VALENTINE’S DAY: Low Calorie & No Calorie Gifts
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As you eye the sea of Valentine chocolates, what can you get for loved ones who can’t have (or don’t care for) chocolate?
Some people don’t want the calories, others can’t have the caffeine or the sugar, and rarely, a few are allergic to chocolate. For those who avoid caffeine and chocolate, there are scrumptious macarons, artisan (“gourmet”) marshmallows, creamy fudge, fine red licorice and other confections. But they’re still packed with sugar. But what if you need to avoid the sugar entirely? There’s sugar-free candy, but it’s pretty unexciting. Here are what we’d like to get for Valentine’s Day. This new model comes in seven colors, including red for your Valentine. It not only brews a single cup, but a 4-cup carafe, with a single touch. There’s a separate setting for specialty beverages such as chai, hot cocoa and mochas. And with more than 500 varieties of coffee, tea, specialty beverages and iced beverages, your Valentine has lots of choices. The carafe is sold separately; you can also add a Valentine mug (something with hearts?) to express your affection. Get yours at Keurig.com. The list price is $109.99. If you don’t want to spend that much, head to the nearest housewares department and get a red water bottle or red implements—spatulas, slotted spoons, etc.—to fill a Valentine mug. |
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FOR PICKLE LOVERS: RICK’S PICKS PICKLE CLUB Good pickles are on our list of yummy foods with few calories. One of America’s great pickle makers offers a club that delivers four varieties, four times a year. The club is $ 199.95, including shipping. There’s also a Top-Seller Pack, $ 48.95, and a Rick’s Picks Sampler for $64.95. Order yours at RicksPicks.com. For a less expensive gift, head to your nearest fine market or specialty food store, pick up a single jar of Rick’s Picks, and tie a red ribbon around the neck. If your Valentine prefers sweet to tangy, consider Edible Arrangements or create your own strawberry basket. Look for the biggest, freshest strawberries, find a lovely small basket, and don’t forget the red bow! |
FOR SODA DRINKERS: SODASTREAM SPLASH PLAY There are red SodaStream machines that make calorie-free sodas and flavored waters. The brand has recently released a new machine, the Sodastream Splash Play, designed by Yves Béhar, a Swiss designer and sustainability expert. It carbonates water with touch button activation as well as quick snap-lock bottle insertion. It requires no electricity. It has a small footprint. Not only is it fun; it saves you from hauling home bottles of soda, and from tossing the empties into the landfill. For calorie counters and water enthusiasts, SodaStream also has a new line of waters, made with all natural sweeteners and colors, called Sparkling Gourmet. It has chef-inspired flavors, including Green Apple Cucumber, Blackcurrant Lime, Coriander Apple Blossom, and Lime Basil. All with 45 calories per 8-ounce serving. |
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There are also calorie-free flavored water options, and plenty of diet sodas. AND, if you own a Sodastream, you know that there are two different sizes of carbon dioxide tanks for different models, and they aren’t interchangeable. The Splash Play can use either of them! Bravo, Sodastream. Get yours at Sodastream.com. It’s $79.99.
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