Date Night In? 15 Dinner Recipes Meant For You

Skip the crowded restaurants and spare your eyes the stress of squinting at the menu for something healthy. On your next special night, treat your special someone to a home-cooked meal—one that you know is good for you both… and that tastes delicious.

Here are 15 date night dinner ideas that bring some magic to the moment:

1. Greek Fish and Vegetables

You pick your fish: Halibut, flounder, cod—as long as it’s white, it will pair beautifully with the roasted cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onions and chickpeas that sit on top. This Mediterranean-style dish contains enough healthy fats to satisfy your hunger, but is light enough to leave a little room for dessert. Plus, the meal has really nice dish appeal.

2. Pineapple Chicken Kebabs

Grilled pineapple. Need we say more? If so, these chunks of deliciousness are stacked alongside chicken, bell peppers and onions, then brushed with barbecue sauce and grilled for the perfect mix of sweet and savory. Each kebab offers a wide range of nutrients and on Nutrisystem, it counts as one SmartCarb, two Power Fuels, one Vegetable and two Extras.

3. Air Fryer Drumsticks: Healthier Fried Chicken

If you have an air fryer, you have to treat your sweetie to these Cajun-seasoned drumsticks. If you don’t have an air fryer, here’s why you want one: It cuts out the vat of oil used in a typical deep fryer, so you can enjoy a healthier dish with much less fat and far fewer calories.

4. Zucchini Noodles with Roasted Vegetables and Pesto

Have you met the zoodle? Short for zucchini noodle, it’s a great carb-cutting swap for standard spaghetti. Coat the veggie strands in creamy pesto (made from scratch!), toss them with roasted tomatoes, artichoke hearts and bell peppers, and watch your loved one swoon.

5. Brazilian Black Bean Stew

A healthier twist on the traditional dish, this recipe swaps chicken sausage in for the meat, and brown rice instead of white. However, you still get the filling beans and blend of savory flavors, along with orange slices on the side, just like it’s typically served. Call it, “Feijoada,” if you want to sound authentic. Practice pronouncing, “fay-ZHWA-dah,” for a more impressive effect.

6. Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad

If your senorita is craving a little Mexican, grab your cutting board and get to chopping. Though the list of ingredients is long, the crunch of the cabbage and peppers, pop from the black beans and corn, and the flavors of the homemade dressing, featuring avocado, lime juice and cilantro, make the salad worth the prepping effort. One bite and she’ll say delicious!

7. Salmon Burger with Herb Cream Sauce

This is not your average burger, people. Not only is salmon packed with heart-healthy oils, but it’s also a good source of lean protein, which helps to boost metabolism and decrease appetite. Its tender, buttery texture makes a perfect patty, which you’ll season with paprika, garlic powder and a pinch of cayenne for a bit of heat. The crème de la crème—the homemade herb cream sauce—adds elegance and awesome flavor. For another inspired idea, try the bun-less Edamame Quinoa Burgers.

8. Meat Lovers Loaded Pepper

There’s lean ground turkey, brown rice, spinach, chopped tomatoes, onions and garlic, coated in tomato sauce and nestled into your bell pepper of choice. It’s hearty, healthy and overflowing with goodness. If you prefer no meat, try this Veggie and Rice Stuffed Pepper and let the amazement consume you.

9. Southwest Spaghetti Bowl

This one might take the win for best presentation: Spaghetti squash strands, mixed with shredded chicken, green cilantro, black beans, red peppers, and other veggies served in a scooped out spaghetti squash is not only colorful and beautiful, but also delicious. And when you think it can’t get better, it does, in the form of shredded cheese sprinkled on top.

10. Easy Chicken Fajita Bake

Nowhere does it say that a date night dinner idea needs to be complicated. Tender chicken breast, vegetables, black olives, cheese and savory Mexican spices make for a simple and flavorful dish. This recipe is also easy to tweak: Just add in your sweetheart’s favorite veggies and experiment with spices to make it even more special.

11. Ginger Soy Noodle Bowl

Enjoy flavors of the Far East from the comfort of your own home. This veggie-loaded noodle bowl—complete with whole wheat spaghetti, fiber-rich edamame and crispy sugar snap peas—is bathed in an Asian-inspired sauce and perfect for sharing. Whip out a pair of “his and her” chopsticks and prepare your taste buds to be transported.

12. Loaded Mexican Baked Sweet Potato

The name says it all. Each side of a sweet potato is loaded with shredded chicken, cheese, salsa and low-fat sour cream. A sprinkle of spices and chopped green onion on top are the magic. A salad on the side, and dinner is served.

13. Ground Turkey and Veggie Curry with Brown Rice

Curry, coriander, cumin, turmeric and red chili flakes, work together to boost the flavor of this turkey-vegetable medley. It’s as delicious as it is satisfying. Counting as one SmartCarb, two Power Fuels, one Extra and one and a half Vegetables on Nutrisystem, it’s a perfect flex dinner.

14. Beetroot and Quinoa Superfood Salad

The salad looks almost as beautiful as your date. Lemon juice, olive oil and low-fat feta add vibrant flavor, while beets, kale and quinoa send the nutritional value of this meal soaring. If you have cooked beets prepared already, this one is very quick fix too.

15. Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas

For a more casual night with your guy or gal, consider the quesadilla. You still get the shredded cheddar and chunks of chicken you’d expect, but with low-fat cheese, extra veggies and whole-wheat tortillas, this classic gets a whole lot healthier. Looking to get a little closer with a movie? Watch this recipe video to heat things up a bit.

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4 Ways to Make Conflict a Healthy Part of Your Relationship

I’ve always considered myself a “non-confrontational person.” Those of us who self-identify in that way often take pride in the label, as though we value peacefulness more than most. Though I do prize peace, I’ve also learned over the years how to use conflict and confrontation as a tool that works for me and my relationships.

A real turning point came when I read Daring Greatly, by Brené Brown. In it, she talks a lot about people pleasing, and upon first glance, I never would have called myself a people-pleaser. I’m a free thinker, an individualist (where my enneagram 4s at?!), and a creative. In my mind, those qualities did not exist with people pleasing, but as I dug deeper within myself I realized that I have a deep fear of disappointing someone or doing anything that might be frowned upon.

I realized that by shying away from conflict and confrontation I was buying a seat at the people-pleasing table- a table which was no longer serving me.

Through years of self-reflection and as working as a substance abuse counselor (where I encourage my clients to look at what is not serving them and then confront it), I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade for setting boundaries, fighting fair, and making conflict work for you.

1. Sit in the discomfort.

I am a firm believer that feelings are just feelings. Society has taught all of us that happiness, lightness, and comfort are things to hold as “best”. I’m here to offer great news: all emotions are equal! That joyous news should validate that when you feel sad or angry or lonely or tired, those are all fair and true. When you lean into a feeling of uneasiness, you get to show up as your true self. How many of us have started a confrontational conversation with “I’m so sorry to bring this up”,”I don’t want to make you feel bad”, “This is really no big deal” . When you do this, it is not authentic.

Recognize that what you are about to say might cause feelings of discomfort in you or your partner, but that those feelings are valid.

Try these conversation starters instead:
 (Note: I believe that “and” is a confrontation’s best friend. Instead of saying “I’m sorry, but…” try “I love you, and…”)

• “I love you, and this is something that has been weighing on my heart.”
•  “I value that I can speak honestly with you, and I want to talk with you about…”
• “Our relationship is important to me, and I would really like to talk through a few things.”

Remember that the conversation does not have to end neatly. If the conversation ends with feelings of sadness or discomfort, that is valid, and it can be revisited when you’re ready.

2. Go to bed angry…If you want to.

How many of us were told to “never go to bed angry?”. While I’m not endorsing going to bed in a rage, it is also okay to take your time to process emotions. When we feel a sense of urgency to resolve things, we are not allowing ourselves the space to work through our inner dialogue. Additionally, how many times have you had a full night of sleep and then seen things in an entirely different perspective?

For me, confrontation can be a true source of anxiety, and there is no better antidote in my opinion to anxious feelings than rest. Taking time and space can be a true gift to yourself to better understand your feelings. I do think that within this, it can be helpful to tell your partner, “I am hoping that sleep will give me some clarity on this issue, can we talk more about it in the morning?”. It can be hurtful to leave someone hanging, and it is so important to communicate our needs and wants before taking a rest from a conflict.

3. Set your intentions.

I will never forget the first time that I went to a yoga class and the teacher told us all to “set your intentions for class.” In my mind, I thought “Okay, lady. My intention is to stretch.” Over the years I have learned how powerful the idea of intention is. These days when I go to a yoga class, I think “My intention is worthiness, peacefulness, love, etc.” It is amazing how often when I leave I feel deeply rooted in those feelings.

Our thoughts are so powerful, and this intention-setting works just as well with conflict. Before bringing something confrontational up with someone, I often think “What is my intention with this conversation?”. I will admit that this takes some practice, but now I know almost instantly what the answer is. If what rises in me is that this is coming out of a place of malice, jealousy, or meanness, I either abandon the confrontation altogether or instead of seeking answers in the other person, I try to look at my own thoughts and actions. The answer in those types of things almost always lies within. But if I ask myself that question and what rises in me is that I have been genuinely hurt by someone else’s words or actions, I am feeling belittled, dismissed, like my boundaries have been ignored, etc., I move forward with it.

I set an intention for a conversation that might look like this: “My intention is for us both to feel seen and loved.” I know that this might sound a little silly, but I think it can be helpful to even SAY that intention to your partner.

Using one of the conversation starters above, a great way to begin might be: ““I love you and this is something that has been weighing on my heart. My intention in this is for us both to feel seen.” Doesn’t that feel better than “Every day I pick your socks up off the floor, and I feel like you don’t care about my time?”.

4. Pick your battles (and stop playing the blame game).

Blaming doesn’t work. That sock example from above? It is from my real life. My husband has thrown his sweaty gym socks on the floor every morning for six years. I have said approximately 20,000 times “Stop throwing your socks on the ground. I have to pick them up when you do that.” This has affected zero change. Does this mean that my husband doesn’t love me and doesn’t value my time? No. Typically when he is throwing those socks on the ground, he is headed to get our one year old out of her crib to give her a bottle and start reading Planting A Rainbow about 20 times. I can choose to focus on the socks, or I can choose to focus on how much he loves and cares for our daughter. The choice is literally that simple. It takes me about half a second to throw the socks into the laundry basket. This is not drastically affecting my life. What drastically affects our lives is when we start seeing things through a lens of resentment and blame.

When we nag on small things, it negates when we want to actually confront something truly important to us.

I would much rather use the breath from “Pick your socks up” on “How are you feeling about your day today?”. The socks are not important. Relationships are important. Conflict can help your relationship deepen, it can help your relationship grow, but blaming and nagging will slowly chip away at what is good and real.

Learning how to embrace confrontation as a tool and not a weapon takes practice. If you want to reap the rewards of a deep and mature relationship, part of that is learning how to speak up for yourself unapologetically. The payoff from this is so deep, but of course there are growing pains!

Sit in the discomfort and enjoy the sometimes bumpy road to true healthy communication.

 

4 Simple Ways to Keep a Long-Distance Friendship Strong

Watching a friend move away is one of life’s bittersweet moments. On one hand, you’re excited for their new life chapter – be it growing their family, making career moves, or following their dreams – but the feeling of loss can be unshakeable. And we’ve all let that feeling take over, resigning a friend who moved across the country or even two towns over as a part of our past. But that doesn’t have to be the case! Similar to a long-distance relationship it takes some extra care and nurturing.

The biggest secret to a thriving long-distance friendship? Letting your relationship evolve.

If you hold on to the same expectations and routines that you had when you lived right down the block from each other (or maybe even in the next room over), you’re all but guaranteed to make the transition into a long-distance friendship rockier than it needs to be. So take a deep breath, and get excited about seeing where your relationship takes you next. Maybe you’ll be inspired to jet across the world or drive across the country to go visit them (this writer’s done both)! Or maybe you’ll discover that having a pen pal is way more fun than you ever thought it could be. Either way, these tips will help you keep your friendship strong — no matter how many miles separate you.

Let them Have their Space

This is my number one tip for when it comes to letting a relationship evolve and grow. Sure, you may have seen your friend four times a week when you lived in the same area, but you both need to be honest if swapping those dates with hour-long nightly phone calls is becoming too much. Instead, know that going a couple of days – or even a couple of months – without having a heart-to-heart doesn’t mean you aren’t friends anymore. It simply means that you’re both busy living lives that are full of all kinds of connections, your long-distance one included.

FaceTime is Always Better than a Text

Anyone in a long-distance relationship knows that tone often goes out the window over text. So next time you feel like your long-distance friend is being cold, get a FaceTime session on the calendar. I’m willing to bet that the distant vibes you were getting were simply because she was texting you on the go or was too tired to include her normal shower of emojis and GIFs — and that she’ll be her usual self once you get her on screen.

Setting up a regular schedule for video chats is a great way to have something to look forward to with your friend. Bonus points if you can schedule it directly after (or during!) a TV show or activity you would normally watch or do together. Add in a glass of wine or a cup of coffee for both of you, and you’ll feel like you’re practically in the same room again.

Be Thoughtful

Because you likely won’t be talking as frequently as you did when you lived in the same place, it pays to go the extra mile to remind your long-distance friend that you’re thinking about them. These thoughtful gestures can be as small as sending them a picture of something that reminded you of a time the two of you spent together, or as big as putting together a care package if you know your friend could use some extra support. You may not always be able to hop on a flight to go and see them, but truly thoughtful gestures will keep you feeling close.

Include Them in the Little Things

Though it pays to give your long-distance friend some space, including them in the little day-to-day parts of your life when you can is another one of my top tips. Think about the small stories you relished sharing with them when you would catch up over coffee and try to brainstorm creative ways to continue to include them. Maybe you both agree to listen to that podcast or watch that show you’re obsessed with so you can have someone to re-hash episodes with. Or maybe you randomly send them that meme that made you laugh so hard you cried. Or maybe instead of telling them about that makeup look that went horribly wrong, you send them an selfie of its aftermath.

Doing any of these things will keep your friend feeling like they are a part of your everyday life and not just someone you’d like to catch up with next time they’re in town. And if you can strike the right balance of space and connection, you’ll be amazed at how your long-distance friendship can flourish and grow.

 

Guy turns violent after lover rejects public proposal

A Nigerian youth turned violent after asking his girlfriend to marry him and she rejected the marriage proposal right there in public.

The guy is seen in the viral video asking: “why won’t you marry me?”

https://twitter.com/i/status/1136210682800742400

“I said I don’t want to marry you,” his girlfriend responded.

The guy angrily reacted saying “How can you tell me no, no for what?” The young man, who had been on his knee gets up and gets physical. He pushes the lady to the ground and takes off her wig.

Onlookers intervene and ask him to be calm.

In a subsequent Tweet, however, @IamErujeje who posted the video, posted a followup where the duo say the scene was just a prank.

“I am not a woman beater,” the guy seen in the viral video said.

 

Dating while you have an STD

 

Dating someone new is about checking out the new restaurant on the block or taking a hot yoga class together. And in the age of safer sex, it also means sharing information about your sexual health.

It’s a conversation that people with sexually transmitted diseases or STDs, also referred to as sexually transmitted infections or STIs — such as herpes, chlamydia or HIV — have been having for years. Meanwhile, their numbers are growing. Today, an estimated 1 in 2 sexually active Americans will contract an STD by the time they turn 25.

But has dating when you have one gotten easier?

“The stigma associated with having an STI leads folks to believe that they won’t be able to date and that no one will want to have sex with them, but in my experience, that’s rarely the case,” said Jenelle Marie Pierce, executive director of the STD Project and spokeswoman for PositiveSingles.com, a dating website aimed at people with STDs. “Sure, some people experience rejection after disclosing to a new partner. But most people find that the stigma itself is far worse than the infection.”

I asked Pierce and other experts to share more insights on dating when you have an STD.

When should you tell a potential partner that you have an STD?

“When first dating someone, most people want to put their best foot forward and disclose information about themselves over time and as comfort, trust and feelings develop,” sex therapist Diane Gleim said. “Depending on your preference and your feelings about the person you’re dating, you may want to lead with your STI status or not. Either approach is OK, but not disclosing your status as sexual activity becomes clearly imminent is not OK.”

In other words, you don’t need to have this conversation on your first date (unless you want to), but you should absolutely tell your partner before you become sexually intimate with them.

“It’s super important to make your STI status known prior to having sex with someone new,” sex educator Heather Alberda said. “Setting the stage for healthy communication starts on day one.”

Josh Robbins, an HIV/AIDS activist and spokesman for another dating website, DatingPositives.com, said that “all you can do is be safe. Being safe means taking personal responsibility and getting tested regularly in order to be up to date on the status of your health.”

“But it’s also about being honest about your sexual health, and the longer you wait to tell someone you’re positive, the harder it will be. Sadly, there may be people who are too afraid to admit they have a condition because they fear rejection. That fear comes from stigma, which can only be reduced by educating people and accepting as a society that STIs are very, very common.”

How should you tell a potential partner about your STD status?

It’s best to approach the conversation pragmatically and succinctly in a safe space with few distractions, Pierce said. “Give the person space and let them take a day or two to circle back with questions. And try your best not to take their response personally.”

And for people with STDs who want to skip the uncomfortable conversation — and get right to all the other wonderfully awkward aspects of dating — websites like PositiveSingles.com and DatingPositives.com offer a way to do just that. “When folks are initially diagnosed, they are absolutely petrified of disclosing to a new partner, if they even want to date at all, so sometimes, a dating site can really help,” Pierce explained.

Sex therapist Rachel Needle offers this advice: “First, make sure you tell them in person, face-to-face. Be prepared to educate your partner about the STI you have, including ways you can be sexually active and reduce the chance of transmission. If you feel comfortable, you can share with them how you contracted the STI and how, if at all, it has impacted you. Allow your partner to ask any questions they have and provide them with good resources to learn more on their own.’

What should someone expect when disclosing STD status?

“People who have long-term STIs always expect the worst when disclosing their status, but I want to challenge them to also only accept the best,” Pierce said. “While everyone isn’t going to be excited that you have an STI, a calm, kind and thoughtful response is what should happen when you disclose to a new person. If they are hysterical, cruel or disrespectful, then walk away.”

Robbins agreed. “I’ve found that refusing to pursue someone’s approval or acceptance of my chronic condition is the way to go,” he explained. “Attempting to validate myself through another person’s acceptance is pointless. Instead, I view being open about my journey as a privilege I extend to a potential partner. Their reaction will determine whether or not I want them to be in my life.”

The sex educator known as Laureen HD added that “potential partners tend to ask ‘what happened?’ after you disclose that you have an STI. And a common mistake — at least, I consider it a mistake — that people with herpes make is to feel that they owe potential partners an explanation on how they contracted herpes, as if contracting it from a cheating boyfriend versus from a one night stand makes a difference.

“I did an experiment where I used Tinder for a month, where the only thing my bio read was ‘I have genital herpes, swipe right only if you’re cool with it.’ I didn’t know what to expect, but my fearful self, brainwashed by the stigma, anticipated that there was going to be a lot of slut-shaming or rude interactions. But none of that happened. Most guys who swiped right were genuinely appreciative of how upfront I was about the information, and a few were even down to meet up and get to know each other in person. This taught me that we are more understanding of STIs in the privacy of our relationships than we are in public conversations.”

What should people without STDs know about dating someone who’s positive?

Many people may just assume that they’re negative and have not been tested for STDs. The experts I contacted point out that someone who knows that they have an STD is more likely to be aware of their sexual health. “People who are openly STD-positive are the people you should least fear,” Robbins said. “It’s the people who say they’re negative — but maybe they’re only assumed negative or maybe they’ve just never been tested — who actually pose the most risk.”

It’s also worth educating yourself about that risk. “A once-daily preventive medication called PrEP is now available for people who are in a relationship with someone who is HIV-positive,” Alberda said. “We also know now that if viral loads are undetectable, HIV is unable to be passed along to a partner.”

Sex therapist Michael Vigorito explained, “Studies show a decrease in HIV infections associated with two medical advances: taking a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those who are HIV negative and ‘undetectable = untransmittable’ for those who are positive. My clients share that these interventions decrease their anxieties about HIV infection or transmission and allow them to enjoy their sexuality more fully.”

It’s clear that having an STD doesn’t have to put an end to dating or sex. Just like safe sex, it’s one more topic you’ll want to discuss with a new partner before getting intimate.

“When I got diagnosed with genital herpes, which is an incurable STI, it felt like going back to teenage years and having to learn how to date all over again,” Laureen HD said. “How to make myself look approachable without coming off as easy or promiscuous, how to build self-confidence to put myself out there again, how to not fall for the first person who would fall for me in light of my disclosure, etc.

“After my first rejection, I remember thinking, ‘That’s it, I won’t ever be able to be in a relationship anymore. I won’t ever be a wife. I won’t ever be a mom.’ Those fears and insecurities even lead me to neglect letting some partners know of my diagnosis in a timely way. But a lot of trial and error later, I figured I would rather be rejected while having done the right thing than accepted but having neglected their consent. The emotional fragility never vanishes completely, even after getting many positive responses.”