For those living in an assisted living retirement community, Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to make treats for your friends and family to celebrate the holiday. However, that box of chocolates or traditional festive dessert can pack a lot of calories, sodium, and unwanted fat.
Luckily, there is a wide range of delicious desserts that prioritize health and are still relatively easy to make. Of course, many seniors likely have their treasured recipes, but a few minor adjustments might be all it takes to make them more nutritious.
Here are five ideas for healthy Valentine’s Day desserts to get you started:
1. Heart-Shaped Pancakes
A hearty breakfast is a great way to begin Valentine’s Day. Remember that you can make your morning flapjacks healthier by being conservative with the butter and syrup. Use low-fat or skim milk to cut down on calories as well. Moreover, you can quickly load up your pancakes with blueberries, bananas, or other fruits. Use a mold or knife to cut the pancakes into heart shapes in the holiday spirit. To add to the festive aesthetic, include a small amount of red food coloring in the batter to give your pancakes a pink hue.
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2. Dark Chocolate Sorbet
AARP recommends making a boozy sorbet for you and your loved one this Valentine’s Day that packs a lot of taste without traditional chocolates’ fat and calorie count. The recipe notes that adding a little bit of liquor or liqueur, such as rum or amaretto, not only adds to the richness of the flavor but also softens the texture. Chocolate sorbet is the perfect palate cleanser to end a big Valentine’s Day dinner.
“Dark chocolate can play a role in preventing diabetes.”
3. Fruit Dipped in Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is considered a superfood for good reason. According to Women’s Health Magazine, dark chocolate can reduce the risk of heart failure, play a role in preventing diabetes, and help protect your skin from the sun, among other benefits. Couple this delicious superfood with an array of fruit, and you have an infallible dessert. Of course, there are always the traditional chocolate-covered strawberries, but also try bananas, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries. These treats can easily be made and chilled beforehand, or you can make a chocolate fondue so your friends, family, or loved ones can dip the fruit of their preference.
4. Strawberry Cheesecake
Cheesecake may not seem like the most nutritious dessert, but it can be made much healthier with a few modifications. For example, when possible, a recipe by Taste of Home for chocolate-dipped strawberry cheesecake uses fat-free ingredients, such as cream cheese and whipped cream. Moreover, adding strawberries adds some nutritional value to the cheesecake and brightens the color to complement the Valentine’s Day theme.
5. Kale Brownies
Putting greens into brownies might seem like a stretch, but expert food blogger Chocolate Covered Katie has made zucchini and kale brownies a reality. The blog focuses explicitly on healthy desserts and, in the past, has included recipes such as cauliflower cake and chickpea blondies, which makes it a great resource year-round. However, brownies with chocolate chips seem perfect for Valentine’s Day. Although the source notes that while this dessert tastes excellent, you will be able to notice pieces of green vegetables throughout the brownies. If you’re a bit more picky about your desserts, this recipe may not be for you.
