By Allison Jarrell

Photo: ruth : ) via Flickr.

• Go Meatless:  This Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday so go meatless! The Meatless Monday non-profit initiative hopes to improve personal health (and the health of the planet) by reducing participant’s meat consumption by 15 percent. Not only will skipping meat once a week reduce your carbon footprint, it’s a great way to try new vegetarian recipes, like Black Bean Sesame Veggie Hash or Green Tea Tofu Soba Salad!
• Buy Local: Supporting your local economy is a great way to live sustainably while helping others in your community. Instead of buying an expensive bottle of imported Port to share with your romantic veggie dinner, buy wine from a local winery. Most grocery stores sell local products, and many wineries and vineyards offer tastings and other special events.
• Put a New Spin on Sweet: A box of chocolates is expected, so surprise your sweetheart this year with a new treat: white chocolate mashed potatoes. It might sound far-fetched, but after exploring vegetarian options, you’ll find that chocolate is a great complement to many savory main dishes, like an arugula, mango and white chocolate salad!
• Choose Cruelty Free Companies: Thanks to the efforts of PETA and their supporters, Lipton Tea recently announced that they will no longer test their teas on animals. Help support companies that care about the well-being of animals by buying cruelty-free products! If you’re interested in relaxing over a cup of tea, try brands like Stash Tea, Luzianne Tea, Twinings, or Honest Tea.
• Have your Carp, and eat it too! If you’re in the Great Lakes region and can’t stand the idea of a vegetarian meal, try a little Asian carp! According to an article in the Star Tribune, the invasive Asian carp is now served as a delicacy at the Heaven City Restaurant in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. If you can’t beat ‘em…