A sweet Valentine’s Day without so many sweets

Silly family picture with props for Valentine's day

Multi-Ethnic family doing photobooth during Valentine's dayPeople often think of dietitians as the food police and that we are going to tell you not to eat sweets. Well, this dietitian is here to say that you can incorporate some sweets into your life, but it should (as everything) be in moderation. Holidays are no exception. Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and while chocolate or little candy hearts with fun little messages are an easy ‘go-to’ gift, here are some ideas for non-candy gifts.

For the kids:

  • Slime. As a mother I am here to tell you that this… is…BIG! Kids LOVE slime. Better yet, get them the supplies to make their own slime. Click here for homemade slime projects.
  • Stickers. Depending on the age of your child, this may or may not be good, but younger children LOVE stickers.
  • Play-doh or art supplies. Not quite up there with slime, but pretty close.
  • Toys. You know what’s popular or your child’s favorite at the moment.
  • Temporary tattoos

Looking for more non-candy ideas, click here.

For an adult:

  • Homemade dark chocolate dipped strawberries. Okay…yeah, yeah…chocolate is technically candy, but I did say that life is all about moderation, right? Also, dark chocolate is often lower in sugar and fat than milk chocolate. Bonus, it’s high in antioxidants. Plus, strawberries pack a vitamin C punch and with the flu going around, that can’t hurt!
  • A homemade, heart-felt card. Yes, I am a cheesy female and I would TOTALLY love this.
  • Homemade meal consisting of their favorite foods.
  • Jewelry. ALWAYS a good idea…but can be costly.
  • A framed photo.

Remember a little bit of sweets are fine, but try not to go overboard. Let yourself have a little candy and don’t feel guilty about it. And if you do go overboard, just get back on track the next day. Life is about balance. For more ideas, click here.

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Susan Wilson, R.D.

Susan Wilson is a registered dietitian with UofL Physicians – Pediatric Gastroenterology. She received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the University of Kentucky, and her dietetic practicum rotations through Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa. She is currently working on completing her master’s in public health promotion. She has served on the Kentucky Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics board of directors for the past two years. Wilson’s daughter has a nut and peanut allergy. This firsthand knowledge helps her as she works with her patients with food allergies, intolerance or any other condition where a restrictive diet is required. When she has any downtime, she enjoys jogging, working in her garden, and traveling to new places.

All posts by Susan Wilson, R.D.
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