A funny video on how to be sexy when chowing down on bar food.

At late brunch, sitting next to my honey, I was recently told that our side by side, arm over shoulder, casual pecks on the cheek and lips as we chatted (we were there but 15 minutes…) was making the other customers uncomfortable. We eat out all the time and always behave the same way. Is there a brunch etiquette I’m unaware of? Or are people just not used to seeing an affectionate couple in love? Any dining etiquette tips for couples madly in love?

Here’s a great little article from Karen Reams on “”The Right Diet for Good Sex: Food in Pursuit of Erotic Pleasure.”

You know how fond I am of the food-pleasure connection. With summer coming up, add the word “picnic” to  most of her tips and turn every outdoor snack into foreplay. Even a veggie and a carnivore can find a happy medium with these tips! Here she goes:

Sex should never be taken for granted or boring. But have you ever thought of going on a diet to enhance your sexual life? I am not talking about your sex life perking up because you lose weight, but a diet that is set in place to make you a remarkable lover.

There is certainly evidence out there to suggest that certain foods can play a part in a healthy sex life. These foods will help you keep up physical energy which is an important part of love making. Some are even suggesting that a healthy eater equals a more passionate lover.

The use of good food increases our creativity and someone who is creative can make love-making unforgettable.

Of course the obvious is, the right kind of food served in the right atmosphere will make you heady with anticipation and delight.

This really isn’t a new discovery, food, love and sex have been linked together for centuries. The Greeks and Romans for example, before they embarked on any sexual activity used to a enjoy a parade of ripe fruits and exotic dishes. And lets not forget Casanova, who is reported to have shared oysters with his paramours.

So why in the 21^st century should we be any different?

There are several foods around that will enhance a natural high such as; almonds, apples, beets, carrots, chicken, eggs, milk, peanuts, pineapple, soybean, spinach and tomatoes. So far not too horrendous. But then we have the sensual foods such as; chocolate, whipped cream, grapes, wine and strawberries. I think its time to return to the ways of the great lovers of the past and use food in pursuit of pleasure.

-Keep your cupboards and refrigerators stocked so that you have everything at a drop of a hat.

-When the mood takes you, gather your ingredients and start cooking. Its more fun to do this together and perhaps just wearing aprons……or even nude….spice it up.

-Just share the one glass for wine, there is nothing so sensual.

-Feed your partner juicy fruits such as slivers of pear or mango.

-Feed each other in creative ways. There is nothing so erotic than nibbling strawberries from your partners chest especially if whipped cream is involved.

-Be inventive and creative and enjoy.

Boy or Girl? Older women have a higher chance of having girls because the feeble boy sperm have a harder time negotiating her increasingly hostile body environment. Eat lots of acidic foods if you want a girl, the increased acidity in your body will make it harder for Y-sperm to complete their mission impossible. Ah, the many old wives’ tales of conception…while these are fun to toss around and sometimes seem provable, here’s a little article I found that explores some myths and truths about getting pregnant.

What does a girl do on those days where she feels less than faboo, but more than willing? Uncomfortable “femme” days, office stress or body pain can really impact how sexy you feel, but, as you well know, that doesn’t necessarily put a damper on desire. Here are a few tips to turn make a truce between the part of you that says “don’t touch me” and the other that begs “c’mere tiger.”

Dilemma 1: Cramps

Prevention: When it’s that time, take care of yourself. Visit a yoga class, snuggle up with your hot water bottle, take some Midol, go for a walk. However you make yourself feel better, do it before jumping into a seductive goddess role.

Sensual Tip: Explore light touch. Gentle, soothing caresses starting from the hair follicle, working down to your little piggies could be just the ticket to physical bliss. 

Dilemma 2: Bloating

Prevention: First off, take precautionary measures. If you have a tendency to bloat, take up to 100mg vitamin B-6 per day. This natural diuretic will help with water bloating. Also, cut out as much sodium from your diet as possible, and east more slowly. Eating quickly can cause you to swallow air that can cause bloating and gas.  I also find that eating less bread and pasta and more active culture yoghurt and raw veggies helps a great deal.

Can’t get past the discomfort? Take care of yourself first. Massage your stomach gently in circular motions in the direction that your food goes to help get air pockets moving.

Sensual Solution: This may be the day for an erotic massage and a return to days before intercourse…play with your hands, mouths…

Dilemma 3: Aches and Pains

Prevention: If you have residual pain from a car accident or just have a sore neck from daily office malarkey, aches and pains can do a bad number on your sex drive. Visit a physical therapist to get a daily stretching routine, go to a yoga class, or visit a day spa where you can soak and sauna until you are as limp as a noodle. Taking care of your well-being is an assured way to keep you running at your optimum level.

Sensual Solution: Have  a Spa Day with your partner! Pamper yourselves together and see what an aphrodisiac extended care and nurturing each other is. 

Dilemma 4: Red Days 

This splits us girls in a few camps, the Big 2 being to have or not to have sex. I won’t speak for all ladies, but I wax and wane during this time. I very much want to be with my man, but some days feels just too icky. Here preventative measures and solutions blur together. First, know how your partner feels about this time of the month and work your game plan from there. What do you feel comfortable with? Is the the week where he gives you a massage and the rest of the focus is on him? Or do you act as normal and just take it a little easy on crampy days? Prevention and solution during this time breaks down to comfort levels and communication.

How do you seduce your man with food?

As far as I can tell, there are two kinds of feeding: comfort food and seduction food. Those grand Austrian and German meals of meat and potatoes are sure to satisfy most men and indicate that you know how to take care of him. This is the food of eternal love: that which indicates ability to create personal well-being.

Then there is seduction food that gets your bodies in that happy place and ready for action. The food of seduction should not be weigh you down. Never should it be in the “gut buster” genre. Usually, foods that stimulate the blood flow, like spicy foods, and are good for the heart, like garlic, are said to have an aphrodisiac effect. And why not? A healthy body is a happy body!

Here is a list of common foods that have aphrodisiac qualities that are common to your kitchen (from and article on LifeInItaly.com):

Cacao Tree –Theobroma cacao) Central America-mild stimulant, ground beans made into drink or chocolate bar. Ancient Indian recipe of chocolate: Roasted beans are ground and dissolved in water, along with vanilla, cayenne pepper, matico pepper, pimento, cinnamon, squash seeds. A cup of gold can be salty or sweetened with honey. Cocoa was considered the “food of gods”; Aztec prostitutes were paid in cocoa. Beans contain theobromine and caffeine, aphrodisiac phenylethylamine.

Celery — Apium graveolenns–stimulant, fresh root eaten, it strengthen the sex organs. Celery root contains an essential oil and minerals iron, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorus.

Oyster Meat – Oyster extract is excellent for men’s reproductive health and endurance. It is a rich source for the amino acid taurine, which has a cardio-protective effect and also in nerve transmission. Historically known as an aphrodisiac, flavanoids in oyster meat have been shown to stimulate the reproductive system.

Pineapple –Ananas cosmosus– diuretic, invigoration! Has a great digestive effect, a purifying effect. Use fresh fruit juice. For aphrodisiac effects to work– eat pineapple with chili powder or mixed with honey and rum. A small glass taken daily promotes energies of love.

Pomegranate tree –Punica granatum– Mediterranean, Asia Minor- invigorator! The fruits are eaten– the fruit is sacred to Aphrodite. The rinds are rich in tannins.

Squash –Curcubita pepo–America - diuretic, invigorator, seeds eaten and aphrodisiac for women. In Aurvedic and Tantric systems seeds eaten during rituals of love, and belong to vajicarana. Seeds contain fatty oil, protein and vitamin E that is important for healthy sexuality.

Cayenne Cayenne is also known as capsicum and plays a very large role in blood circulation. When cayenne is ingested, it dilates blood vessels. This allows increased blood flow throughout the body, especially in the major organs. The male penis benefits greatly from the ingestion of cayenne. It is a widely held belief that cayenne aids in longer lasting erections, with stronger ejaculations and more intense orgasms. For Men!

Cinnamon –Cinnamomum zeylanicum– Southern Asia , evergreen -stimulant, spice used in food or massage oil into genitals for erotic stimulation.

Garlic –Liliaseae - tonic, rejuvenates, used as a spice, magic element (to banish bad influences or vampires). Essential oils have antibiotic and cell-activating effects. Used as an aphrodisiac since the Egyptians, the Romans consecrated it to Ceres, the goddess of fertility.

Eating. So closely linked to sex and courtship. How? Well, before we start, we’ll give thanks that we’re not part of the praying mantis family. If, like them, we bit off the heads of every man we mated with, we’d be a bunch of praying singles, except we’d know where all the good ones went. But I digress.

If you’ve ever wondered why eating plays such a big role in romance, let’s take a page from anthropology and look at its function. Robin Fox in her article “Food and Eating: An Anthropological Perspective” suggests, “… the equation of good food, good sex, and emotional security taps very deep motives lodged in the basic mammalian search for reproductive success.”
1. Food and sex are closely linked in the limbic system in the brain (controlling emotional activity). Therefore good food is equal to good sex.

2. Food plus sex equals offspring that are well provided for. So, on an evolutionary level, men who provide food tap a primal instinct to mate, as they are likely able to provide for us while we are full up with caring for an infant. It shows us he’s “investing” in us.

2a. Therefore: A man with strong resources is preferable to a, say, very handsome mate. For men, Fox finds, on this primal level it’s all about looks.

3. The “meeting the parents” meal is a ceremony that indicates your relationship is moving to next level. It’s a chance for both parties to assess each other and add some DW40 to the newly cast gears of social intercourse.
4. The Romantic Dinner is a common form of therapy for couples. (Perhaps harkening back to courtship days; a reminder that your intentions are still in the same place.)