Healthy Dinner Ideas for Valentines Day

Love is in the air! Every February, we are reminded to celebrate love not just for our partners, families, and friends – but also love for ourselves. This is especially true for us who may not have enough time to mind ourselves due to our busy schedules or just making sure everyone is looked after. 

Of course, every Valentine's Day, it may be inevitable that it would still be our responsibility to make sure the occasion is celebrated well. Whether you want to cook a special dinner for two, for your friends, or just treat yourself to something different this Valentine’s, we have got you covered. 

You and your body deserve a delicious and healthy treat this day and here are our healthy Valentines dinner ideas: 

Healthy dinner entrees for Valentines 

Grilled Portobello Mushroom and Bell Pepper Skewers (up to 200 calories per serving)

Ingredients:

• 4 Portobello mushroom caps (80 calories each)

• 2 bell peppers (40 calories each)

• A spritz of 1kcal spray oil 

• Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.

2. Cut Portobello mushroom caps and bell peppers into large chunks.

3. Toss mushroom and bell pepper chunks with a spritz of 1kcal oil spray, salt, and pepper.

4. Skewer mushroom and bell pepper chunks, alternating them.

5. Grill for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender.

Healthy dinner recipes for Valentines: Main courses

Grilled Salmon with Asparagus and Quinoa Salad (up to 350 calories per serving)

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon fillets (120 calories each)

• 1 bunch of asparagus (40 calories)

• 1 cup of cooked quinoa (222 calories)

• 1 lemon (22 calories)

• Spritzes of 1kcal spray oil 

• Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.

2. Season salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and a spritz of 1kcal oil spray. 

3. Grill salmon fillets for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked.

4. While the salmon is cooking, trim the ends of the asparagus and toss with another spritz of 1kcal oil spray. 

5. Grill asparagus for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until lightly charred and tender.

6. In a bowl, mix cooked quinoa with the juice of half a lemon, salt, and pepper.

7. Serve salmon fillets with grilled asparagus and quinoa salad on the side.

Roasted Eggplant and Zucchini with Quinoa and Chickpea Salad (up to 300 calories per serving)

Ingredients:

• 1 eggplant (50 calories)

• 2 zucchinis (40 calories each)

• 1 cup of cooked quinoa (222 calories)

• 1 can of chickpeas (220 calories)

• 1 lemon (22 calories)

• Spritzes of 1kcal spray oil 

• Salt and pepper (negligible calories)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Slice eggplant and zucchinis into rounds.

3. Toss eggplant and zucchini slices with a spritz of 1kcal oil spray, salt, and pepper.

4. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, flipping once, until tender and lightly browned.

5. In a bowl, mix cooked quinoa with chickpeas, the juice of half a lemon, salt, and pepper.

6. Serve roasted eggplant and zucchini with quinoa and chickpea salad on the side.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Chickpea Salad (400 calories per serving)

Ingredients:

• 1 large butternut squash (420 calories)

• 1 can of chickpeas (260 calories)

• Spritzes of 1kcal spray oil 

• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar (40 calories)

• Salt and pepper (negligible calories)

• 1/2 cup of crumbled goat cheese (240 calories)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Peel, seed, and chop butternut squash into bite-sized pieces.

3. Toss butternut squash and chickpeas with spritzes of 1kcal oil, salt, and pepper.

4. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until tender and lightly browned.

5. In a large bowl, mix roasted butternut squash and chickpeas with balsamic vinegar.

6. Serve with crumbled goat cheese on top.

Healthy desserts for Valentine's Day 

Strawberry and Greek Yogurt Parfait (150 calories per serving)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fresh strawberries (46 calories)

• 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt (120 calories)

• 2 tablespoons of honey (64 calories)

• 2 tablespoons of crushed almonds (112 calories)

Instructions:

1. Cut strawberries into small pieces and set aside.

2. In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt with honey.

3. In a clear glass or cup, layer Greek yogurt mixture and strawberries.

4. Repeat layering until all ingredients are used.

5. Top with crushed almonds and serve. 

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries (120 calories per serving)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fresh strawberries (46 calories)

• 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips (320 calories)

• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (120 calories)

Instructions:

1. Wash and pat dry strawberries.

2. In a double boiler, melt dark chocolate chips and coconut oil together.

3. Dip strawberries in melted chocolate mixture, shake off excess, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

4. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, or until chocolate is set.

Enjoy your sweet and healthy Valentine's Day desserts!

How do you make your Valentine's dinner more special?

Whether you are celebrating it with a special someone, for your best friends, or taking some time for yourself and preparing these healthy courses just for you (Yes! You can make it a date for yourself too!) you can set the mood by following these tips: 

• You don’t need to go to the restaurant to have a good ambience! How about using some soft lighting, candles, and putting on some romantic music?  

• Create a cozy and intimate atmosphere with a nice tablecloth, flowers, and place settings.

• Present the food in an attractive and appetizing manner, using plating techniques.

• Avoid distractions, such as phones and TV, and enjoy a relaxing and intimate conversation if you’re with your partner. 

• During dinner, it’s good to think about and affirm all the reasons why you feel loved and who makes you feel loved. 

With these tips, you can make your Valentine's Day dinner more special and romantic, and create lasting memories with your loved one. 

And don’t forget that loving yourself does not stop when this day is done. You have to learn to keep loving yourself by doing good things for your body every single day. Yes, it’s a conscious decision – similar to staying in long-term relationships. After all, our relationship with ourselves is something we cannot avoid! 

However, we do understand that sometimes, we struggle with loving ourselves when we don’t like how we feel about our body. As we get older, our image and bodies change with time. If you’re a woman, perhaps you’re facing postpartum weight gain or you’re struggling to lose weight due to menopause. On the other hand, men are more likely to have problems losing beer bellies or feeling stressed due to work and other responsibilities which in turn affects their weight. 

Whatever your circumstances, do know that you don’t have to face these challenges on your own. Your journey to loving yourself and your body doesn’t have to be a lonely one – the BodySlims team is here to lend you a hand with our weight loss programmes that can get you back on track to loving yourselves fully and the way you deserve! 

Check our our success stories and sing up today!