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Is a Romantic Valentine's Dinner at Home Really a Good Idea?

Putting a smile on your partner's face may be easier than you think...if you know your way around the kitchen, that is. A new HelloFresh survey conducted by OnePoll reveals the connection between cooking, relationships, and how it all comes together.
Putting a smile on your partner's face may be easier than you think...if you know your way around the kitchen, that is. A new HelloFresh survey conducted by OnePoll reveals the connection between cooking, relationships, and how it all comes together.

Why a Romantic Dinner for Two Could Your Best Valentine’s Day Idea Yet

Looking for a Valentine’s Day idea your partner won’t forget? Our recent survey indicates you may want to start with a romantic dinner at home. When we asked 2,000 Americans in a relationship how cooking plays into their relationships, we found out that 79% of them believe good food is the best way to get into someone’s heart. After all, if the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, why shouldn’t the same be for everyone’s heart? Maybe this is why 42% of those polled also said that a home-cooked meal is a “must-have” for Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients for a Romantic Valentine’s Day

63%
want to receive chocolates
56%
would like a bouquet of flowers
43%
want to receive a greeting card
42%
would like to eat a home-cooked meal
25%
want jewelry
Sexiest Traits to Have in a Partner

Sexiest Traits to Have in a Partner

Still debating if a home cooked dinner is right for you? Ponder this: cooking skills are so important that 43% of respondents said they’ve actually ended relationships in the past if their partner was a bad cook. That’s right, for them no good in the kitchen means no good for me.

Feeling confident in the kitchen?? 65% of our respondents agreed that they’d lie and say they loved their partner’s food even though they didn’t like it.

Don’t fret! If solo cooking isn’t your forte, why not turn dinner into a fun, romantic experience with your partner by learning to cook together with a simple (but delicious) meal kit for two?

How Many Dates Should I Wait Before I Cook a Romantic Dinner at Home?

Before you search for “romantic dinner ideas for two at home”, keep in mind that survey respondents shared that it takes four dates for them to feel comfortable moving date night to their partner’s home, and five dates to host them in their own home. If you’re not at that stage yet, consider a night on the town with a fancy dinner as a good Valentine’s Day date night alternative.

Ready to take the plunge? Awesome! Confident about cooking? Great! Looking for the perfect Valentine’s day dinner recipe? Slow down there. Before you attempt a new, complicated recipe at home, know that 65% of responders believe that if the meal is bad, the date will be bad too. On a more positive note, a higher 72% said the date will be better if the food hits the spot. Translation? Make sure the recipe you choose is romantic, simple, and (most importantly) delicious!

Good food aside, you also want to mind your manners! Survey respondents called out the following turn-offs they look out for when they’re out on a date.

Table Etiquette: Date Night Turn-Offs

56%
find it a turn-off if their date is rude to the staff
52%
would consider skipping a second date if their date chews with their mouth open
47%
think that taking food off their plate without asking is a big no-no
38%
will consider it an undateable offense if their date doesn’t offer to pick up the tab
32%
find it rude to send food back to the kitchen
27%
are also turned off if their date doesn’t tip well
26%
think that getting too drunk on a date is a sign of bad things to come

Cooking for Date Night

When you do make it to the romantic dinner at home stage in your relationship — a stage that 81% of respondents agree means the relationship is getting serious — you may notice that your cooking skills will start improving. In fact, 78% of those surveyed said their cooking skills actually improved when they started incorporating date night recipes into their playbook, with 67% saying that they're more likely to cook at home than eat out. Even more promising for those taking notes on how to make Valentine’s Day more pleasurable for their significant others is this: 70% of those polled agreed that cooking for their partner is more intimate than sex! So, if you want your partner to be more attracted to you AND have a good Valentine’s Day, you better put on that apron, get learning, and start cooking.
Date Night Fights

Date Night Fights

Before we wrap up, keep something very important in mind: just like a bad date, a bad home-cooked meal can also lead to a bad night. Yep, no matter how good your Valentine’s Day dinner ideas are, it can all go downhill if you’re not careful. With that in mind — and to avoid any unpleasantries — take a look at the top triggers our respondents divulged as they discussed why they argue with their partners.

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