Healthy, Creative, Affordable Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

Healthy, creative, Affordable Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

Sometimes we get into a rut in our lives. We do the same thing at the same time each and every day. Even if you have a date night with your sweetie, it’s always the same thing: dinner and a movie. Valentine ’s Day is just around the corner. So this year, try something different! I’ve compiled 5 “off the beaten path” date ideas that incorporate healthy living and an active lifestyle that are sure to surprise that special someone in your life.

So let the romance begin!

Make a Homemade, Heart-shaped Pizza. This may sound daunting, but making pizza is incredibly easy and actually can be quite healthy if you do it yourself! Most grocery stores have some sort of pre-made dough and you can usually find a whole wheat version. Stretch that out onto a pizza stone or a cookie sheet into a heart shape. (It’s easiest if you make a circle and then pull the two top parts up and then the bottom down into a point.) You can buy organic premade pizza sauce in a jar or there are many simple recipes online to make your own. Top your pizza with whatever you would like, but my favorite is spinach, mushrooms and black olives. *If you are using spinach, you want to place it down before the cheese, directly on the sauce. Then top with cheese and place your other toppings on. Otherwise, it will fly away in the oven!* Follow the directions for baking on your dough. Sit back, enjoy a glass of wine, and your romantic heart shape pizza will be finished in no time!
Go Ice Skating. Simple and old-fashioned, yes, but ice skating is one of the forgotten activities that most people loved as children. Now there are public rinks in most cities that offer free skate times that are open to the public. Usually, you are able to rent skates and pay an admission fee for less than $20 per person. If you’re really adventurous (and live in a cold climate) you can go to an outdoor rink (a lake) and then grab some hot chocolate afterwards!
Find a Local Farmers Market. You might have to do this one on the weekend, but it is really quite the experience to wander through the rows and rows of local farmers, admiring their produce and supporting your local economy. Many of them offer samples of their food and you’re sure to find a couple of items that you’ve never ever heard of before. If you’re up for a challenge, plan to make a meal out of the things that you find at the market and only spend a certain amount of money on all of the ingredients. You’ll learn a little bit about your community and be amazed at how much you can get for your dollar at these events!
Walk or Ride Bikes to Lunch/Dinner. If you’re planning on going out to lunch or dinner, given that you live in a somewhat urban area, try walking or biking to your destination. You’ll definitely work up an appetite on the way and have some time to actually talk without distractions. American’s are losing the art of communication these days because we are all so busy and most times it’s just easier to call or text. Make the effort to have a real conversation on your way to eat. If you want to try something different at dinner, go to 2-3 different restaurants and just order appetizers. I like to think of this as the Spanish “tapas” way of eating. Small plates, lots of different foods, and you share with others and take your time eating. You are not presented with a large plate of food all at once so you end up eating a lot less! If it’s too far or too dark on the way home, just call a cab!
Tour a Chocolate or Candy Factory. Ever since Willy Wonka came out, it’s been everyone’s secret dream to tour a candy factory. This Valentine’s Day, make that dream come true! With a little research, it’s easy to find a factory in your area and they usually offer many different tour times. It’s fascinating to see how they make all of the candy and you usually have to walk quite a bit to get from one side of the factory to another, so you’ll definitely be active! At the end they might give you a sample or two, or you’ll end up in the gift shop and you can purchase a small sample for yourself!

So whatever you end up doing this Valentine’s Day, try something active, healthy, creative, and most importantly, spend it with someone that you love.

Happy Valentine’s Day!