This Valentine’s Day, add red—the color of love—to your special someone’s meals. After all, red is the color of passion, romance, and excitement. Not only will your “make it red” addition further ignite your chemistry, it will fire-up your body’s defenses against cardiovascular disease, oxidative stress, inflammation, and prostate cancer, among other things. So—bring it on baby with these easy, healthy, and tantalizing red additions!
5 Ways to Make it Red this Valentine’s Day
- Fire-roasted eggs and spinach: Spice up your honeybee’s eggs! Simply scramble your eggs, add fire-roasted diced tomatoes and leafy green spinach. Place atop a corn tortilla for extra Southwestern flair, serve, and watch your love’s eyes sparkle in surprise! The simple addition of fire-roasted tomatoes will turn a traditional morning meal into something just that much more special.
- Salsafied black beans: In the mood for a complete snack? Add ½ cup of salsa to a ½ cup of black beans to pack a good punch of flavor, antioxidants, protein, and fiber. The protein and complex carb combo here from the beans will also leave your loved one feeling happy, as feel-good neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, will be triggered. And we all know, the happier our special someone is, the happier we are as well. Bring on the happiness!
- Dressed-up crackers: For a healthy appetizer or snack, place a dollop of low-fat ricotta on whole-grain crackers, such as tasty Mary’s Gone Crackers or Ak Mak Crackers, then top with tomato paste and finally, add a basil leaf for the final touch. Looks so fancy, but is so easy! Your loved one will be charmed by the delightful presentation.
- Stewed-tomato sauce with a kick: Simply blend two 14.5-ounce cans of stewed tomatoes with the following: ½ diced onion; 2 cloves garlic, minced; one 6-ounce can of tomato paste; ¼ cup olive oil; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 teaspoons chili powder; ½ teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes. Once blended, simmer, heat to taste, serve, and enjoy! This lends a fabulously thick sauce that’s great for any meal—whether using in a pasta dish or adding as a condiment to chicken breast. For an extra veggie punch, simply add your favorite vegetables, such as mushrooms, peppers, or zucchini, while simmering.
- Cocktail sauce: Dazzle-up your low calorie, protein packed, belly-filling prawns with this easy homemade cocktail sauce. Simply mix 1 cup of ketchup; 2 tablespoons of prepared horseradish, 2 tablespoons of lemon, and ½ teaspoon of Worcestershire and refrigerate until ready for use. If having a home cooked meal, offering shrimp cocktail as an appetizer will not only keep your waistline in-check, but it’ll add that special air of elegance—key on Valentine’s Day!
How will you make it red this Valentine’s Day?
By: Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD Nutrition Counselor, Writer and Speaker & Owner of Green Grapes Nutrition
About Corinne:
Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD is a leading nutrition counselor, writer, and speaker and trusted nutrition source for the media. She believes that optimal health starts with the activity that you do every day—eat. Corinne is a Registered Dietitian (RD) with a Masters in Nutrition who adores helping people find health through nutrition. You can find Corinne in the San Francisco Bay Area counseling, speaking, and writing about nutrition. She specializes in weight management, sports nutrition, and disordered eating. To learn more please visit Green Grapes Nutrition. You can also connect with Corinne on Twitter and Facebook.
