Dress or skinny jeans? Heels of flats? Red lippy or natural lipgloss?
Preparing for a first date is a minefield of questions to debate, decisions to make and that’s before you even meet the lucky guy or gal.
There is no doubt about it, first dates are nerve wracking.
But, when it comes to boosting your confidence in advance of a first meet, there is more to consider than just your appearance.
A team of nutritionists told Daily Mail Online what you eat in the run up to your night out, can make a huge difference to first date night nerves.
Here they reveal the best foods to eat before a date to help you look and feel on your best form.
When it comes to boosting your confidence in advance of a first date, there is more to consider than just your appearance. A team of nutritionists told Daily Mail Online what you eat in the run up to your night out, can make a huge difference to first date night nerves
1. Nuts… to de-stress yourself
We all get the first date jitters – it is natural.
What it is important to understand is that the nerves are a form of stress and anxiety, says Shona Wilkinson, nutritionist at SuperfoodUK.com.
She said while the impending date is likely the cause of the nerves, a person’s diet will also play a role.
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‘One of the key things to realise is that stress and anxiety can be fuelled by eating the wrong types of food,’ she told Daily Mail Online.
‘Stick to snacks that don’t raise your blood sugar too quickly such as nuts including almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts, as these contain some protein and good fats that will reduce your cravings.
‘They are also a good source of magnesium, which helps with efficient energy production while also being calming to the nervous system.’
Stress and anxiety, that cause pre-date nerves, can be fuelled by eating the wrong types of foods. It is important to snack on foods that don’t raise your blood sugar too quickly, brazil nuts, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts, for example
2. Crunchy veg… to ensure fresh breath
As every singleton will know, one of the many things to worry about while playing the dating game is ensuring you have fresh breath.
Nutritionist Cassandra Barns said as with stress and anxiety, there are a number of different foods that can actually help freshen a person’s breath.
‘Carrots, apples and celery can help scrape out the plague build-ups that can cause bad breath,’ she said.
‘Apart from being nutritious and healthy, these crunchy foods can also boost production of saliva, which fights bacteria.
‘In addition, celery is a natural diuretic so it will help to fight water retention and bloating.’
As well as including these crunchy foods in your pre-date diet, Ms Wilkinson said another important factor is water.
‘Dehydration is one of the most common reasons for bad breath,’ she said.
‘If you are one of those people, who survive on coffee and forget about topping up their water bottle you are most likely to develop bad breath during the day.
‘Our saliva is a natural antiseptic and it plays a crucial role in breaking down food particles trapped within dental crevices, protecting teeth from bacterial decay.
‘However, in order for your body to produce enough of it, you must be drinking plenty of water throughout the day, otherwise microbes in our mouth will feed on food pieces and release by-products, causing odor at the same time.’
Carrots, apples and celery can help scrape out the plague build-ups that can cause bad breath. Apart from being nutritious and healthy, these crunchy foods can also boost production of saliva, which fights bacteria
3. A green smoothie… to get the glow
In the run up to a first date, few things can be more distressing than an untimely outbreak of unsightly spots sprayed across your face.
To ensure your complexion is on point, flawless and glowing, Ms Wilkinson advises blending up a green smoothie.
‘To improve your skin tone blend together avocado, pineapple, coconut water and spinach,’ she told Daily Mail Online.
To ensure your complexion is on point, flawless and glowing, Ms Wilkinson advises blending up a green smoothie, with avocado, pineapple and spinach
‘Avocado will hydrate your skin and pineapple is packed with vitamin C, which boosts the production of collagen.
‘In addition, spinach will help to detoxify and remove toxins from your body.
‘Add a scoop of super green powder that contains chlorella, such as Natures Plus Ultra Juice Green Powder (www.naturesplus.co.uk).
‘Chlorella helps to improve circulation as well as skin firmness.
‘It is also thought to help with decreasing cellulite on your skin and make it more elastic – this is due to the toxin removal properties and the ability to remove fat deposits from the skin.’
4. Healthy fats… to line your stomach
In a bid to calm your first date nerves, you may be tempted to turn to one too many glasses of vino to take the edge off.
But, if cocktails or a bottle of wine are on the cards, it is important to prepare, say the experts.
It is advise that resonates for any night out – line your stomach before hitting the booze.
Ms Wilkinson said: ‘Overall, it’s important that you do eat before drinking to slow the absorption of alcohol and additionally reduce the irritation that it causes to the stomach.
‘Include healthy fats such as salmon or olive oil dressing to slow absorption of alcohol, thereby slowing the work for your liver.
‘Don’t have time for a meal? Snack on olives before you go out.’
Overall, it’s important that you do eat before drinking to slow the absorption of alcohol and additionally reduce the irritation that it causes to the stomach. Include healthy fats such as salmon or olive oil dressing to slow absorption of alcohol, thereby slowing the work for your liver
5. Legumes… to beat the bloat and keep your tummy flat
You are going to want to look a million dollars, and for any girl that will mean taming the bloat and ensure your tummy is as flat as possible.
And, once again, your diet can help.
Try to include legumes in meals in the run up to the big day, says Dr Marilyn Glenville, leading nutritionist and author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar.
She said:’ They consist of amylose, which is a resistant starch – so called because it is resistant to stomach acid and digestive enzymes and it reaches the large intestine essentially intact.
‘So it manages to escape digestion and absorption in the small intenstine.
‘It almost behaves like fibre, providing bulk for the bowel motion and fuel for the beneficial bacteria.
‘This good quality protein slows down the rate that stomach processes food and delays the passage of the carbohydrates with it.
‘As soon as you add a protein – be it animal or vegetable – to a carbohydrate, you change it into a slower releasing carbohydrate, that keep your sugar levels at bay.’
Fellow expert, Adrienne Benjamin, a nutritionist at Pro-Ven Probiotics added: ‘To balance your gut flora and keep your belly flat and happy consider a good quality live bacteria supplement, such as Pro-Ven’s Adult 25 Billion and include fermented foods in your daily diet.
‘Go for natural yoghurt, miso soup, sauerkraut, kimchi and kambucha.’
Try to include legumes in meals in the run up to the big date, to help beat the bloat and achieve a flat tummy
A couple of squares of dark chocolate can work wonders in getting you in the mood. It is packed with magnesium, one of the nutrients that boosts production of serotonin, the primary hormone for good mood
6. Dark chocolate… to get in the mood
Not in a mood for a date?
‘Have a couple of squares of dark chocolate,’ says Dr Glenville.
‘Chocolate contains several substances that may improve mood.
‘These include phenylethylamine, which can act as a brain neurotransmitter and affect your mood and pleasure.
‘Chocolate also contains magnesium, one of the nutrients needed for production of serotonin, the primary hormone responsible for good mood.
‘Eating any food that you enjoy also stimulates endorphin release, which makes you feel good’ says Wilkinson.
‘Certain nutrients and herbs can be extremely helpful if your sex drives needs a boost.
‘Zinc is essential for hormone balance and sex drive, hence the old wives’ tale of using oysters (which contain high amounts of zinc) as an aphrodisiac.’