All over the world, couples are preparing for the 14^th of February.

 

Valentine’s Day is a magical time of the year even for those who are not born with the romantic gene. On this day, we’re given the opportunity to share our love with the one who truly gives meaning to our lives, so you won’t waste this time of the year doing nothing but thinking of what would happen to your diet solutions, will you? Right about now, your significant other may be buying a big chocolate candy heart box for you!

 

Valentine’s Day ideas can be endless. Is a romantic dinner your favorite celebration? You may be sitting down at your computer and pulling your hair out because you want to treat yourself and loved one to a memorable feast but you also don’t want to break your diet solutions. Here’s the best of some romantic and healthy Valentines Day recipes for you. Plus, some little tricks to help you find a balance between special treats and diet plans.

 

 

Remember that it’s all about balance. You can enjoy this magical time buying gifts for each other, preparing romantic and surprising meals, organizing special events for ‘the two’ and in the same time you can balance all by using these two little tricks.

• A heart-healthy meal should be your priority this year and this will impress your lover, guaranteed. For example, include healthy salads and a dessert centered around fruit. Our menu plan is full of healthy recipes and ideal for this.

• Plan an event that encourages physical activity. Such as dancing. You can do this at home.

• Give yourself and your loved one a healthy alternative to candy or chocolate boxes, such as a fruit basket.

 

Appetizer

Broiled Tomatoes and Mozarella

Calorie:120

 

Ingredients
3 large firm tomatoes
4 thick slices mozzarella
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
Vegetable oil cooking spray

Instructions

 

WWash tomatoes and cut in thick slices. Mix basil and pepper together and spread on tomato slices. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and spray cooking oil. Spray broiler pan. Put prepared tomatoes and mozzarella slices on a pan and broil.

 

Salad

 

Spinach & Black Bean Salad
Calorie: 130

 

Ingredients

 

2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 cups washed spinach
1.5 cups unsalted, fat free black beans
2 chopped tomatoes
1 small chopped red onion

Instructions

 

Combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, mustard, oregano and basil in a large bowl. Wash, drain and chop spinach. Add spinach, black beans, tomatoes and onions to lemon juice and oil mix. Toss well and serve.

 

Main Dish

Black Skillet Beef with Greens and Red Potatoes

Calorie: 320

 

Ingredients

 

1 pound top round beef
1 tablespoon paprika
1 and half teaspoons oregano
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper
1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
8 red-skinned halved potatoes
3 cups finely chopped onion
2 cups beef broth
2 large minced garlic cloves
2 large carrots, peeled, cut into very thin 2 1/2 inch strips
2 bunches kale
non-stick cooking spray

 

Instructions

 

Freeze beef partially. Thinly slice across the grain into long strips 1/8 inch thick and 3 inches wide. Combine and mix paprika, oregano, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper, and dry mustard in a large bowl. Coat strips of meat with the spice mixture. Spray a large heavy skillet nonstick cooking spray. Preheat pan over high heat. Add meat to pan and cook. Stir for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, onion, broth and garlic. Cook all covered, over medium heat for 20 minutes. Stir in carrots, lay greens over top and cook, covered, until carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Serve in large serving bowl.

 

Side Dish

 

Cheese Stuffed Potatoes

Calorie:90

 

Ingredients

 

4 large baking potatoes
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika

 

Instructions

 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Scrub and put the potatoes in the oven. Bake 30 to 40 minutes until tender. Slice each potato in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the inside of each potato. Leave about ½ inch of potato next to the skin. Save the inside part of each potato in a small bowl. Peel and chop onion. Put the cheese, milk, and onion in another small bowl. Add the insides of the potatoes. Mix with a fork until light and fluffy. Divide this mix into 8 parts. Put part of the mix inside each potato. Sprinkle paprika over the potatoes. Return to the oven for 5 minutes to reheat.

 

Dessert

 

Fresh Strawberries with Chocolate Cream

Calorie:100

 

Ingredients

 

2 cs. vanilla low-fat yogurt

1/2 cup light hot fudge topping

4 cs. strawberries, hulled and halved

Chocolate cream

 

Combine yogurt and fudge topping in a bowl and whisk thoroughly. Serve strawberries in individual serving bowls and topped with chocolate cream.

 

Valentine’s Day recipes that won’t make you fat! As we promised.

 

Salad is your best friend for weight loss and it’s your essential meal when you are on a diet.

 

Consumption of salad is an effective strategy for increasing intake of many important nutrients. Eating just one serving of salad per day significantly boosts the meeting likelihood of meeting the recommended daily intake of nutrients.

 

It’s really impossible to get bored with salads because there are many alternatives for you to prepare and eat. Think and be creative. If you are bored with the salads you consume, it’s probably because you use same salad recipes over and over.

 

Try our easy-to-prepare, low-in-calories, filling, quick and healthy salad recipes with easy-to-find ingredients.

 

 

Apple and Hazelnut Salad In A Cup

 

Calories 290

 

Ingredients

 

2 tbs nonfat, bottled raspberry vinaigrette
1 apple
¼ cup dried fruit tidbits
2 bs chopped hazelnuts
1 cup pre-cut mixed greens, rinsed and drained well

Wash apples and dice them. Rinse greens and drain well. Cut greens into pieces and mix them. Take a bowl and put pre-cut greens and apples in it. Than pour dressing on and mix them all together. Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts and dried fruit tidbits on. Your salad is ready to be served.

* Tablespoonful

 

Bread Bowl Salad with Roast Beef

 

Calories 200

 

Ingredients

 

4 (1 oz.) crusty whole wheat rolls, halved

½ lb. thinly sliced lean roast beef

2 tbs reduced fat mayonnaise

2 tbs nonfat sour cream

2 tsp** prepared horseradish

¼ tsp salt

Ground black pepper

8 c. romaine lettuce

Hollow out the rolls to make bread shells. Cut the inside pieces into small cubes. Trimmed of all visible fat of roast beef and roll slices and slice into ¼” strips. Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, salt and pepper all together in a large bowl. Wash lettuce and shred it. Add lettuce, reserved bread pieces and roast beef strips. Scoop into bread shells and serve.

 

** Teaspoonful

 

Tuna and Vegetable Salad

 

Calories:109

 

Ingredients

½ c. chopped celery

½ c. chopped cucumber, seeded

½ c. shredded carrot

1 (7 oz.) can chunk light or white tuna, water-packed, drained and chunked

2 tbs sliced green onion

1/3 c. salad dressing

2 tsp dill

1 tsp lemon peel, finely minced

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp black pepper

4 medium tomatoes, sliced

Combine celery, cucumber, carrot, onion and tuna in a medium bowl.

Whisk salad dressing, dill, lemon peel, garlic powder and pepper. Pour over vegetables and tuna. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Serve tuna salad with tomato slices.

 

Skinny Caesar Salad

 

Calories 142

 

Ingredients

 

¼ c. Parmesan cheese

¼ c. fat-free mayonnaise

¼ c. water

2 tbs lemon juice

½ tsp anchovy paste

½ tsp Worcestershire sauce

¼ tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp dry mustard

2 garlic cloves

4 (1 oz.) slices of bread,

8 c. of romaine lettuce, torn

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cut bread into cubes and place them on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until browned. Mix parmesan cheese with minced garlic cloves in a bowl. Merge croutons, lettuce and dressing in a large bowl. Toss well to coat.

Tossed Salad with Almonds and Oranges

 

Calories 106

 

Ingredients

 

2 tbs fresh parsley, minced

3 tbs balsamic vinegar

1 tbs olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

¼ tsp sugar

¼ tsp salt

Fresh ground pepper, to taste

1 tbs water

8 c. romaine lettuce, torn

4 celery stalks, sliced

8 scallions, sliced

One (11 oz.) can Mandarin orange wedges, drained

2 tbs. almond, sliced and toasted

In a bowl, merge parsley through water and mix until thoroughly blended. Toast almonds by placing them in skillet over medium heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until slightly browned, stirring constantly. In a large bowl, merge lettuce, celery and scallions. Add dressing and toss to coat. Top with almonds and oranges.

 

Turkey and Green Bean Salad

 

Calories 152

 

Ingredients

 

2 cups green beans

1/4 cup fat free mayonnaise

1/4 cup plain fat free yoghurt

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

pinch of salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

2 cups cooked white-meat turkey, diced

1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced

3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Trim green beans and cut into pieces. Place green beans in a pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and rinse with cold water. Mix together mayonnaise, yoghurt, lemon juice and seasoning in a large bowl. Add green beans, turkey, red pepper and parsley. Toss well to coat.

 

Pasta Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing

 

Calories 347

 

Ingredients

 

6 ounces bow-tie pasta

2 cups torn fresh spinach

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 1/2 cups (10 ounces) frozen peas, thawed

1/2 cup shelled roasted pistachios (optional)

Honey-Dijon dressing

Ingredients for dressing

2 tablespoons honey

2 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain in a colander. In a large bowl, combine pasta, spinach, tomatoes and peas with the pasta.

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for the dressing and mix well.

Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss well to coat. Serve with pistachios garnished on top. Pasta salad recipes are always popular, but not all of them are equal in quality for your health.

 

Do you think creative apple recipes are easy to find? I don’t think so. Finding healthy ones is even more difficult. Here are tested and proven apple recipes which may help you prepare delicious diet meals.

 

 

Apple Coleslaw

 

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 60

Ingredients:

2 cups of cabbage, 1 grated carrot, 1 chopped green pepper, 1 chopped apple, 5 tablespoons of light yoghurt, 1 tablespoon of light mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon dill weed.

Instructions:

Take washed cabbage. Cut it into slim shreds until you have 2 cups of cabbage. Peel the carrot and grate it. Chop a green pepper into small pieces. Remove the core and chop the apple. Put the cabbage, carrot, green pepper and apple in a large mixing bowl and stir them. Put the yoghurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice and dill weed in a small bowl and stir them to make the sauce. Pour the sauce over the salad. Toss to mix.

 

 

Apple Tuna Sandwiches

Serving Size: 1 sandwich

Yield: 3 servings

Calories: 250

Ingredients:
1 can (6.5 ounces) drained tuna, 1 apple, 1/4 cup of yoghurt, low fat vanilla, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1 teaspoon honey, 6 slices of whole wheat bread, 3 lettuce leaves.

Instructions:

Peel the washed apple. Chop it into small pieces. Put the tuna, apple, yoghurt, mustard and honey in a medium bowl and stir well. Spread 1/2 cup of the tuna mix onto each 3 slices of bread. Top each sandwich with a washed lettuce leaf and a slice of bread.

 

 

Apple Slice Pancakes

Serving Size: 2 pancakes

Yield: 6 servings

Calories: 150

Ingredients:

1 Granny Smith apple, 1 1/4 cup any type pancake mix, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 egg, 2 teaspoons canola oil, 1 cup light milk.

Instructions:

Lightly coat a skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Peel, remove the core and thinly slice apple into rings. Combine ingredients for pancake batter in a large mixing bowl. Stir until ingredients are evenly moist. For each pancake, place one apple ring on griddle and pour about 1/4 cup batter over apple ring, starting in the center and covering the apple. Cook until bubbles appear. Turn and cook other side until lightly brown.

 

 

Fat-Free Apple Crumb Dessert

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 170

Ingredients:

4 baking apples, 1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal, quick-cooking 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/3 cup apple juice, nonstick cooking spray.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9″ square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Peel the washed apples and cut them into thin slices. Spread the apple slices evenly over the bottom of the baking dish. In a small bowl mix the oatmeal, brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread the oatmeal mix evenly over the apples in the baking dish. Lightly pour the apple juice over the oatmeal mixture.

 

Create your own diet menu using 5 simple recipes from our healthy diet cookbook. They are tasty, fast and cheap!

 

Appetizer / Turkey Pinwheel Appetizers

Serving Size: 3 pinwheels

Yield: 16 servings

Calories: 100

Ingredients:

1 container (8 oz) garlic and herb cream cheese, low fat 6-8 inch flour tortillas, 6 slices of turkey, 3 small Roma tomatoes, 3 cups of fresh baby spinach leaves.

Instructions:

Place tortillas on microwaveable plate; microwave uncovered on high 10 – 15 seconds to soften. Spread 2 tablespoons of cream cheese over each tortilla. Put a slice of turkey, chopped tomatoes and spinach on tortillas and roll up lightly.Then wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 – 3 hours to blend flavors. Cut each roll into eight 1-inch slices. Arrange with cut side down on serving plate.

Main Dish / Chicken and Broccoli Bake

Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe

Yield: 8 servings

Calories: 150

Ingredients:

1 cup of rice, 1 package (10 ounce) broccoli, 3 cups of chicken meat, 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 cups of chicken broth, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.

Instructions:

Cook rice in 2 cups of water. Prepare broccoli by washing it with fresh water. Cooked the chicken. Chicken should be off the bone. Put oil in large pan. Use broth from chicken you cooked or use canned chicken broth. Add broth to oil slowly. Stir to remove lumps. Add cheese and stir. Add rice, broccoli and chicken. Continue to stir. Put in a casserole pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Side Dish / Brussels Sprouts with Mushroom Sauce

Serving Size:1/2 of the recipe

Yield: 2 servings

Calories: 70

Ingredients:

1/2 pound brussels sprouts and broccoli, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of spicy brown mustard, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme, 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms.

Instructions:

Cut brussels sprouts in half and steam them with broccoli until tender, about 6 to 10 minutes, or microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes. In a non-stick pot bring the broth to a boil. Mix in the lemon juice, mustard and thyme. Add the mushrooms. Boil until the broth is reduced by half, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add the brussels sprouts and broccoli. Toss well to coat with the sauce.

Salad / A Simple Salad

Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 50

Ingredients:

2 cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 2 oranges, 1 lemon, 1/2 of teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 of teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Wash the cucumbers, oranges, tomatoes and lemon. Slice the cucumbers. Peel and cut the tomatoes into small pieces. Put cucumber and oranges in a medium size bowl. Add chili powder, lemon juice and salt.

Dessert / Frozen Fruit Cups

Serving Size: 1/18 of the recipe

Yield: 18 servings

Calories: 50

Ingredients:

3 bananas, 24 ounces yogurt (non-fat strawberry), 10 ounces strawberries (frozen – thawed and undrained), 8 ounces undrained, canned crushed pineapple.

Instructions:

Line 18 muffin-tin cups with paper baking cups. Dice bananas and put in a large mixing bowl. Stir in other ingredients. Put into muffin-tin cups and freeze at least 3 hours or until firm.