Consider healthy gifts for sweetheart

This Valentine's Day, avoid the temptation to buy sweets for your sweetheart. Yes, the heart-shaped cookies, cakes and candies will be everywhere, but you can do better. The hosts of the syndicated talk show "The Doctors" (www.thedoctorstv.com) have these 10 healthy outside-the-chocolate-box alternatives to traditional Valentine's Day celebrations:

• Treat your sweetie to a home-cooked meal or, better yet, cook together. Cooking can burn up to 148 calories per hour, and you gain control of ingredients and portion size. No need to be a gourmet chef. Make heart-shaped wholegrain or buckwheat pancakes using a special cookie cutter.

• Pack up favorite finger foods (cut-up fruit, low-fat cheese and whole wheat crackers) for a fun picnic in the park. Enjoy a walk and take in the scenery.

• Sign up for a couples dance lesson. Discover each other's body movement while learning a new activity. Improve cardiovascular fitness, endurance, strength, balance, coordination and muscle tone while burning calories.

• If Valentine's Day feels wrong without sweets, choose dark chocolate with at least 60 percent cocoa content that uses cocoa butter instead of hydrogenated oils.

• Schedule a couple's massage at a spa — or at home for more privacy. Even the most basic massage can help relieve stress, pain or stiffness, boost immunity and help control blood pressure.

• Indulge in a luxurious bath. Light some aromatherapy candles and add some Epsom salts.

• Take a dip in a heated pool or Jacuzzi. Challenge your significant other to a race for a total body, low impact workout.

• Visit a local restaurant or bar featuring a wine tasting (check out Sunday's Baylife section in the Tribune for ideas). Moderate alcohol consumption has been proven to help reduce coronary heart disease risk.

• Going it alone this year? Avoid the temptation to address negative emotions with food. Go for a walk or hang out with other single friends.