Treat Your Heart Well

 We know how to treat our sweethearts on Valentine's Day bit do we really know how to treat our own sweet hearts? A good gift is healthy but fun eating, that delivers a Cupid's arrow of both nutrition and flavor straight to us.You can not only eat something yummy  but also one that's packed with benefits.

Dips are always a neat way of enjoying a  snack Imagine a big bowl of one and munchies as your and your sweetie enjoy a romantic movie..One of the most .  flavorful and easiest to make is guacamole. Avocados are especially heart healthy being loaded with potassium and also lutein for the eyes .Add mashed tomatoes, chopped onions and a tablespoon of olive oil for a superfood dip that's extra smooth and creamy.Salsa is another treat and it can be made both sweet and savory.  For a tasty sweet one take  a mix if strawberries , oranges along with pineapple chunks and mangoes  and coarsely chop. Add some stevia to sweeten and a squirt of lemon juice to keep the fruit fresh to finish it off. Serve with cinnamon tortilla chips which are tortillas rebaked with a brushing of bitter and a dusting of cinnamon and brown sugar on top. Savory salsa can be made a variety of ways with everything from fiber rich black beans to tomatoes to one just made with onions and scallions. Pretzels can be a fun snack especially when they're served with homemade honey mustard. Use a good mustard like Colmans and dark wildflower honey. The last is bursting with antioxidants and enzymes.

Romantic meals can also be good for  both your heart and sweetheart. Spaghetti (remember Lady and the Tramp) can be enjoyed with a good wine and candleight. Try a whole wheat pasta as opposed to a white flour based type.as for the sauce, again tomatoes are full of phytonutrients such as folate and lycoprene. For fun make a primavera sauce, This is a quick saute of not only tomatoes in olive oil and garlic but also , broccoli, cauliflower and onions,Indian  food is also good for the heart. Curries are chock full of the spice cumin. Not only is it delicious and addictive but its' also  rich in iron and antioxidants.You can also make masoor dal, a lentil paste that's loaded with turmeric and can be served with naan bread. This is a superfood meal if there ever was one.Lentils can aid in controlling diabetes along with helping dieters to lose weight,Tumeric is a spice, like cumin that can reduce the risk of certain cancers like colon and breast as well as fighting arthritis and Alzheimer's disease. Of course nothing beats a grilled salmon dinner  and again served with gilled veggies is a meal that's good for both the heart and the brain.end with rich deep  dark chocolate or better yet strawberries dipped in chocolate.

Treat both your sweet heart and your heart good today. Give both tasty foods that are rich in flavor and nutrients, Both will appreciate it.