Valentine’s Day is here again, that means it’s time to get ready for romantic dinners, an abundance of roses, and all the sweet goodies you can handle! But if you’ve got little ones at home, all that excess sugar is less than festive. So the question is, how does a health-conscious parent like yourself give your children the full V-day experience, minus the sugar crash? Easy! By creating healthy Valentine’s Day treats that your kids will love.
At Ocean Pediatrics, Orange County’s premier pediatric office, we’re here to be your family’s partners in health, from day one. So check out our list of pediatrician-approved sweet treats that’ll make their Valentine’s Day unforgettable!
Dark chocolate-dipped strawberries
One of the most popular and healthy Valentine’s Day snacks there is, has got to be dark-chocolate dipped strawberries. The berries are filled with nutrients plus the dark chocolate has tons of antioxidants. And making them is simple: just carefully melt dark chocolate over a double boiler, until it’s in a liquid form. You can even add a touch of coconut milk for a smooth, velvety texture. Then pour them over your strawberries, let them dry on a wire rack and serve!
Very-berry homemade popsicles
Popsicles are one of the easiest sweet treats that you can make, and these very-berry popsicles have a deep red hue to spread the Valentine’s Day cheer! Just grab a variety of in-season berries such as blackberries, blueberries and raspberries, plus strawberries if you can find them. Throw them in a blender with a little coconut sugar, stevia or monkfruit extract, and liquify. You can even add some nut milk or a dash of protein powder. Pour that mixture into a popsicle mold, freeze and enjoy!
Heart-shaped apple & nut butter treats
For this next healthy Valentine’s Day dessert, grab some sour granny smith apples and cut them into heart-shaped slices. Then reach for your favorite nutty spread such as peanut butter or almond butter and then add some flaxseeds or crushed sunflower seeds on top! If you’re sending your kid to school with these, or if they have a peanut allergy, just switch it up to a school-approved seed butter.
Elevated Valentine’s Day sugar cookies
Next up, we’re taking a new spin on an old classic — the sugar cookie. Here’s what you do: make some traditional, simple sugar cookies, but use whole wheat or almond flour instead. Then switch out the refined sugar for a little bit of agave or honey. For your icing, be sure to swap out some of the sugar for stevia or monk fruit to curb those oncoming sugar crashes. And that’s it!
Frozen peanut butter & banana bites
Last but not least, we’ve got a scrumptious and healthy Valentine’s Day dessert that your kids will be over the moon for. Here’s how it works: grab a banana and slice it up into 1-cm pieces. Sandwich two pieces with a slathering of peanut, almond or seed butter, then set aside. Melt some dark chocolate on a double boiler, and then pour directly onto the banana-peanut butter mixture. You’ll want to quickly sprinkle some sea salt on top then stick in the freezer. And that’s it — frozen, healthy, no-bake sweet treats!
We hope our healthy Valentine’s Day snacks and treats will have your kids feeling the love this holiday, while holding back all those empty calories and cavities. Remember, teaching healthy habits is something we all do on a daily basis. If you need some extra guidance, TLC, and professional pediatric care, be sure to reach out to Orange County’s premier pediatric office: Ocean Pediatrics. We’re here for your family, day in and day out. Schedule your next appointment today, and of course… Happy Valentine’s Day!
