Eat This, Not That: 8 Healthier Date Night Dishes

Gettyimages.com/Close up of couple eating in a bar.

When you’re in that exciting new stage of a young relationship, there are two things you want to do together all of the time and both involve whipped cream—having sex, and eating. For some reason, you just want to try all of your partner’s favorite foods and have him try all of your favorites. It’s almost like you’re on a restaurant tour of the city together (on the nights you aren’t ordering delivery so you can get back to making magic under the sheets quicker). There are foods that naturally lend themselves to being split between a couple. These foods tend to be indulgent, fatty, sugary, creamy, and overall naughty because, well, you’re doing a lot of naughty things in a new relationship. But that’s also why you put on those new relationship pounds. Skip the new love bulge and eat this, not that, date night food.

Gettyimages.com/Spaghetti squash filled with tomato sauce and mushrooms, topped with cheese and baked

Eat this: Spaghetti squash and turkey meatballs

Spaghetti squash is super low in calories and carbs, and gives you a healthy serving of vegetables. Meanwhile, it soaks up all the same sauces nicely that traditional wheat pasta would. Pair your spaghetti squash with lean, high-protein, low-fat turkey meatballs. And make your own tomato sauce from scratch using a can of stewed tomatoes, salt, pepper, olive oil, oregano, and basil.