Five Ways to Go Green This Valentine’s Day
Sustainable tips to love
Love is in the air, which means chocolates, flowers, romance and all things heart-shaped. If you’re wanting to make Valentine’s Day more eco-friendly, sustainable and organic, we’re sharing five easy tips that will warm your heart.
1. Buy organic chocolate. For both figurative and literal heart-healthy benefits, buy organic dark chocolate! The higher levels of cocoa in the darker varieties boast heart-friendly antioxidants. Not only will dark chocolate satisfy your sweet tooth cravings, but you’ll also get a boost of nutrients like iron, magnesium, copper and manganese.
There are many fine purveyors of organic and fair-trade chocolates on the market. Give Alter Eco and Hu a try! These options are not only better for the planet — and your body — but you can feel good about enjoying ethically and responsibly sourced chocolate guilt-free!
2. Purchase live plants. There may be beauty in that bouquet of a dozen fresh roses, but those flowers you bought at the grocery store or commercial florist were likely treated with pesticides. We recommend picking a potted plant. Live plants help purify the air and add a pop of color to any space — both indoors and out. Plus, they have a longer lifespan, too! Don’t have a green thumb? Opt for easy-to-care-for houseplants such as succulents, rubber plants or aloe vera. Still want to bring your sweetie a bouquet? Seek out an organic or sustainably minded florist. Be sure to ask for beautiful arrangements that haven’t been sprayed.
3. Eat organic. Take your sweetheart out for a romantic evening and support your favorite farm-to-table restaurant that serves healthy, organic food. Not only will you be supporting a local business owner, but you’ll also be promoting local farmers who are dedicated to responsible, organic agricultural practices.
Is preparing a romantic meal at home your love language? Make it organic! Shop fresh, organic produce at your local farmers market or grocery store. Need special occasion meal ideas? Try making our Honey Orange Chicken for your honey or our Sweet Citrus Swordfish for your sweetie.
4. Buy organic wine & champagne. Organic wine is produced from grapes that haven’t been treated with toxic or synthetic chemicals such as prohibited herbicides and pesticides. In an organic vineyard, you’ll also find other plants apart from the vines, like cover crops! This biodiversity improves the health of the soil by promoting complex root systems that allow the plants to draw the optimum level of minerals from the earth. A healthy, organically grown plant is more resistant to disease and has greater longevity than one that is dependent on massive amounts of fertilizer.
There are many sustainably produced organic wines at supermarkets across the country. Pro tip: organic champagne and prosecco pair perfectly with Uncle Matt’s Organic OJ and Ultimate Immune! Need some sip-spiration? Check out our mimosa recipes here!
5. DIY Valentines. Make a positive impact and have some fun by helping the kiddos make eco-friendly cards for their classmates! Get crafty by using supplies you already have around the house like recycled paper and cardboard.
Looking for the perfect words to show the littles how to love the planet? Check out our printable valentine’s day cards, featuring fruit and veggie puns, of course! Attach these cuties to our No Sugar Added Juice Boxes for a truly sustainable valentine.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.
