It’s that time of year again. Pink, red and white boxes of chocolate line the shelves at the local grocery store. Every year, people spend ridiculous amounts of money on candies, flowers and smiling stuffed animals.

While these gifts can all be effective, this year try to be more creative and thoughtful when giving a Valentine’s Day gift to a friend, significant other or just someone you care about.

Skip the ten dollar box of chocolates and make your own heart-shaped food. This can be an easy, fun and meaningful way to tell someone you care.

When one thinks heart-shaped foods, the first thing that comes to mind is a cookie. Sugar cookies are an easy way to sweeten-up a Valentine’s Day. Every grocery store this time of year sells cookie cutters in the shape of hearts and other shapes associated with love.

While desserts can be easy to cut and mold into the perfect heart, other dinner foods can be just as easy. For instance, pizza dough is easy to shape and keeps its shape while baking. Try constructing basic pizza dough into a heart and bake it. Don’t know how to make pizza dough? Never fear, all grocery stores offer boxes of pre-measured ingredients, all you have to do is add water. After baking, add your favorite toppings, bake a bit more and enjoy. If you aren’t the baking type, Great Plains on Main Street sells heart-shaped pizza on Valentine’s Day.

Any sandwich bread can be cut into the shape of a heart, and you can use the cut-off pieces as an arrow to go through the heart. Whether it’s peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese or your own creation, all can be cut into the shape of love.

Any form of potato holds its shape when baked. If you have a little more time on your hands, try making heart shaped fries. Cut the potato of your choice thinly and then cut out the heart. If you are good with your carving skills, you can use both the cut out and the wedge you cut your heart from because they both resemble hearts. Add a little olive oil and season with salt, pepper and paprika, bake and serve. You can even dress up the plate with sauce hearts.