Healthier Valentine’s Day Ideas for Kids: Low-Sugar Treats & Candy Alternatives
February is here, which means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Truth be told, Valentine’s Day has never been my favorite. For me, it’s right up there with Halloween 🙃. But now that I have kids, I’m trying to embrace it and use it as an excuse to emphasize love, kindness, and compassion (especially this year).
To show my kids a little extra love, I’ll put together a small package that usually includes one or two new books and maybe a little treat. Here’s the catch, though: I do not use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to go crazy on the sugar.
We are by no means a no-sugar household, but I also fully recognize the detriments of this ingredient on my kids’ health. So while we do indulge now & again, I do not buy into the idea that Valentine’s Day (or any other holiday) needs to be a day full of indulgence. We can share the love without sharing the blood sugar crashes 😉.
If you’re looking for either a cleaner candy option for you or your kids, or something that isn’t food at all, check out the list below! ❤️
(PS - I absolutely do not give all of these things! I pick & choose based on what the kids may need; sometimes it’s 1-2 things, sometimes it’s a little basket. Do what works for you & your family.)
Yum Earth heart gummies - cleaner ingredients, lower sugar
Unreal chocolates - again, cleaner ingredients, lower sugar
Hu chocolate - quality chocolate, lower in sugar
Heart pajamas - seasonal or themed jammies can be a fun gift, whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an Easter basket, or the holidays. I don’t always do this; it’s usually based on whether they need any at the time or not.
Heart socks - cute for a little sock lover
Books - anything that emphasizes love, kindness, friendship, etc. Very few of our “Valentine’s” books are about the holiday itself. Thrifted books, or handed-down books, are great options here!
Activity books - these are great for travel, hanging out at siblings’ games/practices, restaurants, waiting rooms, you name it. I’m really grateful that a few of our local bookstores carry this brand. We love them all…sticker books, magic paint, search & find, wipe clean!
Sensory toys - also great for everything listed in #7! We’ve done bubbles, squish balls, Squigz, etc.
Yoto cards or Tonies figures - these are an awesome screen-free tool that are used almost daily at our house. Yoto cards are more travel-friendly, but both are definitely used regularly!