass
For a gift that keeps on giving, consider a fitness class pass like Classpass. The pass allows your loved one to take the classes of their choice, whether they’re into weightlifting, spinning, Pilates, yoga, or all of those things! In addition to building strong muscles that ease the burden on the heart, exercise helps reduce stress. This helps make blood vessels more elastic and promotes heart health.
Aromatherapy diffuser & essential oil
Modern life can be stressful, but the Asakuki Aromatherapy Device can help your loved one relax while inhaling soothing scents like lavender ($14, amazon.com). The bonus? The multipurpose device also features seven different LED lights which help to create a low-lit zen environment, ideal for meditation and relaxation.
Basket of healthy snacks
Studies have shown that up to 70% of heart disease cases are preventable with the right food choices. With that in mind, putting together a basket of wholesome foods for your favorite Valentine only makes sense, Morse says. Things like almonds, walnuts, green tea, 70% dark chocolate, and fruits like apples and oranges have all been shown to be cardio-protective. ( Sending your love to someone in another state? Send a pre-made fruit basket from a company like Harry and David.
A couple’s journal
You may think you know everything there is to know about your significant other, but using a joint journal might uncover some fun surprises and help bring you closer. With the Our Q&A a Day journal, you’ll each be prompted to answer daily questions such as “Where would you like to travel with your partner?” Wondering how this benefits your Valentine's health? Writing down your thoughts is a good way to relieve stress that can be hard on your heart.
To help keep your beloved (and yourself) healthy long beyond Valentine’s Day, consider this gift set from the American Heart Association. The cookbook features nutritious recipes, while the fruit- and vegetable-donned cutting board serves as a reminder to eat plenty of produce to stay healthy.
Rx Healer
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