Here’s a little Valentine’s Day trivia: Hershey first began production of “Hershey Kisses” in 1907. According to Wikipedia, the candy was named “kisses” because of the smooching noise the chocolate made as it was manufactured! Are you looking for gift ideas for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? If your “sweetheart” suffers from GERD, we encourage you to think twice before giving Hershey Kisses or any other chocolate candy.
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. The most common symptoms are heartburn and acid reflux. There are many foods, including chocolate, which can trigger GERD symptoms. Chocolate is considered a trigger food because it can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the band of muscles which generally keeps stomach acid contained within the stomach.
If you can’t give chocolate as a Valentine’s treat, don’t despair! We challenge you to be creative this Valentine’s Day. Here are “fun food” ideas to get you started!
Get up a little earlier and make breakfast for your sweetie! Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make “Valentine” pancakes or toast for breakfast. Serve with festive fruit kabobs (strawberries on skewers)!
Here’s another use for your heart shaped cookie cutter. Make your loved one a “Valentine” sandwich.
Make time before dinner for conversation and appetizers! Serve cheese and crackers with grilled fruit. Cut the cheese into heart shapes, again using that heart shaped cookie cutter. Grilling the fruit releases the natural sugars and makes it less likely to cause heartburn.
Giving up chocolate doesn’t mean giving up dessert! Choose one of these tasty sweet treats:
We wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day! Please share your own food ideas on our Facebook page!
Disclaimer: This blog article is intended to be informative and is not medical advice.