Believe it or not, there’s a reason that so many first dates take place at restaurants – food and romance are closely linked in human psychology. For example, did you know that people will eat more candies after watching romantic advertisements?
We also see the quality of shared meals as a reflection of relationship quality. This doesn’t mean that accidentally overcooking the chicken means you’ll soon be breaking up, but it does mean that making the effort to have a romantic meal once in a while is probably helpful. And best of all, you don’t need to break the bank. You can get the same effect at home as you can in a restaurant. Here’s how to do it.
What to Cook
While it has been shown that people do, to a very limited extent, link the quality of meals to that of our relationship with the other people eating, this refers more to the whole meal experience rather than just how good the food is. So don’t be put off if you’re an inexperienced chef.
If you’re not sure that your food will taste amazing, you can still make a great impression on your significant other by choosing something personal for them. It could be their favourite dish, or you could surprise them with food inspired by a memory you share or a place you have visited together.
For example, if you once shared a memorable Italian meal in the town of Lara, Victoria, you might try to replicate the food and atmosphere there. It doesn’t matter if you can’t fully recreate the flavour of the best pasta in Lara – it’s about adding that personal touch.
You can also try to add in some known mood-boosting foods such as fatty fish, leafy greens, and whole grains.
What to Drink
The obvious choice is wine. That slight burning sensation that alcohol provides is also something that we subconsciously link with warmth towards the other person. However, mocktails can be a good alternative if you don’t drink.
How to Create the Atmosphere
Part of the reason why we go to restaurants is because the setting feels special. However, you can achieve the same thing at home by making a few small changes to your ordinary table setup.
First, change up your table with a luxurious tablecloth, and add an eye-catching centrepiece of candles of flowers. Make sure you can still see each other across the table though. Then, keep the same theme but make it smaller to add more decoration. This could be scattering some petals across the table, or placing some tealights around.
Dimming the lights and lighting some candles will help to change the mood of the rest of the room. You could also drape some fairy lights around. Add music and a pleasant scent for the finishing touches.
Conclusion
Eating well is about more than just eating healthily. Food is closely linked to our social relationships, and as convenient as dinners in front of the TV can be, sit-down meals are important too. However, where they take place is less important than you think, and you can still have a great romantic dinner at home.
