5 Ways to Add Romance to Your Thanksgiving Dinner
These tips will make your holiday meal more intimate
Usually, when we think of Thanksgiving dinner, we think about stuffing our turkeys, and then our faces. Chances are, we’ll overeat ourselves into a tryptophan-induced coma and keep our pants unbuttoned long enough to finish our leftovers in the subsequent days.
But if you and your partner are going it alone this Thanksgiving, why not make it a bit more intimate? Why just eat, watch sports, and pass out? Your entire Thanksgiving dinner can be a romantic experience that will make Cupid take note in a couple of months. I spoke to some relationship experts who shared advice on how to do it.
Make Time in the Kitchen More Intimate
We all know Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude. This makes it the best time of year to connect with your partner and show them how grateful you are for them, both physically and emotionally.
“Physical touch is a powerful way to communicate emotions, feelings, and thoughts to your partner.” — Laura Doyle
Instead of stressing out over cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner, make it more intimate. Poor a drink, put on some music, and cook together while having some fun. If you need to test out the recipes, feed each other and find any excuse to make physical contact. When you walk by each other in the kitchen, sneak a little kiss or a butt pinch. These little acts will heat up the kitchen way beyond your meal.
-Adelle Kelleher, CEO and Founder at Coaching Hearts Consulting
Sit Next to Each Other During Dinner
A great way to show your partner how much you care is to simply sit by each other and enjoy each other’s company. This can be done while enjoying a Thanksgiving feast together or while watching the holiday parade on TV. Whatever you do, make sure to take some time to just be with each other and appreciate each other’s company.
This idea is simple, but so powerful. It’s a way to physically show our loved ones that we’re there for them, that we’re present in the moment, and that we want to be close to them. It’s a way to express our love and gratitude without words.
“This is the perfect time to rediscover and reignite the curiosity you experienced in the beginning.” — Dr. Jess O’Reilly
Also, when we sit by each other, we’re sending a clear message that we’re united. We’re saying that we’re a team, that we’re in this together. We’re showing our loved ones that we’re ready and willing to support them, no matter what. So this Thanksgiving, let’s make a point to sit by each other. Let’s show our loved ones how much we care.
“When you walk by each other in the kitchen, sneak a little kiss or a butt pinch.” — Adelle Kelleher
However, it’s also a good idea to make this a regular thing. Set aside some time each day or week to just sit by each other. This can be for a few minutes or a few hours, depending on your schedule. Talk about anything and everything. This is a time to really connect with your partner and share what’s going on in your life. You can talk about your day, your hopes and dreams, your fears and worries, or anything else that’s on your mind.
During this time, be present. One of the best things about sitting by each other is that it gives you the chance to be fully present with your partner. This means putting away your phones, laptops, and other distractions and really focusing on your partner. It can be a challenge to do this, but it’s worth it. Also, enjoy the silence. Sometimes the best way to connect with your partner is to simply sit in silence together. This can be a nice break from all the chatter of everyday life. Just be sure to take breaks if the silence starts to feel uncomfortable.
-Aditya Kashyap Mishra, Relationship Expert at MoodFresher
Add Candlelight
Add a touch of romance to the Thanksgiving meal with candlelight and champagne. The light cast by candles doesn’t go far, creating an intimate environment to really connect with your partner. Sipping on bubbly elevates the romance and adds a dash of elegance to the family holiday. Normally, Thanksgiving is filled with all day cooking and after being fully exhausted, you sit down and stuff your faces. It’s not a very glamorous event by most measures, but slowing things down and making it a celebration — instead of work — can really create intimacy. Add soft music and you have the perfect ingredients for relaxation and playful flirting.
“Whatever you do, make sure to take some time to just be with each other and appreciate each other’s company.” — Aditya Kashyap Mishra
-Laura Doyle, Author of The Empowered Wife: Six Surprising Secrets for Attracting Your Husband’s Time, Attention, and Affection*
Get Curious
When you first meet a partner, you go out of your way to discover more about one another, which makes things exciting and full of passion. If you’ve been together for a few months or years — or longer — this is the perfect time to rediscover and reignite the curiosity you experienced in the beginning. You can try the Passion Interview, by asking your partner questions, such as:
· If you could have a drink with anyone in the world, who would you choose and why?
· What did you daydream about as a child? What do you daydream about now?
· When was the last time you felt really excited?
· What is your fondest memory?
· If you could change one thing about your teenage years, what would it be?
· What global issues concern you?
· If you had only one wish, what would it be?
· If you no longer worked, how would you spend your ideal day?
· When you retire, how do you want to spend your days?
· Name two things you love to do that don’t cost money.
· Who do you admire most and why?
-ASTROGLIDE Resident Sexologist Dr. Jess O’Reilly
Enjoy a Touchy-Feely Dessert
Hold hands while you talk and feed each other an indulgent dessert. Nibbling over something sweet while gently stroking the back of your partner’s hand will cultivate a deeper connection, as well as set the mood for more physical intimacy. Sharing a dessert means you have to sit close, which honestly invites additional touching. Something as simple as your knees touching stimulates the production of oxytocin, which is the love hormone. While it’s more subtle or nuanced, physical touch is a powerful way to communicate emotions, feelings, and thoughts to your partner.
-Laura Doyle, Author of The Empowered Wife: Six Surprising Secrets for Attracting Your Husband’s Time, Attention, and Affection
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