Breaking traditions can be healthy from time to time. Take Galentine’s Day, a creative response to the dilemma some people face on Valentine’s Day — being single. Rather than sign up on a dating app, just call up some gals and dedicate the Valentine’s Day to your friendship! But before you start buying or making sugary sweets for the big day, consider breaking this tradition — opt for fruits and vegetables instead as they help regulate the digestive system, lower your risk of heart disease and multiple other diseases. Refined sugars, found in added-sugar snacks and baked items, however, do the exact opposite. So, this Galentine’s Day, try impressing your girlfriends with healthy grazing boards that satisfy your sweet tooth and your heart — literally.
Peach Caprese salad
(Courtesy of Colleen Eversman)
Just looking at Kate Arends’ jaw-dropping dish will get your salivary glands going. This salad is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy; thick, peach slices hugging the prosciutto and mozzarella. Preparing this board takes about 10 minutes. Aside from slicing the peaches, mozzarella and prosciutto, you’ll need to make a balsamic sauce. Heat up the balsamic vinegar in a saucepan until it’s thick. Then, drizzle it over the salad for that rich flavour to kick in.
All-Veggie Board
(Courtesy of Luci’s Morsels)
Vegetables do look pretty too! This convenient, ready-in-15-minutes grazing board is all about bringing out the typical colours Valentine’s Day is known for. So, get ready for red radishes, watermelon radishes, red pepper, purple cauliflower and Monterey jack cheese to colour your appetite. Served along with whole grain crackers and a low-fat ranch dip, this assortment marries simple flavours in a delightful way.
Fruit platter with Coconut Chocolate Ganache
(Courtesy of Alida Ryder)
While indulging in chocolate may seem like a guilt trip on a journey to health, dark chocolate is a safer alternative, promising a low-carb ganache to dip your fruits in. Boil 400 millilitres of coconut milk, and add 300 grams of chopped chocolate to it, gently stirring after it starts to melt. You can choose your favourite fruits to accompany this ganache.
Tashon Daley | Contributing Writer
