With Valentine's Day around the corner, I've compiled a list of the perfect Valentine's treats for your Raw Vegan friends, or anyone who wants to implement healthier lifestyle choices. Some of these treats are a great alternative to sugary, processed candies that flood the supermarkets in abundance this time of year. I hope you enjoy these delectable treats and spread the Valentine's Day love by sharing the gift of healthy living! :-)
1. Raw Chocolate. It wouldn't be a Valentine's day without the chocolate. But instead of having processed, high-sugar chocolate, why not opt for a healthier, even tastier alternative: Raw, Cacao Chocolate. Your friends and loved ones will LOVE these gourmet chocolate treats and will not be missing a thing about "regular," processed chocolate. I recommend, Not Your Sugar Mamas Raw Chocolate or anything from Coracao Confections which have a whole assortment of Valentine's Day treats.
2. Homemade Raw Chocolate or Cocao Covered Strawberries. I get it, ordering chocolate can be expensive. Not only that, but it may not get to you by the time you expect it. A great alternative is making your own chocolate! This way, you can get as creative as you want, adding new ingredients like a dash of Himalayan sea salt, lime, or extra cacao nibs. You can even create your own chocolate and dip them in some juicy, organic strawberries to hand out to your friends or give to that special someone for a mouth-watering, indulgent treat. Here's the simple recipe I use for making my Raw chocolate.
3. Dehydrator The Nesco food dehydrator is the perfect gift for your vegan/ raw/ health-conscious friends who want to step up their game! This contraption is the perfect option for making dehydrated fruit snacks, kale chips, fruit chips, raw tortillas, flax breads, raw crepes, and tacos and burritos. There is so much you can do with this amazing machine. The possibilities are endless!
4. Veggie Spiralizer. Vegetable Spiralizers are great for making Raw/ Vegan pastas and noodles. This is a must-have and perfect gift choice for anyone wanting to expand their Raw/Vegan food options. Zucchini and vegetable noodles are so low and fat and so extremely good for you too, and vegetable spiralizers make them easy to make.
5. Raw "Cookbooks." This is a truly perfect give for anyone wanting to go raw or eat more delicious, gourmet raw foods. My personal favorites include: Everyday Raw Express by Matthew Kenney or Judita Wingall's, Going Raw or Raw & Simple. All of these are filled with simple, quick, and delicious Raw recipes.
6. Dr. Cow Artisan Cheese Box. Dr. Cow specializes in making delicious, artisan, raw cheeses made from top quality nuts. This is a true treat for any Raw foodie or Veggie Enthusiast.
7. Vegan Cuts Snack Box. For about $20 a month, you can send a box of tasty treats to your vegan friends, filled with healthy sodas, snacks, and teas. You can send a one-time gift, or a re-occurring gift. There's also a vegan beauty box you can send to your more look-conscious, beauty-loving friends. These boxes are a treat any vegan would be more-than-happy to receive!
8. Personalized Fruit!
Rather than handing out candy to your friends and loved ones, why not give them a healthy, nutritious, sweet, scrumptious, and tasty treat instead? Fruit! Even better when accompanied by a cute and "punny" note like, "I'm bananas for you," "Orange I lucky you're my valentine?" and my personal favorite, "Will you go on a date with me?" I made some fruit tags just for you, right below, that you can print out, tape to some fruit, and hand out to your friends, lovers, or crushes. I hope you enjoy them, I know your friends will appreciate the healthy gesture and the cheesy Valentine's jokes ;-)
