10 Foodie Things To Show Your Love EVERYDAY

Valentine’s Day. It’s one of those holidays that used to bring a lot of “upset” to my house. I have openly expressed how my husband feels about this “Hallmark Holiday”, so there is no use rehashing it. In all honesty, I really can’t blame him. I don’t get this holiday myself. I used to like it, but after years of not really celebrating it, hating it, dreading it… years of buying stupid valentine cards for my kids to share with their friends, knowing they would all end up in the trash shortly after. What a waste.

Why do we need one day in the year to tell our loved ones that, well, we love them?

Shouldn’t we be doing this everyday or most everyday?

Why do we need to be thankful only in November and December?

Everyday we should be thankful and appreciative of the blessings in our lives, in however way you want to express it.

I swore up and down to myself that I wouldn’t do a Valentine’s post. But, all over the web, all I see are heart shaped cookies, candies, sandwiches, pancakes… you name it.

Ack!!

Really?

Call me the Grinch of Valentine’s Day, but I’m just not feeling it.

So, honey, you are off the hook again this year. No over-priced roses for me on Tuesday. No mushy card necessary with your sarcastic comment inside. Don’t you dare buy expensive chocolate covered strawberries, I can dip them myself. You show me you love 364 days of the year, so you can take a day off on Valentine’s Day.

Here are 10 foodie things you can do to show your family that you love them EVERYDAY:

1. Cook a home-cooked dinner for your family for most nights of the week.
2. Keep it real, REAL food that is. If you can’t go 100% unprocessed, go 80%. Just take that first step.
3. Read labels. If the box says “Whole-Grain” it doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Read the fiber content. Read the sugar content. Don’t stop reading.
4. Keep a fresh fruit bowl on the counter for easy snacks.
5. Pack your lunch, whether you are in school or going to work.
6. Shop local. Support local farmers and shop farmer’s markets. It guarantees the freshness of your produce.
7. Introduce new foods and cultures frequently to the dining table.
8. Keep it green. Serve something green in every meal you serve or eat.
9. Pass on the sweets. Eat a piece of fruit instead. Teach your kids that you don’t need a fatty dessert everyday.
10. Tell your family you love them everyday. Because if you know you are loved, you will take better care of yourself and you won’t eat the wrong foods for the wrong reasons.

(top image from SparkPeople)