Make this Valentines meal one to remember

Every Valentines Day it seems the same thing; a cycle of flowers, a teddy bear, dinner out, a movie, chocolate, jewelry, a gag gift. Repeat. Aside from the jewelry everything else is such a momentary event. Do you even remember what you gave to a loved one last year? Or what you recieved?

This Valentines Day keep the healthy lifestyle alive. Instead of a calorie heavy dinner out, create a picnic basket of healthy food and head to the park. An intimate meal for two. For ambiance bring your MP3 player and if you haven't done it yet buy a small external speaker like the Gigaware and play some nice background music. Classical and Orchestra are great but stick to stuff you know, Take a look at John Williams greatest hits 1969-1999. Every song is memorable and elicits story's from the past.

The water for your picnic comes bottled thanks to your first gift, a BPA-free Nalgene or SIGG bottle. Use a zero calorie seltzer or sparkling water. If you have both been good with your nutrition splurge on a Martinelli sparkling cider. A word of advice, carbonatedd drinks will seep through a Nalgene lid, not so with SIGG type containers. Trust me.

Start with an appetizer of hot soup and a small slice of french bread. It is eacy to find a tomato bisque that is full of flavor, healthy and warms the belly without the heavy cream found in restaurant fare. Bring the soup in a thermos and serve in a mug. If you have an outdoors side, pack your camping stove and warm it up on the spot.

For the heartier fare, try boneless skinless chicken breasts. Cut and skewer them onto bamboo sticks. Keep the seasonings modest on the chicken, but a small container of mild buffalo wing sauce provides a nice touch for dipping.

Is a pinic a picnic without potato salad? Of course not. If you can't make a healthy version yourself, go ask mom. In lieu of that browse the deli section of your store and keep the portion size small. Stick to mustard versions over mayonnaise.

The third part of your main course served with the chicken and salad is a plate of finger food. Keep it simple and colorful, remember this is only for the two of you. Slice an apple, an orange colored pepper, strawberries and some celery. These provide some much needed crunch to the meal. Add some cheddar cheese and bited sized cuts from the french bread.

By Valentines Day, everyone has had at least a little bit of chocolate and it is expected this meal will do the same, but how do you make it memorable months down the road from all the other chocolate kisses, bars and such? Nutella. Use the remaining strawberries and bite sized bread for dipping in this messy but wonderfully tasting spread. Finish the meal with a thermos of hot tea. Again a camp stove adds memorizing flair and you can pour the tea into the Sigg or Nalgene bottle.

Some other tips to make your picnic momentus. Bring a nice throw blanket for ground cover or if your sitting at a bench it can be used as a wrap. Chemical handwarmers are a thoughtful gag gift that actually have a purpose. Instead of paper napkins buy your significant other a set of cloth napkins for years of use or buy a unique oversized bandanna at a local hiking/outdoor store that can be used for a hundred purposes in the years ahead; if you bought the water bottles and put hot tea in them, use the bandanna as a cozy as the metal bottle will get quite warm. If your partner did not own an MP3 player or an external speaker, then the final gift is when you had them the unit.

Health is not just about what you put into your body or how you exercise, it's also about having a healthy mind. Instead of a generic greeting card, practice a speech praising your significant other that lasts for at least three minutes, saying all the things you love and appreciate about them. Then look into their eyes, hold their hand and give it your best.

Its not difficult to have a healthy meal for Valentines Day. What is hard is making it one that a person will remember for years to come. Catch them off balance by eating outside rather than in and offer gifts and words that promote health that will last for years to come.