Valentine’s Day is a holiday known for chocolates, candies, and dining out – three sources of stress for those of us committed to healthy eating.
Whether you’ve been together for years, have recently started dating someone new, or are preparing for an important first date, it can be easy to give in to temptation and start on the slippery slope to undoing all the progress you have made. This doesn’t have to be the case! You can not only maintain the healthy lifestyle you’ve worked hard at creating for yourself, but also show that special someone how important they really are to you. It’s time to become the chef!
The Benefits Of Eating In
Whenever you dine out, whether it be at a high-end restaurant or a local burger joint, you never truly know what is going in your body. Even if you believe you are making the smart choice according to the menu, you and the chef will have different ideas regarding quality. While the food itself may be excellent, the restaurant will be more concerned with how the food tastes and speed of service, while you’re more worried that it’s cooked healthily. Wherever possible, shortcuts will be made both in delivery of food and creating extra flavour. Vegetables will often be laden with butter and even deep fried for speed, meat will be heavily salted and often of lower quality than you would expect given the pricing.
When you eat in, you know exactly what has gone into the meal and how it has been prepared. And the best benefit? Your partner will appreciate the personal touch in your cooking, as opposed to paying for someone else to do all the hard work! You can whip up a special meal while your partner relaxes, or better yet – enjoy the experience of cooking together! Having fun looking at recipes, preparing your meal, shopping, cooking, and even cleaning up together. Sometimes finding joy and passion in the mundane aspects of life are a great way to spend quality time together and ignite a spark on Valentine’s Day!
What If I Can’t Cook?
Two things: first, you don’t need to be a celebrity chef to pull of the miracle of a healthy and romantic meal. Second, your partner will be impressed at the fact you made the effort, good or bad – I speak from personal experience! So give yourself some credit, and try out this simple recipe:
Shrimp Marinara Zucchini Pasta For Two
Ingredients:
- 12oz cooked shrimp
- 2 medium sized zucchinis
- 1 Cup marinara sauce (if you’re feeling particularly daring, you can make your own!)
- ½ Cup fresh tomatoes
- ½ Cup diced mushroom
- ¼ Cup diced red onion
- Sea salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Chilli flakes (optional)
Steps:
Cut the zucchini into long thin strips (use a Julienne shredder or spiralizer if possible).
Sauté onions and mushrooms. Depending on your diet or fitness goals, you can add a boost of healthy fats using olive oil or coconut oil, or use a light cooking spray if you’re cutting down on calories.
Once the onions and mushrooms are cooked, stir in marinara sauce, tomatoes and cooked shrimp.
Serve on top of raw or par-boiled zucchini noodles (zoodles).
Approximate macros per serving:
- Calories: 254
- Carbs: 18g
- Protein: 39g
- Fat: 4g
Healthy, simple and filling – what more could you want! If you and your partner would like to indulge in a little adult sauce, why not choose a nice glass of red wine over a sugary cocktail or highball. Red wine is a healthier choice than beer, due to its antioxidant content (but don’t use that as an excuse to overindulge). For dessert, try some fresh berries with a dark chocolate drizzle.
Bon Appétit!
—
Jay Andrews
Professional Training Coach
Innovative Fitness Kitsilano
