food for love

By Fiona Kirk

Its Valentines Day on 14 February – an opportunity to indulge yourself and your valentine for the whole day, not just the evening...

Start the day maybe with a fabulous fruit smoothie – try peach (or nectarine) with freshly squeezed orange juice and ice cubes and a squirt of lime or lemon juice (loads of vitamin C here to boost sex drive) and add a few mint leaves to freshen the breath!  If you want to make more of a meal of it, sling in some good natural yoghurt and maybe even a banana.  Thin them down with water if you’re not wild about that thick consistency)  Add champagne if you don’t have to work today!

Get to work on an egg

I think its really a morning for a couple of boiled eggs and loads of toasted soldiers to share and dip OR scrambled eggs with some thin strips of smoked salmon and loads of freshly ground pepper on toasted granary bread OR mix some grains (oats, rye flakes etc) with some nuts and seeds, top with some natural yoghurt and red berries (loads of antioxidants in there) and drizzle over some honey (antiviral, antibiotic, antimicrobial and downright delicious) OR a double chocolate milk shake with melted organic dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), the best ice cream you can get your hands on and some ice cold organic milk (Montezuma was the flamboyant Aztec Emperor whose name has become immortalised for the vast quantities of foaming ‘xoco latl’ (chocolate) he used to drink before visiting his harem of wives – this started the legend of chocolate and sex!)

Porridge – the Scots KNOW this to be ‘the food of the gods’ (a fabulously balanced mix of protein, complex carbohydrates and essential fats).  But remember - always stir it clockwise (why? well that’s a bit of a secret, but not to be abused, trust me!)  serve with a huge bundle of fresh raspberries, a generous drizzle of honey and a handful of toasted flaked almonds for the sort of energy you need for a GREAT valentines day!

Minumum effort - maximum pleasure...

During the rest of the day I think it’s vitally important to concentrate on foods that require minimum preparation.  AND there must be minimum cutlery or better still eat with your fingers!

Love tips...

• stay on course for your ‘four fruits a day’ with fingers of pineapple, slivers of mango, slices of peach, apple or pear, wedges of melon, quartered figs.  Melt some good quality chocolate and dip the fruit in the silky smooth mix (from its earliest days chocolate was considered as a substance of power, a gift from the gods and a source of vitality and life)
• and sharing a platter of raw crunchy baby vegetables (carrots, courgettes, mangetouts, sugar snap peas, corn, radish, peppers, celery stix) with hummus, tzatziki, salsa or guacamole will provide plenty of colour and ensure you get plenty of the all-important vitamins A + C (both healing and immune-boosting)
• a simply roasted chicken is the perfect finger food.  Give it a good massage all over with some olive oil, stuff a lemon and some garlic cloves up its bottom, pat some crunchy sea salt all over and roast – then pull apart and eat together, letting the juice run down your chin or wherever else.  Get some chunky, crusty bread to mop up the juices – no cutlery, no washing up, just a delicious experience!
• what about a big plate of Spaghetti to share (à la ‘Lady and the Tramp’) with a rich tomato, chilli and herb sauce (tomatoes are often referred to as ‘love apples’ and chilli  is sure to spice things up and they are both rich in vitamin C!).  Grate lots of fresh parmesan over and dig in

...and finally...

The body is made of moving parts – so move them!  Sex is great exercise:-

• Improves circulation
• Increases the amount of oxygen getting to the body cells and increases the delivery of nutrients
• Increases the flexibility of the joints
• Increases the ‘feel good’ hormones giving you a ‘natural high’
• It’s muscle building
• You sweat out the toxins (the more vigorous, the more toxins!)
• AND ITS FUN!