Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Have you looked at the calendar lately? If you haven’t, then you might be as shocked as I was last night to realize that Valentine’s Day is just FIVE days away! While the big day may be right around the corner, there’s still plenty of time to find that perfect gift for that special someone in your life, or to give them ideas for gifts for YOU!
Given that February is also American Heart Month, I thought it would be fun to look at some Valentine’s Day gifts that aren’t chocolate, candy, or calorie-laden. These are some gifts that will not only help celebrate the occasion, but can also help the heart of you or your loved one. How cool is that?!
Image: Fitbit
The first gift idea I thought of was a Fitbit activity tracker which retails for $99. This little gadget is a pedometer on steroids. I have one of these and love it! It’s a constant reminder to me to get moving which is great for the heart! It tracks steps taken, distance covered, calories burned, and it will even display floors climbed in the new Ultra model which now includes an altimeter! Free website access is included with the purchase (no additional subscription required) which can be used to set goals, track foods, etc. You can even link it with some of the most popular smartphone apps like MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, RunKeeper, Endomondo, etc. Check out the one in the middle in the photo above. To make it even more romantic, it’ll even display a flower each and every day to boot.
Image: Apple
For an idea a little more budget-friendly idea, how about an iPod Shuffle which retails for $49. You can load it up with some great workout tunes for your favorite runner, cyclist, or even for them just to dance off some calories. If you’re willing to shell out an extra $10 for expedited shipping, there’s just enough time to even get a custom message engraved on it for your loved one and still have it by Valentine’s Day! The husband of one of my best friend’s got her a Shuffle a couple of years ago for Valentine’s Day and had something along the lines of “Candy for your ears” engraved on it. I thought it was an awesome idea!
Image: Shrinking Kitchen
On a really tight budget? How about making your Valentine a nice healthy dinner to celebrate the day? There’s not rule that says a recipe has to have hundreds of calories to be appropriate for Valentine’s Day. As an example, check out the lightened up Meyer Lemon Chicken recipe from our sister site, Shrinking Kitchen. This chicken recipe is a great source of lean protein, comes in at under 300 calories per serving, but more most importantly for Valentine’s Day, look how beautiful it is on the plate!
So, those are some of my ideas for heart healthy gifts for the day of hearts! Remember, if you must have some chocolate, grab a small piece of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and flavonoids which make it a better choice for the heart than regular or milk chocolate.
Whatever you decide to do for Valentine’s Day, all of us here at the Sisterhood hope you’re able to spend the day with the one you love. Happy Valentine’s Day!