Healthy Recipes for Your Valentine

Healthy Valentine’s Day Recipes

Valentine’s Day usually means some kind of special meal out, chocolates and flowers.  This year why not avoid the crowded, overpriced restaurants and have a romantic day at home.  I’ve put together a special menu that starts with a hearty breakfast, a light lunch and a romantic dinner.  Don’t forget to include some champagne and strawberries to top off the day!  All these recipes just like those from Thor’s Fork are clean and easy so you won’t spend too much time in the kitchen.

Breakfast starts with Grain Free Strawberry Pancakes filled with Coconut Whip Cream.  This hearty breakfast is low in carbs but big on flavor and will leave you feeling satisfied which is why lunch is just a light salad.

Grain Free Strawberry Pancakes with Coconut Whip Cream 

Ingredients for pancakes:

1 T coconut oil (for cooking)
1 cup almond flour
1 cup organic strawberries, chopped
4 eggs
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1-2 T unsweetened almond or coconut milk as needed
Strawberry slices for garnish

Ingredients for whip cream:

1 can full fat coconut milk
1/8 tsp. stevia
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions for pancakes:
1. Mix almond flour, eggs, cinnamon until blended.
2. Add chopped strawberries
3. Add milk if batter is too thick.
4. Heat coconut oil in skillet over medium heat.
5. Place 1/6 of the batter into the pan and keep and eye on it, turning it over once it bubbles. Repeat to make 6 large (or 12 small) pancakes.

Instructions for whip cream:

1. Place can of coconut milk in refrigerator over night.
2. Chill the metal mixing bowl from your Kitchenaide mixer by placing in refrigerator over night.
3. Open the can of coconut milk and carefully scoop out the thick cream into the chilled mixing bowl, leaving the milkly liquid to discard.
4. Add vanilla and stevia and mix on high until a thick, creamy whip cream develops.

Serve each pancake with 2 T whip cream and garnish with strawberry slices.

Servings: 6 large pancakes
Per pancake:

Calories: 178
Fat: 16 g
Carbs: 9 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 8 g

Coconut Whip Cream: 20 servings

Calories: 32
Fat: 3 g
Carbs: 1 g
Fiber: 0 g
Protein: 0 g

For lunch serve up a large salad with lots of heart (artichoke and hearts of palm), flavor and color!  This salad contains some of my favorite vegetables to add flavor, and pack in your antioxidants and phytonutrients for your mid day meal.

 Valentine’s Day Salad

Ingredients:

6 cups organic baby greens
4 stalks hearts of palm
6 artichoke hearts
2 hard boiled eggs, sliced
1 medium cucumber sliced
1/8 sweet onion, chopped
8 cherry tomatoes
10 black olives
4 T Bragg’s Sesame Ginger Dressing

Place all ingredients in large salad bowl and mix well.

Serves: 2

Calories: 244
Fat: 12 g
Carbs: 23 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 12 g

Dinner is easy because you are using the grill for the meat and the oven to roast vegetables. Using parchment paper makes for easy clean up so there is more time to enjoy the evening. If you are looking to lighten up this meal consider swapping out the steak for salmon or chicken. Using the same recipe you can also swap out the vegetables to do something like broccolini and sweet potatoes instead. If you are following BodyDesigns Two-Week Detox Plan, cut down on the meat portion and swap the white potatoes for sweet and you have yourself a detox friendly meal.

Filet Mignon with Asparagus and Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 6 oz. pieces of Filet Mignon, seasoned as desired

For asparagus:

1 bunch of asparagus
1/2 T olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

For potatoes:

2 medium sized Yukon gold potatoes
1 T olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. each thyme and rosemary if desired

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and heat up the grill
2. Season Filet Mignon and allow it to sit out.
3. Cover 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
4. Cut potatoes into wedges.
5. Place potatoes in a large plastic bag and add 1 T olive oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder and rosemary and thyme if desired. Shake the bag to mix and coat the potatoes.
6. Place potatoes on one of the cookie sheets and cook 25 minutes tossing half way through.
7. Clean asparagus, cutting off the tough ends.
8. Place asparagus in a baggie and add 1/2 T olive oil, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper.
9. Lay asparagus out on other cookie sheets and add to the oven when you toss the potatoes at the halfway time.
10. Begin to grill the steak as soon as you put the asparagus in the oven. The steak will take 10-15 minutes depending how you want it cooked – rare to medium.

Filet Mignon with Asparagus and Roasted Potatoes
2 servings

Calories:  652
Fat:  41 g
Carbs:  32 g
Protein:  40 g

Valentine’s Day would not be complete without chocolate.  Since chocolate has caffeine which isn’t the best thing to have before bedtime, I made these Avocado Truffles with carob.  I love carob because it gives a rich, dark chocolate flavor and avoids the caffeine.  Also, for those who suffer from migraines, this is a great substitute to migraine triggering chocolate.

Avocado Truffles

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado
1/4 cup carob
1 1/2 T melted coconut oil
1 1/2 T coconut flour
dash of salt
stevia to taste
2 T carob to dust

1. Cover a baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Blend all the ingredients into a high speed mixer.  I use a Vitamix.
3. Take 1 T of mixture and roll into a ball, roll in carob powder and place on parchment sheet.  Mixture is sticky so this is a bit messy.
4. Place truffles in refrigerator for 2-3 hours to chill.

Makes 10 Truffles

Calories:  56
Fat:      4 g
Carbs:  4 g
Fiber:  1 g
Protein:  1 g

Last, but not least, add a glass of champagne which is lower in sugar than regular wine. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day without ruining your clean eating plan.  After all, bikini season is right around the corner!

Are you looking to transform your health? Mary works with clients all over the country developing personalized nutrition and exercise plans for weight loss and health. If you’re ready to get started on your journey to health and wellness contact her today!

Visit BodyDesigns Two Week Detox Plan or BodyDesignsbyMary for more information.

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