When it comes to Valentine’s Day in my house, we always include the kids in the festivities. Of course my husband and I will do something special, but I am as excited to create something fun for my kids as well. Believe it or not, my kids are really weird when it comes to sweets. My son Henry will not eat anything sweet except peanut butter cups. For Caitlin, she is like her mommma and loves just about anything sweet.

I am on a journey to lose 100 pounds this year, so I am cutting out all the unhealthy sweets from my diet. I want to be a positive role model when it comes to this, especially for Caitlin. I want her to know she can enjoy a holiday that usually focuses on chocolates and candy without indulging in either. Here are my top favorite Valentine’s Day treats for the kids that aren’t candy:

1. Books: My kids are voracious readers, so a new book is always a fun treat for them.
2. Video Game: I know you may think a video game is pricey, but when you add up the stuff you buy for a Valentine’s Day basket, you will probably send just as much.
3. A Movie: We have a discount movie theater nearby that our family of 4 can see a movie and get popcorn and drinks for less than $20.
4. Coloring Books: My ids are teens and still like to color! Heck, I still like to color!
5. DVD: There are always movies we didn’t get to see at the theater but will buy on DVD. You can often get a family friendly DVD for less than $20.
6. Nail Polish: My daughter loves to get new nail polish. For Valentine’s Day, I will get 3-4 in shades of pink and red.
7. Stuffed Animal: Again, my kids are older, but they still get a kick out of getting a stuffed animal on Valentine’s Day.
8. Ice Cream: We love to take the whole family for a trip to the local ice cream parlor. On Valentine’s Day, the kids get red and pink sprinkles on their cones!
9. Board Games: We love to play boar games as a family, so sometimes, I will get a Valentine’s Day treat the whole family would enjoy.
10. Fruit: With my new healthy lifestyle, I have traded in my cupcakes and candy bars for fruit. A family favorite are the sweet, juicy and seedless Halos® California raised Mandarin oranges.

Don’t you love to bite into a refreshingly Non-GMO Halos®? I love how easy Mother Nature’s perfect snack are to peel. What I love even more is how dang good they are! They are just about 50 calories and you get 45 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. They are also easy to take when you are on the go. I can pack them in the kid’s lunches, take one to the gym for an after workout snack, throw one in my purse or just because it is Tuesday! You can get Halos®? in a 2 pack, a 3 or 5 pounds bag or a 5 pound box. You can save .50 cents on your next purchase by printing out this coupon.

For the kid’s Valentine’s Day treats for their classmates, I am sending them a Halos® Mandarin orange. I made a cute printable which you are welcome to right click and copy for yourself. You will need to resize it to be 2000×2500 for an 8×10 size paper. You can also make the adorable Halos® Heart Box from card stock, by following this easy tutorial. It may have been just me, but the template was too small to fit the Halos® I had at home. I am sure you can blow up the template to fit better?

You can also get other Valentine’s Day craft ideas, just by clicking here! I know as a parent I would appreciate my kids getting a nutritious and healthy snack instead of candy. Be sure to stay connected with Halos® and follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

One USA reader will win a Halos® gift basket which includes  a light up cup, backpack, lunch box, sunglasses, lip balm, and stress ball along with coupons for Wonderful Halos product (ARV $60)