Staying Healthy on Valentines Day

Valentine’s Day allows people to show affection to those they love. For many, a meal is the best way to celebrate their feelings, but this often results in a splurge of money and a surge in calories.

Turns out, there’s a way to keep the romance high and the calories low. Online fitness resource Total Shape compiled the top 10 healthiest date-night meals on Tasty so that you don’t have to.

• All 10 recipes have a calorie count below 350 per portion
• They have been recommended by at least 90% of people who have tried them
• The sugar content is below 10g per portion in all recipes

First on the list is the 3-ingredient Chili-Glazed Salmon. With 96% recommendations from those who made it and just 107 calories per portion, this meal is set to be a Valentine’s Day winner.

The three ingredients also mean this meal will be kind on the wallet as well as quick to prepare – simply mix the chili sauce and the scallions with the salmon and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes.

Next up are meatballs! Meatballs are normally associated with fattier meats such as beef and pork, but to make these a lot healthier but just as delicious, these are Chicken Meatballs.

The ingredients include foods you likely have in your cupboards already like salt, pepper, cheese, eggs, garlic and more, these meatballs pack a punch of flavor. And they’re baked not fried!

The third meal on the list is another salmon-based dish – it’s Grilled Salmon. Grilling is great for letting all the unwanted fats drip out leaving you with a meal that’s just 134 calories per portion, but a lovely 11g of delicious protein.

Who doesn’t like a good tomato sauce? If you have time on our hands get cooking with this two-and-a-half-hour Tomato Sauce.

Full of delicious ingredients like oregano, basil, garlic and more, this tomato sauce spends most of its time simmering so you don’t have to watch it the entire time. Serve with bread, rice or pasta.

If you’re hoping to stay trim, pasta may not be a go-to, but luckily zucchinis can be used instead to whip up Zucchini Shrimp Scampi.

Using a cheese grater to create zucchini noodles, this fresh shrimp dish remains light as well as tasty with the addition of chicken broth and herb leaves.

With just 168 calories per portion, the Turkey Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers are sure to have your date praising your cooking! Light and healthy, this dish still includes the black beans, corn, salsa and guacamole so you don’t have to lose the trimmings.

97% of those who tried it would make it again, which makes it a promising dish for Valentine’s Day!

16g of protein per portion and 92% recommendations makes the 183-calorie meal that is Thai Green Prawn Noodles another Valentine’s Day winner. Another dish with few ingredients but lots of flavor, this one will likely earn you high praise with little effort, all while being kind to the waistline.

The Red Chili Shrimp stir-fry has a whopping 23g per portion and is still less than 200 calories per portion. If the heat isn’t for you or your guest, simply leave the red pepper flakes out.

A dish that takes very little time to prepare, it can be served with noodles, bread or pasta, or simply with a salad.

Pasta is a food most people know how to cook and it’s quick, simple and familiar. If you’d rather cook something you know and don’t mind the 28g of carbs per portion, this Penne with Tomato Sauce dish may be just the thing for you.

If you or your date aren’t a fan of the chili, the red chili flakes can be left out. This is a great base to add meat or fish to if you wish, or simply have on its own – a lovely vegan Valentine’s Day meal!

This ginger shroomy goodness is perfect who anyone who loves a quick, high-impact dinner! Ginger, soy, mushrooms and shrimps make this meal irresistible. Along with the bell peppers and the red chili shrimp, the Ginger Mushroom Shrimp Stir-Fry has the highest recommendation percentage at 97%, and 25g protein – the highest on the list.

Likely to leave you and your date wishing for more, this light but flavor-filled recipe can be made vegan by removing the shrimp to make a vegan meal. Simply replace the shrimp with more mushrooms or tofu.

A spokesperson for Total Shape said: “This research allows you to have healthy recipes all in one place that also appear easy to produce

“Valentine’s Day is one of the days in the year when it really counts to do something special – now people can feel good about their health at the same time.”