Valentine’s Day photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

Can a movie help you lower your carbon footprint? According to the star-studded cast of the romantic comedy Valentine’s Day, the answer is yes. During an HLife interview, actors Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner and Shirley MacLaine weren’t at all shy about answering questions about health, romance, the difference between men and women, V-Day plans, and, of course, the eco-conscious Warner Brothers movie set.

With so many health-conscious stars in the room – Jennifer Garner said she loves farmers markets while Jessica Biel told us that, even though she still eats meat once in a while, she is almost vegetarian and her favorite thing about Los Angeles is the organic vegan restaurant Real Food Daily, an HLife fave as well – we had to ask: How can we make this Valentine’s Day a healthy one? Making the connection between healthy and green, Kutcher took the opportunity to tell us all about WB’s solar-powered sets, a first in the movie industry. “I think watching this movie is a healthy Valentine. We had a green set, so there was a lot of dedication and hard work that went in on this movie to using solar panels to create energy and recycling, and, you know, due to the fact that the movie was shot in LA ,it actually made that an easier thing to make happen. In some ways it worked out and in some ways it didn’t but I think that, you know, every opportunity that we have in our industry to make what we’re doing a sort of more environmentally conscious effort is a good thing. So, I think this movie was mostly a green movie, so coming and supporting a movie that was made that way, I think can contribute to that happening.”

Jessica Alba added her two cents, for health: “And get popcorn – a lot of fiber.” Alba, who is known for cooking her baby’s food from scratch and being a fan of reading science journals, told us she feeds baby Honor Marie a very healthy diet, “All of her pasta is spelt or quinoa. It’s been a way to introduce protein in her diet, and she only drinks almond milk that has no sugar in it. And everything is organic.” So, we’re guessing this smart, all-organic Mom would be talking about organic popcorn at the movies, too (See post Why Organic?) Excellent.

When it comes to romance, Alba told us she definitely married her best friend (Cash Warren), but she says she hardly finds time as a couple now that she has the baby. But Julia Roberts, with three kids, certainly does, and she said the key to this is: “My kids go to bed at 7:30 p.m.”

“Mine goes to bed at 7 p.m., but I’m usually too tired, unfortunately, for romance,” replied Alba.

Garner, who is married to Ben Affleck and has two kids, offered a new perspective, similar to what our most recent Dear HLife article proposed: “You change the definition of romance. Romance is romance, but in addition, romance can just be breakfast over the tops of heads and just getting through the day, you gotta make that be romantic.”

Alba agreed. Little things, every day things, definitely count as romance. “We’re pretty spontaneous, like she said, we try to squeeze in a smooch here and there, a little card, you know, a note to say I love you, I kinda do that randomly.”

As far as Valentine’s Day’s plans, Roberts, married to Daniel Moder, offered her own version of a marathon: “We’re just gonna be making out. The full 24 hours.”

Funny as she is, Roberts gave the most sensible, practical answer to what the key to a successful relationship is: “Two people who work at it – that’s what works.”

“Communication is a big one,” said Alba. And the final words of female wisdom came from Shirley MacLaine: “I think the thing that makes a successful marriage in a successful city is that you know who YOU are.” Indeed.

But the guys were not to be outdone when it came to words from the wise, this time from Kutcher, whose wonderful marriage to Demi Moore is often revealed via loving and supportive Tweets: “I think the interesting thing about it is that, when it comes to love, everybody wants to receive it, but at the end of the day, you don’t get to receive it until you start to give it. And I think that, as it goes for anything in the world, what you give is what you will receive.” If you want love, you gotta give love first.

The ultimate Valentine’s Day advice for the guys came from Jamie Foxx: “Guys say you put so much work in during the year, so why is this day important? Women are built differently. You gotta know those dates, even if you have to put them in your cell phone. Know the dates, know the birthdays, all of it, the anniversary – women will make anniversaries, you know, like ‘This is our first time we went to Boa’ and you’re like, ‘What? What’s that?’ And she’s like ‘You don’t remember that? We go there all the time.’ So you gotta always be on the lookout, write all those dates down. And the most important thing is, just four or five days before that date, get something going, so that when that date comes, you’re prepared. And then, you could blow it for the rest of the year. See, guys are thinking the wrong way!”

Everyone laughed, but Julia had to clarify for the guys, from a girl’s point of view: “Just do it all. Do it on the day, and do it all year long.” We totally agree.

Valentine’s Day opens today.