There’s a whole lot of pressure on Valentine’s Day. From setting the mood to getting just the right gift and planning a perfect date-night meal, it can feel like a lot of work. But nothing about such a beautiful and romantic day should be stressful, and if we can save ourselves some work, we’re all about it. One great option is to pick up some snacks at Costco. Nutritionists know the best satisfying and healthy Valentine’s Day snacks, and they found great options to pick up at – believe it or not! – Costco.
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1. Meat and Cheese Board
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Boards are such a thing these days, just look at TikTok or Instagram. Impress your date this year with a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board. How cute is that? A fun aspect of this board is you get to customize it with your favorite meats, cheese, crackers, and sweet treats, making it feel truly unique and personal.
“I always love picking up a pack of Teton Waters Ranch Polish Sausages from Costco to thinly slice to add to this spread,” says Mackenzie Burgess, RDN and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices. “They’re 100% grass-fed allowing them to have beneficial nutrients like healthy fats and antioxidants.”
2. Chickpeas
Whether you love air-frying them, blending them into hummus, or enjoying them as a poppable snack, chances are you are a chickpea fan – and there are some great options at Costco for Valentine’s Day.
“Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a great source of antioxidants that may help protect against chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer,” says Burgess.
They are also packed with plant-based protein: One cup of cooked chickpeas contains 15 grams of protein.
“I like to stock up on this pantry-friendly food at Costco and use it in a variety of recipes,” says Burgess. “Try blending into beet hummus and serving with pita chips and veggies for a festive and healthy V-Day snack.”
Or have a Valentine’s Day snack ready to go with a bag of The Good Bean Organic Sea Salt Chickpeas!
3. Milton’s Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Sometimes, a cozy pizza and movie night is just what we need during Valentine’s Day.
“Instead of ordering delivery, leaning on Milton’s Cauliflower Crust Pizza, Roasted Vegetable lets us enjoy pizza night while getting a boost of veggies, thanks to the cauliflower crust,” says Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD. “This pizza is gluten-free, crispy when baked, and made with cheese that is rBST free.”
Enjoying this pizza with a glass of red wine and a side salad is a perfect meal for a quiet and romantic night in.
4. Wholly Guacamole
Show your love and let your valentine know how much “you guac my world” by adding avocado to your Valentine’s Day!
“It’s the perfect delicious and nutritious addition to a Valentine’s snack or meal such as my go-to favorite, avocado toast,” says Megan Roosevelt, RDN and founder of @healthygrocerygirl and @funwithfoodkids. “I love buying guacamole from Costco because it’s always ripe and always ready – there’s no need to wait for avocados to ripen.”
Roosevelt gets Wholly Guacamole because it’s always ready when she needs it and made with no preservatives and comes in a three-pack of 15-ounce bowls. “Because guacamole is made from avocados, a nutrient-dense fruit, it’s a good source of healthy fats (like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats). The nutrients found in avocados may also support heart health, another reason to love avocados on the day of love,” she says.
5. Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Minis
With Valentine’s Day comes lots of chocolate, which means added sugars and a greater chance of blood sugar spikes.
“Instead of skipping out on chocolate entirely, try Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Mini’s,” says Alyssa Wilson, RDN and Signos metabolic success coach. “These tasty chocolate minis are made with only three ingredients and have no artificial sweeteners or syrups. Plus, the coconut’s added fats, vitamins, and minerals can help stabilize blood sugar.”
6. Nature’s Path Love Granola Chocolate & Red Berries
Chocolate for breakfast? Why not? It’s a special day.
“Many granolas are high in added sugar and fats,” says Wilson. “Too much in one sitting can lead to blood sugar spikes. What’s more, added sugars are linked to metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases. This guilt-free granola contains only 6 grams of added sugar from cane sugar, is low in saturated fats, and higher in heart-healthy, unsaturated fats.”
Pair it with some low-fat Greek yogurt for a perfect way to start your Valentine’s Day.
7. Organic Dates
Why not enjoy your date…over dates? A bit on the nose!
“Dates are a powerhouse fruit that is rich in antioxidants, high in fiber, and supports bone and gut health,” says Wilson. “While dates may seem a little boring (and not very tasty), they actually have a nice sweetness to them that is delicious to eat on a regular basis — even on Valentine’s Day.”
Dress them up by covering them in dark chocolate and sprinkling them with a little sea salt.
8. Costco Heart-Shaped Macarons
There’s never a better time to enjoy adorable heart-shaped desserts.
“Aside from being light and yummy, French macarons generally contain less calorie count than other desserts and have very low sodium and cholesterol levels,” says Christine Kingsley, APRN, and the health and wellness director of the Lung Institute. “Due to their usual bite-sized serving, overeating is minimized which lessens the risk of sugar crashing.”
Not to mention, these desserts are so light and delicate that they can be paired with any beverage without overpowering the taste buds— a nice way to sweeten up your Valentine’s Day celebration.
Read next: 10 Frozen Foods at Costco Nutritionists Love To Buy
The post 8 Costco Foods Nutritionists Love for Valentine’s Day appeared first on Clean Plates.