• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Chocolate Covered Strawberries

3 Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats for Your Sweetie

Feb 8, 2019 |
By Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Think outside the (heart-shaped) box this Valentine’s Day. If you know your sweetie is watching sugary carbs and calories, or has made a New Year's resolutionto eat more healthfully and exercise, ask yourself: Is a big box of chocolates going to warm the heart?

Whether your sweetie loves sweet, salty, chocolate, or all of the above, we’ve got you covered with these three better-for-you indulgences.

1. Mo's Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar: These are gluten-free.

    Bacon plus chocolate, what’s not to love? And while these chocolate bars by Vosges Chocolate aren’t quite the 70-plus percent cocoa that I usually recommend, they still make for a deliciously fun and unique Valentine’s gift. The smoky bacon is finely chopped into little “nibs” of bacon, paired with a little smoked salt mixed into the rich 62 percent chocolate, a decadent combination of salty and sweet.

    Per square:  About 50 calories and 4 grams of sugar.


    2. Red Velvet Halo Top Ice Cream: This ice cream is gluten-free.

      Little chunks of red velvet cake mixed through a pint of creamy Halo Top’s ice cream, this will be a hit for ice cream lovers and red velvet fans alike. Even better: Add a drizzle of our DIY “Magic Shell” chocolate (see recipe below). And here’s why we love it, nutritionally: It has about half the calories of regular ice cream, and about 75 percent fewer calories than ultra-premium ice cream, with an added boost of protein.

      Per half-cup serving: 90 calories, 3 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 16 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugar, 5 grams protein.


      3. Magic Shell Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: This is vegan and gluten-free.

        Super-simple with only four ingredients: coconut oil, pure dark chocolate, Swerve Sweetener and strawberries, these chocolate-covered strawberries are decadent, delicious, beautiful – and nutritious, too. The coating is like Magic Shell – that stuff you had when you were a kid that hardened when you poured it over ice cream. Only this is a version of Magic Shell that’s better for you.

        It’s easy to make: Combine half a cup of coconut oil with one 4-ounce 100 percent dark chocolate bar, broken into small pieces. Heat in the microwave or on the stove, stirring until chocolate is completely melted. Gradually stir in a cup of Swerve, stirring until thoroughly dissolved. Then just drizzle over frozen strawberries and it'll harden within seconds. It’s also delicious over protein-rich low-calorie ice cream like Halo Top or Breyer's Delights, or any other type of frozen fruit. If you have any leftover, store it in an airtight container and heat when ready to use it.

        A version of this article originally appeared on Nola.com. See the full article here.

        Note: Registered dietician Molly Kimball offers brand-name products as a consumer guide; she, along with Ochsner Health, do not solicit product samples nor are paid to recommend items.

        You may also be interested in:

        Holiday Hot Chocolate
        Food & Fitness
        March 25, 2022

        Healthy Peppermint and Chocolate Holiday Treats

        Healthy peppermint and peppermint-chocolate holiday swaps to help satisfy your sweet tooth.
        By Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD
        Gettyimages 954574688
        Food & Fitness
        February 23, 2022

        How to Break the Sugar Habit

        Sugar has a tremendous influence on our brains, triggering our bodies to produce feel-good chemicals that, when combined with fat and salt, light up the same areas of the brain that are activated by addictive drugs.
        By Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD

        email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

        Ochsner Health

        Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

        Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

        Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

        Sign Up

        Patients & Visitors

        • Billing & Financial Services
        • Insurance Information
        • International Patients
        • Request Medical Records
        • Share Your Story
        • Read Patient Stories

        Medical Professionals

        • Transfer a Patient
        • Refer a Patient

        Health Resources

        • To Your Health Blog
        • Golden Opportunity
        • Healthy State
        • Ochsner Magazine

        Job Seekers

        • Career Paths
        • Benefits
        • Open Positions

        Employees

        • Webmail
        • OHSLink
        • Workday

        Employers

        • Corporate Wellness
        • Medicare Advantage Plans

        Community Outreach

        • Classes & Events
        • Programs
        • Community Health Needs Assessment
        • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

        Education

        • Graduate Medical Education
        • Clinical Medical Education
        • Continuing Medical Education
        • Medical Library
        • Publishing Services
        • Medical Illustrations

        Research

        • Clinical Trials
        • Applied Health Services Research
        • Clinical Research & Trials
        • Nursing Research
        • Translational Research

        Giving

        • Donate
        • Volunteer

        About Ochsner

        • Mission & Vision
        • History
        • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
        • Annual Report
        • Outcomes & Honors
        • News & Media
        • Alumni
        • Ochsner Health Network
        • Contact Us

        Shop

        • O Bar
        • Optical Shop
        • Ochsner Fitness Center
        • Brent House Hotel

        © Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

        Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

        Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

        We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

        Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

        Community Needs Health Assessment

        EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

        newsletter icon

        Subscribe to Our Newsletters

        newsletter icon

        Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

        Please select at least one category to continue.

        Curious about our newsletters?

        View details for each edition
        newsletter icon

        Let us know where to send your newsletters.

        To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
        To Your Health- General:
        To Your Health- Men’s Health:
        To Your Health- Parenting:
        To Your Health- Women’s Health:
        To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
        To Your Health- Skin Deep:

        Source:
        Source Description:
        Marketing Goal:
        newsletter icon

        You're all set!

        We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

        Ochsner Health System
        magnifying glass icon
        ESC to Close

        Begin Typing to Search

        Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide