Have you considered staying in for Valentine’s Day this year? You can make this holiday special for you and your loved one and still make nutritious choices that promote heart health by cooking your Valentine’s dinner at home!
Cooking more meals at home allows you to choose quality, nutrient-dense ingredients to make delicious, heart-healthy meals! Plus, cooking this meal is an activity that you can do together, so it provides another opportunity to spend quality time as a couple on this special day.
To get started, it’s important to know what to look for when you’re seeking heart-healthy ingredients. The Defense Commissary Agency’s dietitian, Deborah Harris, recommends striving to achieve the following dietary goals the American Heart Association recommends to promote optimal health:
- Fish (eat at least twice a week); especially fatty fish that contains omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, trout, herring and tuna
- Fruits, vegetables and legumes (beans)
- Whole-grain, high-fiber foods and fat-free and low-fat or 1% dairy products
- Skinless poultry and lean meats
Foods that offer benefits for heart health include: But taking a balanced approach is the most sustainable path, so making healthy choices doesn’t mean you need to deprive yourself, especially on a day that’s well known for its sweet treats! For instance, did you know that dark chocolate offers health benefits for the heart, when eaten in moderation? To make things easier for you, we’re showcasing some heart-healthy options that feature the ingredients mentioned above… you can make these on Valentine’s Day or any day of the year! Just click any option in the carousel below to view the associated recipe or meal solution on our website: (Looking for more inspiration? You can use our Nutrition Guide Program shelf labels at Your Commissary to help identify foods that have the nutritional attributes you’re seeking, such as “Low Sodium,” “Low Fat,” “Good Source of Fiber,” “No Sugar Added,” etc.) What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Will you be choosing heart-healthy options? Please let us know in the comments below!
Seafood
Seafood
Garlic
Garlic
Avocados
Avocados
Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate