Celebrate Valentine's Day with wholesome, healthy meals courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Valentine’s Day Dinner Recipes for Dummies Gary Chapman's book, “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts,” suggests five different styles of expressing love. These styles include words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. Everyone communicates and receives love differently, and according to YouGovAmerica, quality time is the love language preferred by most people. If quality time resonates with you, you probably enjoy creating special moments together and value uninterrupted and focused conversations with your loved one. Many people express love for their family and friends by making food for them, and cooking is also a great way to spend quality time together. It can be an intimate activity that involves teamwork and communication. Plus, the result is a delicious meal to enjoy together at the same time. Putting together a three-course meal for a special someone can feel overwhelming. The good news is it doesn’t have to be complicated. Check out this easy three-course line-up with health-forward dishes that have make-ahead component: First Course: Bruschetta with Garlic Baguette Slices Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 12 minutes Difficulty: Easy Serves: 2 While bruschetta involves simple ingredients and a few simple steps, this appetizer is full of flavor. The bruschetta topping is prepared a traditional Italian way, leaning on the simplicity of the herbs and tomatoes to deliver mouthwatering bites. This first course features tomatoes as the star ingredient, which are loaded with fiber, great for gut and heart health, and contain lycopene, a heart-protective antioxidant. Ingredients · 1 French baguette, sliced · Spray olive oil, or olive oil drizzle · 1 tsp. garlic powder · 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered · 2 tsp. dried oregano · Coarse salt and pepper to taste · 1 Tbsp. olive oil · 3 Tbsp. fresh basil leaves, torn or cut in a chiffonade Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Place baguette slices on baking sheet and spray with oil. Top with spray oil, then garlic powder. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. 3. While the bread is baking, prepare the tomato mixture. In a bowl, add cherry tomatoes and mix with salt. To allow some moisture be released from the tomatoes, let sit about 5 minutes. 4. Rub oregano between your hands and add to the bowl, then drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste, mix together and top with torn fresh basil leaves. 5. Top each toasted baguette slice with the tomato mixture and serve immediately. Second Course Air Fried Breaded Chicken Parmesan Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Difficulty: Easy Serves: 2 Chicken parmesan is an Italian-American staple and an ultimate comfort food. If you’re looking for a lighter option to the deep-fried dish, this air fried version skips the heavy fat and crisps up similar to the real deal. Simply bread the chicken, add to