UREC

Valentine’s Day is filled with chocolate-y temptation and broken New Year’s resolutions, but it doesn’t have to be for you. Here are three easy tips from Holly Bailey, UREC’s Coordinator of Fitness and Nutrition programs.  

1. Eat Dark Chocolate:

This may sound counterintuitive, but dark chocolate can actually be good for you. It improves blood flow, which is great for your heart and can even make you smarter. Dark chocolate is also full of antioxidants, so eating it may slow the aging process and possibly protect you from some types of cancer.

Using dark chocolate as a dipping sauce is the healthiest way to indulge. Dip strawberries, pretzel rods, marshmallows, nuts and raisins for a guilt-free snack. If you’re a coffee fiend, you can dip a plastic spoon in dark chocolate and use it as a stirrer. 

2. Don’t Punish Yourself:

If you’re health-conscious, it’s perfectly OK to slip up sometimes. So go ahead, eat that box of chocolates — just not all at once. Bailey says that it’s easiest to stick to a plan if you set realistic goals and don’t cut yourself off completely from the foods you love.

3. Eat In, Not Out:

Eating in isn’t just easier on the wallet — it’s better for your body too. Restaurant meals can be loaded with butter, sauces and carbohydrates that may taste delicious but aren’t usually worth the toll on your body. It can be romantic to cook a dinner for two, but if you’re single or just not into Valentine’s, you can treat a roommate.

To get you started, here are some healthy dinners and desserts for two that are easy to make and won’t leave you penniless:

• Linguine Bolognese
• Whole-Wheat Couscous
• Salmon and Asparagus
• Chicken and Garlic
• Vegetable Tian
• Baby Tiramisu
• Easiest Chocolate Dipping Sauce Ever

Remember, February is American Heart Month, so be kind to yours and enjoy the holiday. 

Written by Heather Butterworth, a JMU SMAD major and a UREC Marketing Assistant.