Pasta: Pasta is not great food for a date, but you can get away with pasta bows. I like it with more or less any sauce. Pesto is a good cheaper option.
Pint of beer: I like an interesting beer, an ale or something . I also love a pint of Guinness, but that's a bit fattening.
Dietician Joan wides writes:
If India is watching her budget, she may wish to take into consideration that there is no significant evidence that organic food is nutritionally better than non-organic food. Enjoying mangoes, watermelon and raspberries while in season will not only supply vitamins, fibre and anti-oxidants, but makes good economic sense. Tomatoes are rich in anti-oxidants vitamin C and lycopene, which becomes more available when tomatoes are cooked. India should add moderate amounts of protein and carbohydrate for optimum nutrition and balance. All pasta is a healthy, low-GI filling choice and most types other than spaghetti, linguine and similar strand-like pasta are socially manageable! Beer contains flavonoids (phytochemicals) thought to be protective against heart disease. Guinness is more calorific than other beers, but stout and dark beers provide more flavonoids than light beers.
India Rakusen is starring in WitTank at the Edinburgh Fringe. Details on www.wittank.co.uk
I eat quite healthily and buy organic when I can afford to. Eating should be a social occasion and not just fuel. Eating with friends and family is good for the soul.