Valentine’s Day is almost here and for many, that can mean wine, cheese and chocolate galore. While you may love them, high-fat foods can leave you with a calorie overload and spiked up cholesterol – and that isn’t very loving to your arteries. If you’re committed to your New Year’s resolutions of staying healthy, then this Valentine’s Day, try different kinds of wine, cheese and chocolate that actually love you back. Yes, it is possible! What makes the difference is the ingredients.
WINE
Research studies have shown that in moderation red wine can actually be good for you, as it has resveratrol that might be good for the heart. However, conventional wine usually has added sulfites and most of the time is made from grapes that are covered in pesticides. Instead, try wine that is organic and sustainable. I just discovered two great brands – Philosophy and Vegan Vine.
Full-bodied zinfandel from Philosophy has aromas of raspberry, cedar and vanilla and is very smooth and rich. The brand’s philosophy – pun intended – is that great wine comes from organic grapes and it definitely has my vote. I love this philosophy and it is now one of my favorite wines on the market.
Vegan Vine Wine is another great option. You may be thinking – isn’t all wine vegan? No. Some wines are processed with the use of animal skins. Vegan Vine is committed to making wine that is loving to our environment, animals and our bodies, so nobody gets hurt.
CHEESE
Did you know that milk and dairy can weaken your bones instead of strengthening them? Statistics show that countries with the highest consumption of dairy (USA, Finland and Sweden) have the highest rates of osteoporosis. That’s because dairy products can be very acidic to humans and as a reaction, our bodies can use calcium from our own bones to neutralize this acid. Additionally, dairy products have casein, a compound nature created to keep a baby calf addicted to his mother’s milk. That’s why it can be hard to stop eating cheese.
To be loving to your bones and your taste buds, I suggest trying rich, plant-based cheeses. Miyoko’s Kitchen just launched a new line of gourmet cheese that you can order online. I tried them all and my absolute favorites are French Style Winter Truffle, Mt. Vesuvius Black Ash, Double Cream Chive and Double Cream Sundried Tomato. I had a pre-Valentine’s Day party with my cheese-loving friends and everyone was blown away by the quality, texture and taste. Simply incredible! These cheeses are free from soy, gluten, dairy and egg, and full of flavor and love.
CHOCOLATE
Because chocolate comes from cacao and cacao is a bean, is it safe to call it a vegetable? It is in my book. Especially when it comes to organic, dark chocolate that is rich in antioxidants, iron, magnesium and fiber. Yes, chocolate does have fat and it is calorically dense, so I suggest sticking to a small amount and following my tip for eating it. Instead of biting into a piece of chocolate and chewing it, let it slowly melt in your mouth. This process will take longer, as chocolate takes time to dissolve, so you will need just a small amount to get several minutes of indulgence. Trust me, it is much more satisfying to have chocolate this way.
If you want an extra bonus with chocolate, check out the ChocoLove Brand. Besides getting rich chocolate with great flavors like Almonds & Sea Salt or Chillies & Cherries, you will also get a love poem inside each wrapper.
Here’s a recipe for a delicious yet healthy Valentine’s Day treat:
Stress-Reducing Chocolate Bark
2 cups of dark chocolate chips
3/4 cup of almond slivers
3/4 cup hulled hemp seeds
1/2 cup freeze-dried raspberries (save half of that amount for topping)
1/3 cup shredded coconut
Melt chocolate in a pan on the stove. Remove from stove and mix in almond slivers, hemp seeds and ¼ cup of raspberries. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Place a piece of parchment paper on top of a rectangular plate and pour the chocolate mixture on it.
Cover with another piece of parchment paper and press with hands to let air out between nuts and dried raspberries. Sprinkle with coconut and remaining raspberries.
Place in the fridge until chocolate is solid again. Cut in small pieces and enjoy!
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About Alina Z.
Alina Z., aka “The Green Goddess,” is a certified holistic health coach, detox specialist and raw-food chef (she conducts occasional classes at Whole Foods in Boca). Prior to moving to Florida, Alina hosted her own TV show in Maryland—“Entertaining A to Z”—for people who didn’t have time to cook but wanted to eat healthy. Catch one of her web episodes at eHow.com, visit Alina’s website at alinaz.com, or follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/CoutureFood) or Twitter (@CoutureFood). The Green Goddess blog runs every other Wednesday at bocamag.com.
