Show your sweetie how much you really care this Valentine’s Day with a delicious and healthful breakfast in bed. Not only are blueberries rich in antioxidants, they are also a good source of fiber. According to evidence from AICR’s Second Expert Report, a diet that features foods containing dietary fiber like the fruits and oat bran used here can probably decrease your risk of developing colorectal cancer. So forget the boxed chocolates and instead give your valentine the gift of good health this February fourteenth.

Oat Bran Pancakes with Blueberries and Bananas

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. nonfat buttermilk
1 egg
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 medium banana, thinly sliced
Powdered sugar, as garnish
Fresh mint sprigs, as garnish

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oat bran, sugar, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and oil until well combined. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork until they are just combined. The batter should have the thickness of yogurt.

Spray a griddle or large, nonstick skillet very lightly with cooking spray and place it over medium heat. When it is hot, ladle about 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan, spreading it to make a 5 inch pancake. Cook until small holes appear and the bottom of the pancake is brown, about 2 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until the pancake is brown on the second side. Place the finished pancakes on a baking sheet (without overlapping) and set in a warm oven while the rest of the pancakes are cooked.

To serve, top with the fruit and a dusting of powdered sugar. Garnish with a mint sprig, if desired.

Makes 3 servings (2 pancakes each).

Per serving: 300 calories, 8 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 56 g carbohydrate, 10 g protein, 5 g dietary fiber, 260 mg sodium