Ten Best Valentines Gifts – No Food Required

Written by: Lisa_MacColl

Valentine’s Day has long been thought of as the “chocolate holiday”.  For people with food allergies, especially nut allergies, there are so many more amazing companies now offering peanut free and nut free chocolate options, dairy free chocolates and other delicious alternatives. Columnist Lisa MacColl shares her ideas for Valentine’s Day – no food required – therefore No Epipen required!

1.    How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to tell your partner why s/he matters to you. Does he bring you coffee on his way home from work on days you’re having a “run away and hide” day? Does your tree nut/garlic/wheat/dairy/egg loving spouse forego favorite foods because of your allergies? Every relationship has those little nothings that add up to big signs of love. Tell them how much those little nothings mean.
2.    Memories. Rekindle the romance of your relationship with some reminders of special events or places you have shared. When my friend’s boyfriend was trying to impress her at the beginning of their relationship (he lived in Australia, she lived in Canada) he kept reminders of places they visited while he was in Canada. Back in Australia, he would periodically mail a coaster from a favorite restaurant, a ticket stub from a movie they’d seen together with a note about why it was important. She married him. Make your own memories.

3.    Actions Can Speak Louder than Words. Does your non-morning person spouse always do the Saturday morning early hockey game for your kids? Does the love of your life rank cutting the grass on par with dental surgery or cleaning toilets? Put together a book of coupons for chores that your partner normally does but hates to do. Better yet, surprise him or her with a completed task and a love note.
4.    Make a Valentine. It’s not as hard as it looks to craft a Valentine’s card. Find a romantic quote or jot down a special memory of your relationship. Let your creative side out and create a one of a kind card. Need some inspiration or how tos? Check out this site.
5.    Music, Music, Music… Why not create a CD chocked full of your beloved’s favorite music? It will show that you pay attention to his/her preferences, and you will give a one of a kind gift. With all of the music available on itunes and other sites, finding your favorite songs has never been easier.
6.    Flowers. Yes, they are astronomically priced on Valentine’s Day. Remember: February 13 is just an ordinary day in the flower world. Surprise your partner with pre-Valentine’s flowers. How do you avoid being called a cheapskate? “I couldn’t wait until Valentine’s Day to show you how much I love you.” Flowers work well at anytime of the year too – a great pick-me-up when your partner has had a challenging day – or just because.

Natural Candy Store - Valentine's Day Treats

7.    Candy is dandy. If your beloved has a sweet tooth and a food allergy, buying candy or chocolate can be a challenge because most commercial candy contains ingredients that are problematic for people with food allergies. Luckily, there are food allergy friendly companies who list all the ingredients on the website. Each company ships to Canada and the United States. Peanut Free Planet specializes in allergy-friendly chocolate and candy and has created a special page for Valentines Day shopping. You can search the website by food allergy to ensure that your selections are safe. The Natural Candy Store not only features allergy friendly selections, they offer fair trade and organic products as well.
8.    Nothing Beats Home Cooking. People with food allergies must spend a great deal of time thinking about and preparing their meals. Why not surprise the love of your life with a safe version of a favorite comfort food? Your local library and internet are full of food allergy friendly versions of favorite foods. If you’re not a cook, pay a visit to the local natural food store and put together a goody basket of food allergy friendly treats or check out Sweet Alexis which ships to Canada and the US and offers gift packs and gift certificates. Products are available dairy free, egg free, peanut free and tree nut free.
9.    Wine and Dine. Many restaurants are offering food allergy friendly options. Many restaurants today will work with patrons to accommodate food allergies, especially if you contact them ahead of time. The best time to call is mid-afternoon during the week, after the lunch rush is finished. Speak to the kitchen manager, or the chef. Be specific about the allergy and ask if it can be accommodated. Some restaurants are not able to accommodate a food allergy and it’s always good to know beforehand. Some chain restaurants, pizza restaurants and others offer specific gluten free menus, or dishes that are highlighted as allergy friendly. Speak to friends and family who have eaten at these restaurants for some recommendations.
10.    Run Away from Home. There are hundreds of interesting places within an hour and a half of any home. Pick a direction, pack a food allergy friendly lunch and hit the road for a day of exploring, companionship and spending time together. If you can arrange to do it without the kids for a day, so much the better.

With a little thought, you can make this Valentines Day the most memorable in your relationship. Happy Valentines Day!

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