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Over a decade has passed since I prepared the first romantic and healthy dinner for my husband. Prior to our relationship I had converted to a vegetarian lifestyle. Within a year I had regressed to my Midwestern meat-with-every-dinner routine. In a quest to reach a happy medium, I wanted to introduce my husband to healthier meals using foods he enjoyed.

I decided a romantic, candlelit dinner would be a good way to hide the food and let his taste buds determine if he liked it or not. I knew he couldn't refuse to eat a meal prepared from the heart. I set the table with a linen table cloth, placed two taper candles in the center and tossed a few rose petals near the base, turned on our favorite romantic tunes, and filled our wine glasses.

The menu consisted of baked Mahi Mahi with mango and jalapeno salsa, saffron rice, and fresh steamed green beans. The meal was simple to prepare and ready in less than an hour. The smell of the saffron rice was enough to pique his curiosity. And, I knew no matter what he would like green beans because they were the only vegetable he ever ate.

The meal was a huge success and he devoured every bite, so the following month I prepared another romantic healthy dinner. It too was a success and we have continued this tradition every month for over ten years. Not only does it provide the opportunity to introduce new healthy foods into our diet, it grants us time to sit down and simply be together.

We both look forward to our monthly romance meal. Sharing healthy foods in an intimate setting seems to make it easier to step outside your comfort zone. There is a greater willingness to try new foods. What worked well for me was to start by enhancing the foods I knew my husband already liked and finding healthy ways to serve them.

For example, if your partner's favorite meat is a big juicy T-bone, consider serving grilled beef kabobs stacked with onions, peppers, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes. Or, serve a large garden salad with thin slices of London broil placed on top.

Beef isn't the root of all evil and actually provides a decent amount of vitamins, mineral, and protein. It's the type of meat and quantity that can become unhealthy. The recommended serving for beef is 3.5 ounces per day, but people often consume 16-ounces or more.

Beef is a very versatile food. It can be thinly sliced and served as a sandwich, in stir-fry, as a casserole, salad topping, soup or stew. Preparing beef in healthy ways can help your loved one become more willing to try other healthy meat choices or perhaps even a vegetarian meal.

It is fun to plan a nice quiet meal with your partner. Preparing healthy food is one of the most loving gestures you can offer. Setting aside at least one night each month to focus on one another helps keep the home fires burning.

The Internet is a great source for locating all types of healthy recipes. A few of my personal favorites include: EatingWell.com, CookingLight.com, and the 'HealthBuzz' section at FoodBuzz.com. Each offers numerous choices for creating romantic dinners and provides resources that make it easy to modify unhealthy recipes into healthy ones.

Sources:
www.EatingWell.com
www.CookingLight.com
FoodBuzz.com: HealthBuzz

More from this contributor:
Three Ways to Prepare Fingerling Potatoes
Four Ways to Prepare Fresh Green Beans
Five Ways to Prepare Mahi-Mahi Fish