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Valentine's Day is just around the corner. But when you're planning a romantic dinner for two—striking the perfect balance between health and indulgence is essential if you’re on a weight loss journey.
Thankfully, there are plenty of low-calorie recipes that you and your partner can enjoy guilt-free without compromising on taste.
We’ve got some mouthwatering dishes for you to try that are packed with flavor, but won't derail your healthy eating goals.
From appealing appetizers and moreish main courses to decadent desserts and delicious drinks—we've got you covered.
You’ll be able to savor every bite without worrying about excess calories.
Here are some Valentine’s Day dinner ideas for you to indulge without the guilt and impress your date with your skills in the kitchen.
Tips for planning a guilt-free Valentine's Day feast
Planning a romantic and guilt-free Valentine's Day dinner doesn’t (and shouldn’t) have to be stressful or time-sapping.
Just bear in mind these few simple tips to create a menu that is both delicious and nutritious.
- Choose lean proteins: Lean proteins like chicken, fish, or tofu are lower in calories and saturated fats than red meats like beef or pork.
- Create a veggie-packed dinner: Load up your plates with plenty of colorful vegetables to add flavor, texture, and essential nutrients. Grilling or roasting seasoned veggies is the way to go.
- Use healthy cooking methods: Ditch the fried foods. Try baking, grilling, or steaming instead. These cooking methods require less oil, resulting in a healthier meal.
- Control your portion sizes: Pay attention to portion sizes to avoid overeating. You don’t want to spend what should be a romantic meal feeling bloated. Using smaller plates and serving up individual portions helps control how much food you consume.
- Strike a healthy balance: A balanced menu that includes a variety of appetizers, main courses, sides, and desserts from the recipes below can ensure a satisfying meal that your date will never forget.
Now, let's dive into some recipes that will feel like they were cooked by Cupid himself.
Appetizers
Start your Valentine's Day meal on a light but full-flavored note with a healthy appetizer dish—like one of these mouthwatering culinary masterpieces.
Caprese skewers
Ingredients…
- Cherry tomatoes
- Mozzarella balls
- Basil leaves
- Balsamic glaze
- Salt and pepper
Instructions…
- Thread a cherry tomato, mozzarella ball, and basil leaf onto a skewer.
- Repeat to make as many as needed.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Cucumber roll-ups
Ingredients…
- Cucumber
- Smoked salmon
- Cream cheese
- Fresh dill
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
Instructions…
- Using a mandoline or vegetable peeler, slice the cucumber lengthwise into thin strips.
- In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, chopped dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese mixture onto each cucumber strip.
- Place a piece of smoked salmon on top and roll it all up.
- Secure with a toothpick and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Stuffed mushrooms
Ingredients…
- Wild mushrooms (e.g. portobello or button)
- Spinach
- Garlic
- Feta cheese
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Remove stems from the mushrooms and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic until fragrant.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted.
- Chop the mushroom stems and add them to the skillet.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Fill each mushroom cap with spinach mixture and sprinkle with feta cheese.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the mushrooms are tender.
That’s it! Some pretty easy first-course options that are tasty, healthy, and quick to make.
Oh, and it will seem like you’ve made a lot more effort than you actually have (don’t worry, we won’t tell). Bonus.
Now, let's move on to the main dish recipes.
Mains
The main course is the star of your Valentine's show (apart from yourself, of course)—and these low-calorie recipes will not disappoint.
Zucchini noodles with pesto
Ingredients…
- Zucchini
- Basil
- Pine nuts
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions…
- Spiralize zucchini into noodles using a spiralizer or vegetable peeler.
- In a food processor, combine basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
- In a skillet, heat the olive oil and sauté zucchini noodles until tender.
- Toss the noodles with the pesto sauce until well coated.
- Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top.
Grilled lemon herb chicken
Ingredients…
- Chicken breasts
- Lemon zest
- Fresh herbs (e.g. rosemary, thyme, parsley)
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions…
- In a bowl, combine lemon zest, chopped herbs, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Add chicken breasts to the bowl and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill chicken breasts for six to eight minutes per side or until cooked through.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Vegan lentil curry
Ingredients…
- Red lentils
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Curry powder
- Coconut milk
- Vegetable broth
- Spinach
- Salt and pepper
Instructions…
- Rinse lentils under cold water.
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil and sauté onion, garlic, and ginger until fragrant.
- Add curry powder and cook for another minute.
- Add lentils, coconut milk, and vegetable broth to the pot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until lentils are tender.
- Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with rice.
These main courses are all low in calories, but big on taste. So you and your Valentine will have plenty of room for dessert later on.
Next, let's move on to some yummy side dish options.
Sides
The right side dish can elevate a meal, so try these light and extra flavorful options to complement your Valentine's Day dinner.
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Ingredients…
- Brussels sprouts
- Olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper
Instructions…
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Trim the ends of the Brussels sprouts and cut them in half.
- Toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Spread them out on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until the Brussels sprouts are crispy and golden brown.
Quinoa salad with lemon vinaigrette
Ingredients…
- Quinoa
- Cucumber
- Cherry tomatoes
- Red onion
- Parsley
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions…
- Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the packet, then let it cool.
- In a bowl, combine cooked quinoa with diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, and chopped parsley.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make the vinaigrette.
- Pour the vinaigrette over the quinoa salad and toss until well-coated.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Oven-roasted sweet potatoes
Ingredients…
- Sweet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Paprika
- Cinnamon
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Peel and cube the sweet potatoes.
- In a bowl, toss the potatoes with olive oil, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
- Spread them out on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized.
All of these side dishes partner up really well with the main courses above—so feel free to experiment with pairings.
Now, let's move on to the sweetest part of the meal: Desserts (yum).
Desserts
No romantic Valentine's Day dinner is complete without a treat.
These indulgent dessert recipes will satisfy your sweet tooth without derailing your healthy eating goals.
Chocolate avocado mousse
Ingredients…
- Ripe avocados
- Cocoa powder
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Almond milk
- Berries for garnish
Instructions…
- In a food processor, blend avocados with cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and almond milk until smooth and creamy.
- Divide the mousse into serving bowls or glasses.
- Refrigerate for at least two hours to allow mousse to set.
- Garnish with fresh berries, then serve.
Mixed berry parfait
Ingredients…
- Greek yogurt
- Mixed berries (e.g. strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Granola
- Honey
Instructions…
- In a glass or bowl, layer Greek yogurt, mixed berries, and granola.
- Drizzle with honey.
- Repeat layers until you reach the top.
- Finish with an extra sprinkle of granola and drizzle of honey.
Baked apples with cinnamon
Ingredients…
- Apples
- Cinnamon
- Honey
- Chopped nuts (e.g. walnuts, almonds)
Instructions…
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Core the apples, leaving the bottom intact.
- In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and honey.
- Fill each apple with the cinnamon-honey mixture.
- Place the apples in a baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until tender.
- Sprinkle with chopped nuts before serving.
These desserts are the perfect way to end your dinner on a sweet note.
Finally, let's quench your thirst with some refreshing and low-calorie drink options.
Drinks
After your delicious dinner, it’s time to toast to the romantic night with a drink (or two).
Try these refreshing, low-calorie drink recipes to round out your evening.
Strawberry basil lemonade
Ingredients…
- Strawberries
- Basil leaves
- Lemon juice
- Honey or agave syrup
- Sparkling water
- Ice cubes
Instructions…
- In a blender, combine strawberries, basil leaves, lemon juice, honey or agave syrup, and a splash of water.
- Blend until smooth.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the strawberry mixture over the ice.
- Top with sparkling water and garnish with a strawberry and basil leaf.
- ADULT IT UP: Add some chilled white wine to create a spritzer cocktail.
Cucumber mint mojito
Ingredients…
- Cucumber slices
- Mint leaves
- Lime juice
- Agave syrup
- White rum
- Soda water
- Ice cubes
Instructions…
- In a glass, muddle cucumber slices, mint leaves, lime juice, and agave syrup.
- Add in white rum and stir (feel free to skip this step if you don’t want to drink alcohol).
- Fill the glass with ice cubes and top with soda water.
- Garnish with a cucumber slice and mint sprig.
Sparkling pomegranate mocktail
Ingredients…
- Pomegranate juice
- Lime juice
- Sparkling water
- Pomegranate arils for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions…
- In a glass, combine pomegranate juice and lime juice.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes.
- Top with sparkling water and stir gently.
- Garnish with fresh pomegranate arils if desired.
- ADULT IT UP: Mix in rum, vodka, or gin to turn the mocktail into a cocktail.
Whether you choose to go alcohol-free or not, these drinks can enhance any date night or fancy dinner party (for two).
Celebrate with your Valentine…
A meal with your partner should be fun and stress-free, and that’s what all of these Valentine’s Day dinner ideas are all about.
These delicious culinary concoctions will help you set the scene and create a romantic atmosphere without taking hours to prepare.
So go ahead and indulge yourselves for the night. Every recipe on this list can fit neatly into your healthy lifestyle, is surprisingly easy to create—and can make your special evening just a bit fancier. Enjoy.
