Outside the "Heart Shaped Box" Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day

Not everyone enjoys the chocolate roulette game included in the traditional heart shaped box of chocolates. Most would prefer something more thoughtful and much more personal. Others, especially those reading this blog post, would also prefer to give and to receive something geared more towards health and wellness. Below is a short list of suggestions for gift ideas to give to your loved ones that are definitely "outside the box", but more importantly they are healthy alternatives to typical V-Day gifts!

1. FISH FIXE VALENTINE'S BOX

OK. So at first thought a delivery of fish is not the most romantic Valentine's day gift, but hear me out first! Fish Fixe is a local Houston company that delivers fresh, wild caught seafood to your door. Seeing as how February is also Heart Health Month, they have curated a special Heart Health Valentine's Box filled with heart healthy fish. All of their boxes also come with recipes to create your own romantic and heart healthy meal at home!

2. GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A MASSAGE

A couples massage is my favorite gift to give because it includes a gift for the one doing the gifting too! Sharing a time of reflection and relaxation with someone you love or your significant other is the perfect gift! I love that the products used and sold at Milk and Honey Spa are natural and chemical free. Plus they are currently running a Valentine's day special!

3. MATCHA GIFT SET

Perfect for the tea lover in your life! Gift them an entire Matcha gift set! Visit a local tea shop or cruise Amazon to find a matcha whisk, matcha scoop and a nice ceramic bowl or mug. Lastly include a container of organic Matcha Green Tea Powder like this one above! Learn more about the benefits of Matcha Green Tea here.

4. THE GIFT OF FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE

Loam Agronomics out of Richmond, Texas provides a CSA or community supported agriculture service allowing you to gift that special someone a weekly box of farm fresh produce! Gift as little as a month or an entire year. Even better, offer to prepare or cook a dish using that weekly CSA box!

5. AT HOME SPA KIT

Fill a basket for your loved one to enjoy a nice bath or spa like experience at home! First pick out your sweetie's favorite candle - Milk & Honey mentioned above makes a few great ones! Include a dry brush, a few essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus and a bag of epsom salt as well, and your spa kit is complete! Read more about the benefits of essential oils here!

6. MAKE YOUR SWEETIE SOMETHING "SWEET"

Nothing is more thoughtful and special than sharing a recipe that has been cooked with love! Try my Chocolate Tahini Fudge Recipe, which is a no bake fudge that is refined sugar free and very easy to make. Kelsey of Little Bits of Real Food + Real Talk has several healthy, paleo dessert options, including a recipe for Honey Vanilla Almond Butter Cups to make for your Valentine or to share with the entire family!

7. HEALTHY STORE BOUGHT CHOCOLATE ALTERNATIVES

Your typical store bought box of chocolate and chocolate bar contains more sugar than actual chocolate or cacao itself. It also likely contains hydrogenated oils and soy lecithin too and contains little nutritional value! Raw cacao is actually a very nutrient dense food and contains antioxidants as well as magnesium, iron and manganese. Stores like HEB, Whole Foods, Sprouts and Central Market now carry brands that not only are soy free, but also have varieties that are refined sugar free too! When picking out a chocolate bar or treat, be sure to pick one that is at least 70% dark and ideally going for the chocolate bars that are 80-85% dark. Less than 70% means you are getting more sugar than anything else in your chocolate bar. Below are a few of my favorite store bought dark chocolate brands: