You’ve probably heard all the fuss about how Valentine’s Day is nothing but a greeting card company sham. Well, whether or not it started out that way, today, it might as well be true. Each year, Americans exchange about 1 billion (yeah, that’s billion with a B) Valentine’s Day cards. To put that in perspective, the only other holiday with a comparable amount of cards is Christmas.

And that’s not the only Valentine’s Day-related chagrin. The millions of flowers, the pounds of chocolate, and the miles and miles of shipping! Needless to say, Mother Nature isn’t feeling the love.

Luckily, you can do something nice for your sweetheart and the environment at the same time. Read on for some ideas to make your Valentine’s Day green without skimping on any of the romance.

Spend some time in the kitchen

Think a fancy restaurant dinner is romantic? Well, what about an evening picnic? Or a home-cooked meal? Not only is a personally prepared meal more touching, but it’s also a lot greener because you can control what goes in it. That means you can make sure what you eat is organic, seasonable, and locally grown. If that weren’t enough incentive to get cooking, think of the money you could save by avoiding jacked-up restaurant prices and tips.

Spend some time outdoors

Nothing says romance like a sunset-lit walk. Bonus points if you live by a beach. If you can stand the cold, the payoff is well worth it. An outdoor date has the benefits of enjoying fresh air and nature, being green, and burning some calories. Plus, you get to warm up together afterwards.

Go green with your gifts

Chocolate on Valentine’s Day is great. Fair-trade chocolate is even better. You don’t have to skip the Valentine’s Day card either—just get an E-card instead: less expensive and better for the environment too. Instead of buying flowers in a vase, buy them potted. And if you’re gunning for a customized romantic gift, then you have plenty of options. If your sweetheart is equally environmentally minded, you might want to consider a charitable donation in his or her name. Use your imagination.

And finally, if you’re interested in finding out just how much waste really goes into Valentine’s Day, take Planet Green’s “Are you a Green Valentine?” quiz (http://planetgreen.discovery.com/games-quizzes/green-valentine-quiz/), and test your knowledge about Valentine’s Day environmental impact.

So whether you’re planning to spend this Valentine’s Day alone or with a date, remember to celebrate your love for Mother Nature. With a little creativity and flexibility, you can paint any holiday green.

Photo Credit: wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/File:Valentine_s_Day_Hearts.jpg