Date Night Dilemma – How To Make A Date Night Dinner At Home Special AND Healthy!

Whether you’ve been with your love for years or just starting to get to know someone better, preparing a meal at home for someone special is a wonderful gesture. Having a meal at home allows you to have, and give, full attention to that special person as well as allowing yourselves to get a bit more comfortable with each other if the relationship is a newer one. Been together a long time? Taking the time to go out of your way to prepare a special meal for your love shows them they’re still very special to you and worth a bit if extra effort. No matter what stage your relationship is in, consider having your next date night in!

Many times celebratory meals end up being rich and heavy (think surf & turf, heavy pasta dishes) but they don’t have to be. Enjoying  a health, light, satisfying meal together allows you both to enjoy the food and not suffer any uncomfortable consequences of a rich dish later! Creating a delicious AND healthy meal lets the person know you care about them.

Here are a few tips for creating a perfect, healthy date night at home:

• Take into consideration the other persons needs and preferences (gluten free, food allergies, vegan, etc.) Prepare a seared steak salad for a vegetarian or a traditional pasta dish for someone that is allergic to gluten and you probably won’t have a very long date. The person needs to eat too! Ask them if they have any needs for you to be aware of so you can make sure your date actually gets to eat.
• Don’t stress out about it! The meal doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. Stick with an appetizer, simple entree and a simple fruit dessert. See below for some suggestions.
• Put on some music while you make the meal. Enjoy the time you are giving to this special someone. Any meal made with love in your heart will turn out wonderful.
• Enjoy wine? Seek assistance for a great pairing. Taking a few minutes and asking for a suggestion from your wine source (if you don’t feel confident doing the pairing yourself) to go with what you are serving is an extra special touch. It also creates an interesting conversation starter later!
• Throw in a personal touch. Do you know your date has strong ties to a particular heritage? Consider creating a meal that incorporates food from the area. This will also show them you spent a bit more time thinking about them – they will appreciate it! Now, do you know your date thinks his mom’s veal dish is the best in the world? Don’t even touch it – don’t try to compete with Mama. Instead find something similar that you think they would enjoy. Or, do you remember the person mentioning they always wanted to visit or return to a specific country they love? Find some simple recipes from that region and surprise them with a fabulous meal that shows you were really thinking about them!
• Make it different! Enjoy your meal as a picnic on the floor, outside under the stars, as a brunch instead of a late night date (you may end up spending the rest of the day together!)

4 Roma tomatoes, cut into 1/2″ dice

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup fresh basil, minced

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp olive oil

Pinch salt and peppe

Combine ingredients and allow the flavors to blend. Serve on sliced bread or mozzarella slices (vegetarian and gluten free when using mozzarella instead of bread.)

1 cup cooked whole grain fettucine

4 slices bacon, diced

1/2 onion, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 eggs

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 pinch Kosher/sea salt

Lots of fresh ground black pepper

1/4 cup water leftover from pasta cooking water

1/2 cup frozen peas

While the pasta is cooking prepare the rest of the dish. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, when hot add bacon. Cook until crisp. Add the onion and bacon, saute a few minutes until the onion is tender, turn off the pan. Whisk together the eggs, parmesan, salt and pepper, set aside. As soon as the pasta is finished cooking, drain (capturing 1/4 of the pasta water before you drain it). To assemble: in a large bowl combine the hot pasta, cooking water, bacon/onion mixture, egg/parmesan mixture and peas. Toss well (the heat from the pasta will cook the eggs resulting in a creamy, delicious sauce – no cream necessary!) Serve immediately and enjoy!

Layer fresh fruit (whatever is in season) with Greek yogurt drizzled with honey. Nothing could be more simple or more delicious! Serve in a beautiful wine or martini glass, garnished with a sprig of mint. Enjoy!

Enjoy your date night.