I get really tired of the sugar fest that is Valentine’s Day, the Hallmark holiday co-opted by the sugar and flower industries. Why can’t Valentine’s Day cards exchanged at school be candy-free? We know our kids don’t need more sugar…but “it’s a special occasion,” is the excuse, so we give them lots.
#facepalm
Sometimes I volunteer to plan the party, just so I can make sure the Valentine’s Day treats the kids are being served at school are healthy (and they can chow on their sugary junk at home).
Today I’m pumped to share some candy-free ideas to include with Valentine’s Day cards at school, for those of you who like to give kids a little treat but abhor the thought of contributing to the sugar overload. And actually, even if you’re a fan of candy, these are too cute – keep reading. 😉
For quite a few years, my kids just made handmade cards for Valentine’s Day – counter cultural already because everyone buys them and usually the parents just write the kids’ names. I want my kids to be involved, to care, and to have a little purposeful craft and writing time. So. Homemade, ugly cards that were hearts cut out of construction paper (by the children). They were awesome.
My kids started asking to include a treat though, and I thought we came up with a really cute idea our first time around. (And I didn’t even use Pinterest, gasp!) 😉
It’s not the most frugal option, I’ll admit – we bought these pouches (found on Amazon) without any sugar at Costco, but they were still probably almost 50 cents a kid. But they were cute! And, ha, we still cut out construction paper. #oldschool
Fun “Fruity” Valentine’s Notes
This year we brainstormed as many other cute phrases we could put on actual healthy items as possible, and my amazing team worked up some printables, totally free because we love you – and we can show that without sugar or candy! 😉
Simply going thru the produce section inspires so many fun and healthy Valentine treat ideas. Along with a cute note these will quickly become your kids’ favorite.
- Will you be my Clementine?
- Hi there, Kiwi Pie!
- Here’s a Cutie for the cutie (with a Clementine)
- I’m blueberry without you
- I’m bananas for you, Valentine
- Orange you going to kiss me?
- Slip into my arms, Valentine (with a banana)
- Cantaloupe tonight, dear, let’s wait for Valentine’s Day.
- You’re awfully a-peel-ing to me, Valentine (with a banana or string cheese or orange…)
- Let’s “stick” together, Valentine! (with a cheese stick)
- I’d never “string” you along, Valentine! (with string cheese)
- Have a “berry” happy Valentine’s Day! (with any berries or fruit strips)
- I’m “flat”tered by you, Valentine! (with a fruit strip)
- You look “sharp” to me! (with a pencil)
- and our original “Squeeze Me, Valentine” with the pouches
We made them “color-your-own” because I still stand behind the idea that kids should be involved – plus I know my own color ink is always missing a color or acting weird, and I empathize with busy mamas. 😉
Just click the image to print!
You’ll get these delivered as a .zip file, not to overwhelm you, but to give you and your kids choices. Whatever candy free treat you choose, you’ll be able to print a whole page of matching tags – so that makes the file rather long.
Pin it:
Big thanks for inspiration goes to:
- fruit strips or cheese sticks here
- pencils here
- these free printables for whole pieces of fruit
If you want a super frugal, DIY no-food-at-all option, my son chose this mustache idea and we DIY’d the mustache straws.
Valentine’s Day Breakfast Surprise
Don’t forget to try a heart-shaped breakfast! The kids will be so excited to see this fun breakfast. Or get your kids in the kitchen and let them help with the fun!
Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Party Ideas
If you happen to have the joy of planning a party for your child’s class, please be inspired by my healthy Valentine’s Day party treats and games.
RELATED: Due to allergies most schools have a “no homemade” rule. Don’t feel trapped into bringing over processed treats, there are tons of healthy real food options in stores now: Healthy School Treats when you Can’t Make Homemade.
Enjoy the week, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Katie Kimball, CSME is a trusted educator and author of 8 real food cookbooks. She is passionate about researching natural remedies and making healthy cooking easier for busy families. She’s been featured on media outlets like ABC, NBC and First for Women magazine as well as contributing regularly on the FOX Network. 
A mom of 4 kids from Michigan, she is a Certified Stress Mastery Educator and member of the American Institute of Stress.
Alice says
My daughter loves the “blueberry without you one”, but I can’t think of what to attach it to… Any ideas? Thanks!
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Eek, so sorry I missed this to be timely 🙁 but you could use dried or freeze-dried blueberries, a blueberry fruit strip, or a blueberry squeeze pouch.
Jen says
I tried to print the printable that you had for the non-candy valentine… after giving my name and email it continually took me to an error page.
Laura Snell @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Hi Jen, So sorry about this error! I’ll email you the file right away so you’ll have access to it.
Claire says
I see that this is a pretty old post; I’m not sure how I missed it the first time around (I’m pretty sure I subscribed to your blog back then). I will admit that I often find many of your posts to be pretty extreme, particularly the one that likens giving a child a cupcake to giving them a cigarette. But this post is spot-on. When I was a kid, we just exchanged Valentine’s cards. Period. No candy, no tokens, nothing. We had classroom parties that had plenty of sugar (cupcakes, brownies, cookies, ice cream), so candy would have been over the top. Now I have a child with allergies to nuts, eggs and dairy, so Valentine’s Day becomes yet another holiday that I have to go through his stash before he accidentally eats something that could kill him. Enough!
Chloe says
I wasn’t able to open this file format on my Mac. Is there a particular application you can suggest to unzip it on a Mac?
Laura Snell @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Hi Chloe, so sorry about this error! The link is fixed now, but I’ll email you the file right away so you’ll have access to it.
Jennifer Eda says
We’re doing simple origami hearts which is easier for my preschooler to do than drawing or coloring. Easy to fold options are all over the internet. They look good and can add stickers. He will give stickers as gifts.
Nicole Handy says
I used to buy the cinnamon applesauce pouches with the Apple and cinnamon as the only ingredients. But when they changed the packaging they added Apple juice concentrate and Apple concentrate to the ingredients, which means they’re adding sugar. That is one common misconception that Apple juice concentrate is fruit juice. From what I have read, it does not even resemble juice or anything you would have in the kitchen. The applesauce pouches with concentrate have 2 g more of sugar in them then the old recipe. This is also why I stopped buying stretch Island fruit leathers. Many of my friends believe there is no sugar added, but it is just one more trick by the food industry. Probably still a better option than candy for Valentine’s Day though. 🙂
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Really? I’ve not seen that…I don’t think they can add actual cane or beet sugar w/o listing it in the ingredients, but I suppose the apple juice concentrate would be more of the fruit sugars. Dumb food scientists…
Nicole Handy says
Robert Lustig is the doctor that I first heard this information from. I heard him explaining it on a radio program and then I checked out his book “Fat Chance”from the library. He has an e-book on Amazon called Sugar has 56 names: a shopper’s guide.”
Anitra says
The applesauce pouches are a fantastic idea! I suggested it to my kindergartener. At first, she wanted to give candy to everyone, but I pointed out that there is one girl who has a lot of allergies and we don’t know what candy she could eat. Then we talked about how it’s better to give everyone the same kind of treat if we are able to (rather than candy to everyone and applesauce to the allergic). So, now I need to go buy more applesauce pouches – my daughter even made a request for which flavor to get (cinnamon, her favorite).
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Hooray! Good job, mama! 🙂 Katie
via Facebook says
That’s awesome Margaret A Done I’m pretty sure that’s the one I pinned for next year!
Jamie says
Wish I would have come across these ideas before I bought tattoo valentines. I prefer homemade and creative things, but was also looking for candy free.
Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says
Jamie,
The kids will love the tatoos, and you can save these thoughts for next year. 🙂 Katie
Margaret via Facebook says
My daughter is doing this one – went and got supplies today: http://www.designmom.com/2009/02/ralphs-madlib-valentines/
via Facebook says
That is so.darn.cute Bailey Helton-Torre!!! And good for your school Robyn Whitlock, that’s the best way to go. I just saw one with Mad Libs pages rolled up like a secret treasure note and I LOVED it!
Robyn via Facebook says
Target has lots of non-candy valentine options that are fun. Puzzles, crafts, jokes, tattoos. Our school doesn’t allow food gifts of any kind. Lots of pencils and stickers, which is fun!
Bailey via Facebook says
We are planting wild flowers in small red pails with a wonderful love and nature quote attatched for my daughter’s classmates.