Healthy Twist to Valentine's Day

By Amanda Richert

Classic Valentine's Day date ideas tend to lean toward the indulgent: a movie, complete with a giant soda and a large bucket of popcorn (with extra butter); reservations at an extravagant French restaurant; or cocktails and fried foods at a bar. Any of those date ideas could make for a memorable night, but perhaps not the healthiest choice. Here are a few great date ideas that will leave you feeling healthier, not heavier.

Go to the Marketplace

Instead of spending your evening (and entire paycheck) on an expensive dinner, take your date to a farmers market and pick up some locally-grown, healthy products to cook together. Walking around the market will get your heart rate up, and eating organic food is great for your community and your body.

Get Outside

Getting some fresh air with a nice daytime hike is a great way to spend some quality time with your S.O. Don't forget to carry water and snacks to stay hydrated and to keep your energy and spirits up. If you're not up for a hike, a stroll in the woods or walk around the neighborhood also burns calories, gets you out of the house, and can be very romantic.

Just Dance

Twirling around the dance floor with a hot date on your arm might just be the most classic night out. Ever. And it's a great way to get some aerobic exercise, too! According to this post from Fitness Blender, Hip Hop, Salsa, and Zumba can help you burn some serious calories.

Be Flexible

A couple that stretches together, stays together? There are many preconceptions about yoga that simply aren't true, one being that yoga isn't a couple's activity. Like dancing, yoga can be a great way to work up a sweat with your partner, and it can help improve intimacy and other areas of your relationship to make it even stronger.

Wine and Chocolate

In the right quantities, both red wine and dark chocolate can be perfectly healthy and even beneficial to your body. According to the American Heart Association, there's evidence that a glass or two of red wine a day can lower blood pressure and prevent heart disease. The ingredients in dark chocolate can also help improve your blood pressure. So have a small amount of both — just remember, a "small amount" is not an entire bottle or box.