Next Friday is Valentine’s Day, a day of celebrating love with soppy cards, heart-shaped chocolates, overpriced roses, and a sea of red dishes and treats all over social media. For some, it’s a cherished day to declare their love to their partner, but for others, it can feel lonely, sad, over-commercialised, or just another day.
Why not look at Valentine’s Day through a wider lens, one that embraces kindness and connection beyond romantic love?
Valentine’s Traditions Around the World
While Valentine’s Day is traditionally seen as a celebration of couples, many cultures extend the sentiment beyond romance. Take Germany, for example. While gifting a “Liebesschloss” (love lock) on bridges has become popular among couples, Valentine’s Day itself is more low-key compared to other countries.
When I lived in Germany in the 70s and 80s, small gifts or kind gestures were shared with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. At work it often included the obligatory doughnuts but I also remember being given flowers by my boss, not in a romantic way, but as a sign of appreciation for my hard work throughout the year.
In Finland and Estonia, Valentine’s Day is actually called “Friendship Day”, making it a time to appreciate all meaningful relationships, not just romantic ones. Schools, workplaces, and communities get involved, sending cards and sharing small tokens of appreciation. It’s a beautiful reminder that love exists in many forms—friendships, family, and even kindness to strangers.
Similar in Mexico, the 14th February is the Día del Amor y la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship), celebrating both romantic love and friendships by exchanging gifts, flowers, and cards. Schools and workplaces often organise events to promote appreciation and kindness, making it an inclusive celebration of all relationships.
And in South Korea, Valentine’s Day celebrations extend beyond just one day. On February 14th, women give chocolates to men and then a month later on 14th March (known as White Day), men return the favour with gifts and chocolates for women. But what makes South Korea’s traditions even more unique is ‘Black Day’ on 14th April. This is a day for singles to come together and embrace singlehood by eating noodles in a black bean sauce.
So why not this year take a broader approach to Valentine’s Day?
Who will you reach out to express your appreciation or brighten up their day with a small gesture of kindness?
Chocolate: The Food of Love
Of course, I can’t write a blog about Valentine’s Day and not mention chocolate. Chocolate has long been associated with love and romance, dating back to ancient cultures like the Aztecs and Mayans. They believed cacao had mystical and aphrodisiac properties, often using it in rituals and as gifts for royalty. The famed Aztec ruler Montezuma was said to consume cacao to enhance vitality and passion.
When cacao made its way to Europe in the 16th century, it quickly became a luxurious treat among the aristocracy, associated with indulgence and courtship. By the 19th century, chocolatiers began crafting heart-shaped confections, solidifying its connection to romance. Today, chocolate remains a universal symbol of love, not just because of its history but also due to its chemical makeup—it contains compounds like phenylethylamine (PEA), often called the “love chemical,” which can mimic the feeling of falling in love.
The Chocolate Dilemma: Indulgence vs. Enjoyment
Most of us know how easy it is to overindulge with chocolates. This is due to the concept of ‘bliss point’ a term used in food science to describe the perfect balance of sugar, fat and salt that tastes so good that we struggle to stop after one or two pieces.
So what if we shifted the focus from quantity to quality? Good chocolate—dark, rich, and minimally processed does offer some health benefits. High-quality dark chocolate (think 70% cocoa and above) is packed with antioxidants, can boost serotonin levels and thereby improve your mood and sleep, and even supports heart health in moderation.
Instead of mass-produced, sugar-laden chocolates, why not opt for artisanal varieties with real ingredients? The market has exploded with some fantastic brands. You may also want to try raw chocolates which is made from cold-pressed, unroasted cacao beans, preserving its natural goodness. They are rich in antioxidants, magnesium and iron and taste delicious.
Four delicious healthy chocolate recipes
Why not make some of your own chocolate treats? Here are four easy, nutritious, and delicious chocolate recipes to try and you can see my attempts at three of them here.
I did'nt have any desiccated coconut for the Orange Chocolate snack balls so they look a bit plain but still taste lovely.
And instead of goji berries I've used a handful of raspberries for the chocolate brownies.
Homemade Dark Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients:
200g high-quality dark chocolate (70% or higher), chopped
100ml coconut milk or heavy cream
1 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup (optional)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cocoa powder, crushed nuts, or shredded coconut for coating
Instructions:
Heat the coconut milk or cream until warm but not boiling.
Pour over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes.
Stir gently until smooth, then add vanilla and sweetener if using.
Let the mixture cool in the fridge for an hour until firm.
Roll into small balls and coat with cocoa powder, nuts, or coconut.
Store in the fridge and enjoy mindfully!
Simple Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
Ingredients:
100g dark chocolate, melted
Fresh strawberries, washed and dried
Crushed pistachios, coconut flakes, or sea salt (optional)
Instructions:
Melt the chocolate gently over a double boiler or in short bursts in the microwave.
Dip each strawberry into the chocolate, letting excess drip off.
Sprinkle with toppings if desired and place on a parchment-lined tray.
Let them set in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Enjoy as a guilt-free, antioxidant-packed treat!
Raw Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients:
100g almonds
2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
75 cocoa powder
250g medjool dates, chopped
50g pecan nuts
½ teaspoon salt
2 – 3 tablespoon goji berries (nice but not necessary)
Instructions:
Place the almonds in a blender or food processor and blend until you have a coarse powder
Add the dates, sweetener, cocoa and salt and mix until all the ingredients have combined into a sticky ball of dough
Turn the dough out into a bowl and add the chopped pecans and goji berries if used
Line a 20cm (8 inch) square baking tin with baking paper, turn the mixture into it and press it down with your fingers until it forms an even layer
Chill for 30 minutes in the freezer, then remove it and score the brownie mixture into 10 – 12 squares. Return to the freezer for a further 30 minutes until solid.
The brownies can be stores in an airtight container in the fridge.
Chocolate Orange Snack Balls
Ingredients:
90g oats
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
2 tablespoons desiccated coconut (optional)
1 tablespoon raw cacao
125g dates
Zest of half and juice of one orange
Pinch of pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
Instructions:
Place the oats in the food processor and grind them down to a fine flour texture
Add the dates, coconut oil, salt, cacao, orange zest and juice and blend everything together until combined fully
Shape the oat and date mixture into balls about 2 – 3 cm wide and (optional) roll in the desiccated coconut
Place in the fridge for 10 – 15 minutes to firm up. Keep in the fridge until ready to eat.
A Thoughtful and Uplifting Valentine’s Day
So, what’s your plan for Valentine’s Day this year? Whether you’re treating yourself to a quiet night in, sharing a meal with loved ones, or surprising a friend, neighbour or work colleague with a little act of kindness, do what feels good for you.
If this day is tough for you, that’s okay too—sometimes self-care means just acknowledging how you feel and taking things at your own pace. However you spend the day, I hope you find a way to make it meaningful and rewarding, even in the smallest way.
Thank you for reading my musings and I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments.
Wishing you all
In support of your health and wellness,
Comments