For health professionals 
Picture this: it’s Valentine’s Day and all that chocolate is looking mighty fine. You’d like to enjoy a good dinner without worries—so what do you do? Do not fear, here we come to the rescue. Here are three ideas to celebrate the occasion while keeping your diabetes managed.
1. This year, forget about overcrowded restaurants and prepare a five-star meal in the comfort of your home by drawing inspiration from Ricardo’s excellent recipes for people with diabetes. You’ll have peace of mind knowing what’s on your plate—and nothing beats a dinner cooked with love.
2. Create the perfect dessert with the chocolate berry parfait recipe written below! Here’s a reminder for when you’re shopping for Valentine’s Day: dark chocolate is better than white and milk chocolate as it contains antioxidants and less sugar.
| Calories: 115 | Carbohydrate: 23 g |
|---|---|
| Protein: 4 g | Fat: 0 g |
| Saturated fat: 0.1 g | Dietary fiber: 1 g |
| Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 260 mg |
| 1 box (4-serving size) | sugar- and fat-free chocolate pudding mix |
|---|---|
| 2 cups | nonfat milk |
| ½ cup + 12 tablespoons | fat-free whipped topping |
| ¾ cup | strawberries, sliced |
| ¾ cup | blueberries |
1. In a bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and the milk according to the package directions.
2. Fold in ½ cup of whipped topping.
3. In a parfait dish or a martini glass, layer ¼ cup of pudding, 2 tablespoons of strawberries, 2 tablespoons of blueberries and ¼ cup of pudding. Top with 2 tablespoons of whipped topping.
4. Repeat for remaining five servings.
3. Take advantage of this special day to indulge. Book a relaxing afternoon at the spa, go to the movies, take a romantic walk somewhere you like… the important thing is to have a good time!
References:
American Heart Association (n.d). Heart-Healthy Valentine’s Day Tips. Retrieved from: https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@global/documents/downloadable/ucm_322671.pdf. Accessed October 5 2021.
Diabetes UK (n.d). Chocolate and diabetes. Retrieved from: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/chocolate-and-diabetes. Accessed October 5 2021.
Eating Well (2021). Chocolate-Berry Breakfast Parfait. Retrieved from: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/263014/chocolate-berry-breakfast-parfait/. Accessed October 5 2021.