Marty Barrick/The Washington Post
Tuesday is Valentine’s Day, which is right behind Halloween when it comes to holidays for candy lovers.
We here at KidsPost would never say that you should avoid sweets altogether. (In part, because we couldn’t do that, and it seems wrong to suggest you try to!) But there are ways to enjoy the sweetest parts of the holiday and still keep healthful eating in mind. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics came up with these suggestions, some of which may surprise you — and your parents.
Eat chocolate. The cocoa in chocolate is good for your heart. Other popular Valentine candy such as Sweet Tarts, Red Hots and gummy candies are like eating pure sugar with no benefits. Dark chocolate is better for you than milk chocolate.
Go nuts. Treats that have nuts tend to deliver the biggest benefits to the heart. Avoid chocolates filled with creams, which are high in fat, or with “fruit” fillings that likely don’t feature any real fruit — just extra sugar.
Don’t be a pig. Stick to one or two pieces of chocolate, max.
Combine chocolate and fruit. For a special — and healthful — treat, ask your parents to melt dark chocolate and drizzle it over strawberries, pineapple, kiwis or another favorite fruit. Yum.
Go to kidspost.com to vote in our poll: What’s your favorite Valentine treat?
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