Healthy Treats for your Sweet

• Blue Diamond Dark Chocolate Oven Roasted Almonds
• Kashi Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Soft-Baked Cookies
• Hershey’s Bliss Dark Chocolate
• Dove Dark Chocolate Promises
• Green & Black’s Dark Chocolate Bars (Espresso, Cherry, Ginger, Dark)
• Dagoba Dark Chocolate Bars
• Stretch Island Fruit Leather
• ORANGE you glad you’re my valentine
• You are the APPLE of my eye
• You’re the PEAR-fect valentine

Serves 15

All you need
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1 package of mini phyllo shells (pre-baked)
1-3/4 cup fat-free milk
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1 (oz) package instant white chocolate pudding, sugar free
Hy-Vee Aerosol Whipped Topping, for serving
1/4 cup finely chopped dark chocolate (expresso flavor)

All you do 
1.    Melt chocolate chips on high in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.  Spoon 1/2 teaspoon in bottom of each phyllo shell.  Chill in freezer for 5 to 10 minutes.
2.    Pour milk into a medium bowl, add instant coffee and stir until dissolved.
3.    Add contents of instant pudding and whisk for 2 minutes.
4.    Spoon heaping tablespoon of pudding mixture into shells.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Before serving, top with whipped topping and pieces of chopped dark chocolate.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 80 calories, 4 g fat, 130 mg sodium, 10 g carbohydrates, 2 g protein.

Relax in the dark (chocolate that is):  The cocoa content in chocolate matters – make sure it is at least 60%.  By having a higher content of cocoa in your chocolate you will also have more antioxidants that can help relax  your blood vessels and help lower blood pressure.

Go nuts:  Another treat that offers extensive heart-health benefits are nuts.  Nuts are full of good-for-you fats that cholesterol-lowering and filling with protein.   Go for walnuts, pecans, peanuts or almonds.

Get fruity:  Decadent, sweet and smooth, combine all three (dark chocolate, nuts and fruit) for a real treat!  Melt dark chocolate and drizzle over strawberries, kiwis, raspberries or any fruit.  Extra antioxidants and flavor!
Portion size is key.  The serving on the package isn’t the recommended serving.  Savor your chocolate by letting it melt in your mouth.  Experience your food with all of your senses.

Fill your heart with love: Empty out a heart-shaped box of chocolates and fill with your favorite healthy options from your heart.

Get creative: Re-use that heart-shaped box for a creative serving plate for the kids on Valentine’s Day.  Fill with heart-healthy options (cherry tomatoes, strawberries, crackers, cheese, nuts, dried fruit).