By Jan Wasmuth, Registered Dietitian
Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it! Whether you’ll be celebrating with “that special someone,” enjoying time with friends, or even just spending the day with your spouse and kids, food is sure to be a part of your plans. Don’t worry… I’ve got you covered! Today we’ll talk about delicious, simple recipes you can make to enjoy some Valentine’s Day food, from breakfast to dessert and everything in between! Let’s get started…
–Breakfasts–
Getting the day off on the right foot starts with a Valentine’s breakfast. Whether your “special someone” is coming over for breakfast, you’re serving your wife breakfast in bed, or you want to make a fun breakfast for the kids, there are so many delicious options!
Strawberries and Cream French Toast
French toast is a classic, and this Strawberries and Cream French Toast by Creme De La Crumb puts a Valentine’s theme spin on it. You can choose your favorite thick-sliced or brioche bread (whole wheat, whole grain, or white). Your eggs and milk in the French toast batter add protein to make this breakfast more filling. You’ll also use sweet fresh strawberries to make the strawberry sauce (they’ll be cooked with a little flour, butter, and sugar). Who can pass up homemade whipped cream? It’s the final touch on these strawberries and cream French toast.
Heart Pancakes
Nothing says “Valentine’s Day” more than hearts!! Pancakes are a favorite of adults and kids alike, so these Heart Pancakes by Two Peas and Their Pod are great to make for anyone you love. These pancakes are made with nutrient-dense ingredients like whole wheat flour and Greek yogurt (don’t worry… they have brown sugar and maple syrup for sweetness too!) You can make these pancakes into a heart shape by either piping a heart with a pancake batter squeeze bottle or by using a heart-shaped metal cookie cutter. If you want your pancakes to be pink, you can add a few drops of red food coloring to your batter or toss some strawberries in a blender and add the puree to your batter. Top your pancakes with a drizzle of melted butter and fresh raspberries or strawberries, and serve with scrambled eggs for protein.
Valentine’s Day Egg in a Hole Toasts
If you’d prefer a savory breakfast on Valentine’s Day, these Valentine’s Day Egg in a Hole Toasts by Worn Slap Out are for you! All you need is a griddle or pan, heart-shaped medal cookie cutter, eggs, butter, and whatever bread you prefer (whole wheat, whole grain, white, sourdough, etc.)… and a little salt & pepper. The heart in the center of the toast is adorable! As a plus, this breakfast is balanced with carbohydrate (bread), protein (egg), and fat (butter). Pair your egg in a hole toast with a side of fresh fruit (strawberries or raspberries are perfect for Valentin’e Day).
Valentine’s Day Baked Donuts with Candy Melt Icing
You don’t need to get up early to drive to a bakery in order to enjoy a festive donut on Valentine’s Day morning. These Valentine’s Day Donuts Recipe with Candy Melt Icing by DIY Cand are so cute and perfect to pair with a mug of milk and some berries. Baking your donuts creates a delightful texture and saves the mess of frying them, so you can enjoy breakfast without lots of clean-up. Plus, you can just dip the donuts in candy melts for a convenient and sweet “icing.” You can have help too… even kids can join in the fun of adding sprinkles after the donuts are frosted.
Strawberry Protein Smoothie
Maybe you don’t want a sit-down breakfast on Valentine’s Day morning. Perhaps you have a party or special dinner to get ready for and you need a grab-and-go breakfast that’s packed with nutrients to keep you energized. If so, this Strawberry Protein Smoothie from Feel Good Foodie is perfect. You’ll just need a few simple nutrient-packed ingredients, including milk of your choice, frozen or fresh strawberries, a frozen banana, Greek yogurt (plain, vanilla, or strawberry), and protein powder. You can add a dollop of nut butter for some nourishing fats, too (peanut butter, cashew butter, or almond butter). The pink color of this smoothie is irresistible on February 14th!
-Lunches/Dinners-
Lunchtime will roll around on Valentine’s Day and it’s time to nourish your body again with festive foods. Then, it’s time for that special dinner. Valentine’s dinner, whether for your family or your “special someone,” pick a special meal that will be especially delicious.
Turkey-Cranberry Wrap
Wraps are a convenient, hand-held meal. This Turkey-Cranberry Wrap by Eating Well makes a great Valentine’s Day wrap… the cranberries add a splash of red. The recipe calls for cranberry sauce, but you can use canned cranberry sauce or you can boil and mash fresh cranberries. This wrap is delicious warm or cold. This wrap is balanced with a tortilla for carbs, turkey for protein, and cream cheese for fat. Add a side of veggies for fiber and color.
Stuffed Red Bell Peppers
These Stuffed Bell Peppers by Dinner at the Zoo are a cozy dish for a chilly February evening. Choose red bell peppers for a Valentine’s Day theme. These peppers are a meal inside a pepper… rice, ground meat, cheese, onions, tomato sauce, seasonings, etc. They’re customizable too; you can choose ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Cheese ideas are shredded cheddar, Mexican blend, Colby-jack, or mozzarella. You can opt for any rice you prefer, like brown rice, wild rice, or white rice. If you want to prep the day before, you can wash and core your bell peppers and have them in the fridge ready to stuff. A side of roasted broccoli is delicious with these stuffed peppers.
Heart Shaped Pizza
What’s more family-friendly than pizza (and let’s be honest, it’s still delicious as an adult hanging out with friends or that “special someone”)… so this Heart Shaped Pizza by Lil’ Luna is a wonderful meal for Valentine’s Day. It’s made with simple ingredients and comes together in just 30 minutes, which is awesome when you have hungry tummies waiting. It’s a fun activity to make pizzas with your family or “special someone.” Plus, this recipe is totally customizable! You can make the crust thick or thin, and top it with anything you desire (like red bell pepper, roasted broccoli, pepperoni, shredded chicken, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, etc). A side salad with raspberry vinaigrette goes perfectly with this pizza.
Spaghetti with Homemade Meat Sauce
Pasta has a reputation for being romantic, and red sauce makes out ideal for Valentine’s Day. This Easy Weekday Spaghetti by Inspired Taste is ready in just 45 minutes with rich, homemade taste. You can even make the sauce ahead and just warm it up while you’re boiling the pasta. You can use any ground meat you prefer in the sauce, such as beef, turkey, lamb, or chicken. The sauce is accented with oregano, onion, garlic, basil, etc. for a flavorful experience. You can serve the pasta over whatever spaghetti noodles you prefer (whole wheat, semolina, angel hair, etc). This is another meal that pairs well with a side salad.
Fillet Mignon
Steak is a classic Valentine’s Day food. Making steak doesn’t have to be intimidating. This Perfect Fillet Mignon by Savory Nothings is made with just a handful of simple ingredients (fillet steaks, rosemary, garlic, salt & pepper, butter, and oil). You’ll sear the steaks on a skillet first, then finish them in the oven or air fryer. Pair your steaks with these Easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Crème Del La Crumb and Easy Oven Roasted Carrots by Spend with Pennies.
Salmon with Tangy Raspberry Sauce
This Salmon with Tangy Raspberry Sauce by Taste of Home is elegant yet simple at the same time. The raspberry sauce adds a unique flavor profile that’s sure to please (and gives the essence of Valentine’s Day with its festive red color). A touch of honey, salt, and pepper perfectly complement the tang of the raspberries. Serve with Parmesan Roasted Asparagus by I Wash You Dry over a bed of wild rice.
-Snacks-
A snack is important to keep your energy level up while you go about your February 14th activities. These Valentine’s Day snacks will keep you in the spirit and get you through the afternoon.
Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Bites
If you want an adorable, kid-friendly snack on Valentine’s Day, these Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Bites by Healthy Family Project are for you. All you need is a heart-shaped silicon mold or ice cube tray, strawberries, and yogurt. Choose your favorite Greek yogurt to give this snack some protein. Plain yogurt sweetened with honey works, or opt for vanilla yogurt. These little treats are not only cute… they’ve got protein, fiber, and antioxidants too!
Red Velvet Energy Bites
These Red Velvet Energy Bites by Namely Marley are nutrient-dense gems that taste great! They contain wholesome ingredients like rolled oats, medjool dates, almond butter, chocolate protein powder, coconut flakes, and ground flax seeds. The white chocolate chips add a perfect sweet note and make these energy bites reminiscent of red velvet cake. To achieve the red color, you can use hibiscus powder, beet powder, or traditional red food coloring. These energy balls are filling and delicious to power you through the afternoon.
Strawberry Valentine’s Day Skewers
Fruit is great as a snack, and these festive Strawberry Valentine’s Day Skewers by Healthy Family Project are no exception. All you need are strawberries and blueberries, but feel free to add other fruits you enjoy too (like raspberries, diced pineapple, etc). Kids can help assemble these skewers too! Serve the skewers with a handful of mixed nuts or a cheese stick for a balanced snack.
Berry Heart Parfaits
Greek yogurt is an awesome snack, packed with protein and gut-healthy probiotics. These Berry Heart Parfaits by Weelicious require just 4 ingredients: plain Greek yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, and strawberry preserves. You’ll learn a simple trick for cutting strawberries to look like hearts in include in your parfait. You can top your parfait with a sprinkle of whole grain granola for fiber and extra energy.
-Desserts-
We can’t forget dessert recipes for Valentine’s Day… because that’s a part of the day you’re probably really looking forward to with your loved ones. Valentine’s Day-themed desserts are beautiful and tasty. You’ve nourished yourself with many flavorful nutrient-dense foods, and not its time for a fun treat!
Heart Cookies
These Heart Cookies by Delish are beautiful and tasty. They’re also great for a Valentin’e Day activity… have a cookie-decorating contest (the winner gets the first cookie, of course)! The homemade buttercream frosting is rich and smooth. You can top these cookies with Valentine’s sprinkles or even write cute messages on them with cookie writing icing.
Raspberry No Bake Cheesecake
Cheesecake is an elegant dessert for Valentine’s Day and this Raspberry No Bake Cheesecake by Mom on Time Out makes homemade cheesecake so much easier. The recipe gives you the steps to create your cheesecake from scratch, but it also offers hacks to make it a simpler process if you choose (a pre-made graham cracker crust and store bought whipped topping. The raspberry swirl not only looks gorgeous, it also adds a tangy sweet flavor. Garnish the cheesecake with fresh raspberries.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
These Chocolate Covered Strawberries by Tastes Better from Scratch are the perfect addition to your Valentine’s Day celebration. Even if you don’t have a double broiler, you can just melt the chocolate in the microwave. You can use milk chocolate, white chocolate, or dark chocolate. You can also sprinkle your chocolate covered strawberries with toppings like graham cracker crumbs, Valentine’s sprinkles, crushed Oreos, coconut flakes, or crushed nuts.
Valentine Puppy Chow
What’s crunchy, sweet, peanut buttery, and chocolatey? This Valentine Puppy Chow by Kitchen Fun with my Three Sons! This time of year, you can find Valentine M&M’s that are red, white, and pink. They are perfect for this puppy chow! You’ll just need a few other ingredients, including Chex cereal, creamy peanut butter, milk chocolate chips, butter, vanilla, and whatever Valentine’s-themed sprinkled you’d like. Munch on this treat while watching a romantic movie or sharing some time with your “special someone” or loved ones.
Summary
Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, but with these recipes, you’re bound to be prepared to enjoy some delicious foods, nourishing snacks, and tasty desserts this February. While enjoying the food, don’t forget to savor the sweet fellowship of your loved ones, as well! Now, let’s get cooking!
