EAT HEALTHY AS A COUPLE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY
Valentine’s Day is an occasion that is dedicated to celebrate love. It is a day for couples to show extra appreciation for one another beyond regular courtship or matrimony. Through this show of love, couples are inclined to indulge in delectable appetisers, entrées and desserts during a special meal together. Here are a few easy-to-prepare meal options that are healthy and cost-effective, enabling you to spend more on a special gift for your partner instead.
Rainbow Spring Rolls
This rainbow-like appetiser consists of vegetables that has different colour, texture, taste and healthy benefits. Vegetables that are part of the spring rolls are radishes, red cabbage, avocado, red beet, green onions and basil. Radishes keeps your blood pressure in check and provide a boost to your immune system. On the other hand, red cabbage is packed with minerals and vitamins like folate (which is crucial during pregnancy), and helps with the production of red blood cells. Avocados are loaded with mono-unsaturated fatty acids and assist in bring down the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride.
The vibrant red beet aids in getting better blood flow in your body and lowering blood pressure. Green onions are a great source of vitamins, while basil has anti-inflammatory properties, builds liver function and helps in detoxifying the body. This colourful appetiser is best eaten with almond butter, which is another excellent source of mono-unsaturated fats.
Roasted Vegetables with Balsamic Glaze
When making this dish, which can be either served as an entrée or side dish, the main ingredients needed are pumpkin, zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers. All these vegetables offer a variety of health benefits and unique tastes to your palate. By roasting these vegetables, the flavours and nutrition value can be maintained, and the balsamic glaze adds a sweet and tangy taste to the dish.
Pumpkin has an abundant of antioxidants and vitamins that can prevent you from the risk of chronic diseases and offer your body with an immunity boost. Zucchini contains folate, fiber, potassium, as well as vitamins C and A. Eggplant is not only excellent for your bones, but it is also loaded with vitamins and minerals which can stop anaemia and improve brain function. Lastly, bell peppers are a great source of vitamins, improve eye health and decrease your risk of being diagnosed with chronic diseases.
Salmon with Mango and Kiwi Accompaniment
Salmon is a fatty fish that is a great source of protein to help you stay full longer. It is also rich in Omega-3, which keeps your heart’s health in check and helps in lowering blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
The first step to prepare this dish is to soak the fish in a marinade of olive oil (also heart-healthy), honey and soy sauce before placing it on the grill. The best accompaniment for this dish is a relish made of kiwis and mangoes. They both compliment extremely well with the fatty fish, making it a truly delectable Valentine’s Day main course meal.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Greek Yoghurt Tiramisu
Chocolate and strawberries are synonymous to Valentine’s Day. Combining them as part of a tiramisu dessert that also has Greek yogurt is a delicious and healthy treat to end the full-course meal. In fact, it is so easy to whip this treat together, which makes it an idealhomemade dessert for your loved one. Strawberries guard you against heart disease, bring up the levels of good cholesterol, and has vitamins and antioxidants which decrease the risks of chronic diseases such as cancer.
On the other hand, dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants, improves blood circulation and lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease, and makes the brain function perform better. Greek yogurt contains a healthy amount of calcium, protein, iodine and potassium. If that is not all, it is also an excellent source of good bacteria, which maintains a healthy stomach.
Give these meal options a try today as you can freely enjoy each one without jeopardising your diet or worry about overspending. Preparing them together is also a great activity to bring you closer to your partner and further strengthen the love bond between you both.
