With so much emphasis on love around Valentine’s Day, we’d like to suggest that you turn your love inward and think about some ways that you can love yourself and your body. Whether you are just starting out with a healthier lifestyle or you’ve been at it for a while now, you likely know that the journey has its ups and downs.
But no matter what life throws your way, you deserve to treat yourself well. Oftentimes, that means not being so hard on yourself. When you make a mistake, accept it, learn from it and move on. Don’t dwell or allow yourself to spiral out of control. You can always get back on track.
It’s time to give yourself some credit and show a little love to the body that has gotten you this far in your journey. To help you shift your focus toward loving your body and doing good for you, we’ve rounded up some fun tips for a healthy Valentine’s Day.
Show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day with these five healthy tips:
1. Crush your chocolate cravings.
While chocolates might be the quintessential Valentine’s Day treat, there is a way to get your chocolate fix without totally derailing your diet with a heart-shaped box of sugar-packed sweets. The Leaf Weight Loss Blog is filled with nutritious and delicious chocolate recipes, such as our Flourless Chocolate Raspberry Cake. You could also satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthful way with one of these seven healthy chocolate snack hacks! >
Nutrisystem offers a variety of chocolate treats that are both tasty and weight loss-friendly. We’re totally crushing on our Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcake. However, some of the other delicious possibilities include our Chocolaty Fudge Bar, Chocolate Flavored Pretzels or Chocolate Brownie Sundae.
2. Cook dinner at home.
Instead of making a reservation with your V-day date, why don’t you consider cooking a meal together at home? It can be romantic and fun to prepare an entrée and share it cozily at the dinner table. You can still light candles and even dress up if you want. Take a look at the recipe section on The Leaf for a wide range of meals that fit into your Nutrisystem program.
By cooking at home, you’ll save money, fat and calories. Many restaurants tend to use more oils, sugar and salt in their food preparation. This can cause a single meal to provide most or all of your total recommended daily calories. The fact is that you could make a much healthier version of the same meal at home.
3. Make wise choices.
Of course, if dining out is one of your favorite things about the holiday, there are ways to do it that won’t totally set you off track. For instance, you can plan ahead by researching restaurant menus online so that you’ll be able to make a smart choice. Look for veggie-based dishes or lean meats that are grilled or baked. Avoid fried foods and meals with creamy sauces.
Keep your portion sizes in check by splitting an entrée with your date or immediately boxing up half of it before you even start eating. You can find many other smart tips for dining out right here on The Leaf! Take a look at our Dining Out Guide so that a dinner out doesn’t derail your healthy eating plan.
4. Get your heart pumping.
If you want to show your heart some love this Valentine’s Day, then you should get it pumping with a fun activity that you enjoy. Whether it’s cycling, going for a jog, doing yoga or walking with a friend, choose something that you love to do so that it’s fun and rewarding.
If you’re paired up this holiday, you might consider trying out a partner exercise. Just do a quick internet search for a “couple’s workout” and you’ll discover many great ideas to strengthen both your body and relationship. Of course, if you’re rocking it single this V-day, you can still love yourself and your body by getting that heart rate up and improving your cardiovascular health.
5. Spread the love.
Taking care of your mind and spirit is incredibly important and something that you might be thinking about this Valentine’s Day. Why not share the love this February by making a date with a local volunteer organization? Donating your time and effort to serve those in need is the perfect way to give back to others. Whether it’s handing out meals at a soup kitchen, organizing shelves at a local food pantry or even taking shelter dogs for a walk, you’ll feel good about spreading love to others in the community—and you’ll make a difference in their lives, too.
