I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but our holidays seem to have been hijacked by sugar.

I love the holidays. Truly, I do! But with that said.... I utterly DREAD the constant flow of sugar, artificial food dyes, and chemicals that are given to my daughter (and most other children, for that matter) in celebration of holidays. All of the goodies are given with loving hearts and the best of intentions, but most are still processed, sugar-riddled and loaded with "ingredients" that I can't pronounce.....all things that go against all of our family’s solid healthy food practices. And while I think there is a time and a place to indulge, let go, and let my daughter eat whatever she wants (its all about teaching balance as much as it is about teaching health), I feel like the flow of sugary processed treats never seems to end near a holiday. And let’s be honest….Valentine’s Day is one of the worst!

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good sweet treat, especially one that is enjoyed in the name of celebration. However, I feel like sugary processed candy has stolen the spotlight of so many holidays. Valentine’s Day is especially riddled with candy that just makes me cringe. As a mother and a teacher, I desperately try to keep the candy parade to minimum for the little people in my life. This can be tricky when it comes to Valentine’s Day, since everyone wants to give their classmates something special in celebration of the holiday. However, over the years of teaching, I have seen some pretty creative candy free Valentines come through my class that didn’t send the kids soaring on a sugar high.

Candy-free Valentines don’t have to be fancy or complicated to be just as fun and exciting as the candy-filled ones! I’ve compiled a little list of some of my favorite candy-free Valentines ideas to help get you guys inspired! Most of the candy-free goodies seen here can either be found at the dollar store or bought in bulk for minimum cost at a party supply store, so no worries about breaking the bank either! Also, the list has something for all ages, so no matter the age or interest of your little Valentine, you are sure to find some healthy inspiration!