It`s that time of year again. Love is in the air and chocolates, candies and cakes are everywhere. It can seem almost impossible to have a healthy Valentine`s Day and the situation can be even more difficult if you have a food intolerance. However, you don`t need to avoid the special day entirely or have less fun than you usually would just because you`re worried about what you should eat. There are several ways that you can enjoy celebrating Valentine`s Day while keeping the treats healthy and respecting your (or your loved ones) food intolerances.

While a box of chocolates is a traditional Valentine`s favourite, there are a number of other options as well. If you can`t eat chocolate due to a food intolerance or a food allergy or if you`re trying to stay healthy this year, you can still celebrate the occasion. Try replacing the chocolate with candy, cupcakes, cookies or other sweets if you`re unable to eat chocolate. If you want to cut the calories and give a healthier gift, don`t overlook fruit. It may seem boring at first, but that`s not true at all! Many different retailers now offer fruit bouquets that look and taste absolutely amazing. If you want to really impress the one you love, make a fruit bouquet yourself!

When you make your fruit bouquet, you can choose which fruits to include. That means you can leave out any foods that you or your loved ones may be intolerant to. It`s the perfect way to celebrate the day and show you care. To make the bouquet, you`ll need a selection of fruit to start. The amount of fruit you use will depend on the size of the bouquet you`d like to make and the type of fruit is entirely up to you. You`ll also need wooden or bamboo skewers and a pot, vase or container of some kind to place the arrangement in. Fill the container with play-dough or foam so that the skewers can stand up in it. Cut up the fruit in whatever manner you`d like. You can try cutting it into flower shapes if you`re feeling particularly ambitious. Then place the fruit on the skewers in a pleasing manner and insert the skewers into the container filled with dough or foam. Keep going until you like what you see!

Another common Valentine`s Day activity is having a romantic dinner. For many people this means dining at a restaurant. However, food intolerances, food allergies, dietary restrictions and health concerns can sometimes make it difficult to find a restaurant that suits your needs. The only way to truly know exactly what ingredients are in your meal is to make the meal yourself. Thankfully, it`s certainly possible to make a romantic meal at home, even if you`re not an expert chef! Couples can even work together to cook a special dinner. That way not only will you be able to enjoy some excellent food together, but you`ll have fun preparing it as well! Its a great way to spend Valentine`s Day and you can avoid whatever foods you want!

An important thing to keep in mind is that you don`t HAVE to celebrate Valentine`s Day with sweet treats and food. Flowers, stuffed animals and other small gifts are a great way to let someone know you care without breaking the bank or worrying about health effects. Taking a romantic walk, watching a movie together, playing a board game or just spending quality time with someone you care about are all excellent ways to celebrating Valentine`s Day.

How are you planning to spend the day?