Valentine Gifts

cooking
Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Gifts for the HeartRemember your friends and sweetheart on Valentine?s day with a gift for their heart. You will celebrate both Valentine?s Day and February as American Heart Month. The benefits received from giving something fitness or health related can be ongoing and plentiful.Small gifts are really big gifts when they are homemade. Our list below has many gift suggestions that can be bought or made from scratch along with big ones for bigger budgets. See below for fun recipes.This Valentine?s Day give a gift that truly symbolizes love or friendship. Show your sense of admiration by giving a gift that can help your loved ones feel great for an on-going period of time and that does more than just momentarily satisfy their sweet tooth. Make a lasting loving impression by surprising someone with:Small gift:

  • Basketful of jarred salsas tied with a bow
  • Basketful of flavored vinegars with a bow
  • Box of flavored herb teas with a mug (can get a photo mug)
  • Heart shaped basket of fruit
  • Red water bottle for walking/exercise
  • Exercise tee shirt (can get one with photo)
  • Certificate for a homemade meal(s)
  • Basket with flavored pasta and pasta sauce
  • Supplies to plant an herb garden or
  • Potted herbs tied with a bow
  • Offer to be a walk/hike companion on a weekly basis
  • Note of encouragement for a positive lifestyle change
  • Your favorite heart-healthy recipe (even better when it comes with a sample!)

Medium gift:

  • Subscription to a fitness magazine such as Fitness
  • Subscription to a healthy cooking magazine, such as Eating Well or Cooking Light
  • Healthy Cookbook - look for ones by Steve Raichlen, Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD, Jay Solomon; try Dean Ornish?s book Everyday Cooking With Dean Ornish
  • New spice rack with low sodium seasonings and heart healthy recipes
  • Gift certificate to a healthy restaurant
  • Gift certificate to sporting goods store

Large gift:

  • Session(s) with a personal trainer
  • Membership to a gym
  • Gift certificate for a massage or treatments at a day spa
  • Membership in a fruit of the month club

Valentine French Toast3 egg whites1/2 cup skim milk1 tsp vanilla2 pieces whole grain bread1 cup sliced strawberries1/4 cup reduced calorie syrupMix egg whites and skim milk in a small mixing bowl with a fork or whisk. Add vanilla. Lightly spray a large nonstick skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Dip whole wheat grain bread into egg batter on both sides. Brown both sides of the French toast. Top each slice of French toast with a half cup of sliced strawberries and 2 tablespoons of reduced calorie syrup. Serves 2.Valentine Berry Parfait2 cups chopped berries, fresh or frozen/thawed2 cups nonfat strawberry yogurtRed sprinkles (optional)Place berries in a medium-sized mixing bowl. In 4 parfait glasses, alternate layers of berries with the nonfat strawberry yogurt. Top with some red sprinkles. Chill until ready to serve.

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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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