15 February 2012
Valentine’s Day & Romantic Eats
February being love month, with Valentine’s Day falling right in the middle, here are some health conscious tips pertaining to romantic eats that particularly apply to this special day but also to the other 364 days of the year (365 on a leap year, like this one).
As one of my male colleagues likes to say about his marriage, “everyday is Valentine’s Day”; granted, that’s because he didn’t exactly besot his wife this year because he was tied up with work. Pertaining to men and women, if you can put some romantic emphasis on this special day or at least celebrate your love sometime throughout the month of February, your sweetheart will appreciate the effort.
While Valentine’s Day is really popular in America, what is considered to be a “Hallmark holiday”, many Australians do make some sort of effort to tell their loved one that they are special on the 14th February. Last night being Valentine’s Day, my husband surprised me with a table for two at my favourite restaurant and low and behold, one of the other diners proposed to his girlfriend that night - it was so lovely. Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest nights for restaurants, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in it all.
However, many people prefer to make & bake a romantic meal concluding with a delicious dessert favourite. Cooking at home allows you to avoid the crowds and that inevitable eternal wait for food, saving the evening out for a night when it’s less busy. Whether you’re planning to wine and dine someone special at a restaurant, in the comforts of home, or basking in the moonlight, surrounded by candles on a blanket at the beach, here are a few tips to remember if you want to celebrate in a healthy way.
February being love month, you can take health conscious ideas about food and romance and apply them to everyday.
Love Food in a Healthy Way
1. If you overload yourself with heavy creamy fatty food all you'll want to do at the end of the meal is sleep, which is not ideal if you have a big night planned.
2. Garlic needs to be eaten by you both, rather than by one of you!
3. Don’t overdo the alcohol as this can turn a great night into a nothing night, so go light on the alcohol and not only will you have your wits about you but you will feel good in the morning too.
4. Everyone loves flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day but if your sweetheart is trying to lose weight or is a health nut, can I suggest that a very small box of chocolates is fine, but then include something such as a bottle of their favourite fragrance as well.
5. They say the most romantic foods to eat are oysters, asparagus, and bananas which contain chelating minerals and the bromelain enzyme, said to enhance the male libido. Also the aroma of almonds is supposedly great to arouse passion in females. Who would have thought?
6. Eating chocolate on a special night is a surefire way to feel more joy and happiness. It's a chemical thing. Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulating alkaloid similar to caffeine. Chocolate also helps the brain produce feel-good serotonin. The best choice is dark chocolate as it contains incredible amounts of antioxidants, whereas milk chocolate is just that: milk and sugar with trace amounts of cocoa.
Try my delicious Chocolate Mousse Pierecipe for a romantic treat at home. If you make it in a heart shaped pie plate, even better and don’t forget the ambiance – romantize your dining space with candles, soft music and dim lights.
