15 Meals Your Significant Other Should Cook For You If They Actually Love You

Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate. Cooking is love made visible. That’s a quote from Alan D. Wolfelt and it is *so* true. We all know that food is truly the way to a person’s heart. If your best friend is sad, you come over with sushi, Oreos, and a bottle of wine. Want to impress your employees at work? Bring cupcakes to the office. This also applies to your love life. Creating the perfect dish, a favorite meal, or a special treat for your significant other can remind them of your love and strengthen a relationship. We’ve put together a list of meals you or your significant other should have on hand if the love between you is ~real~.

“How can one list incorporate everyone’s likes and dislikes?” you ask. “Not everyone is going to like the same things you do,” you say. Yes, it’s true that tastes vary and what’s special to one person is revolting to another. Think of our list as a jumping-off point. Take it and tailor it to fit your likes and then sneakily leave it pulled up on your computer screen in a place you know your partner is bound to see it.

Remember, the art of dropping hints is to not be too subtle.

We’ve worked up quite the appetite writing down the meals that, if served to us, would show that our significant other is undyingly devoted to our relaysh. So, while you read, we’ll be over here chomping down on number 12.

1. Homemade mac and cheese.

And by “homemade” we also mean the kind you can buy in a box and make at home. Orrrrrr, if you’re feeling fancy and talented, the real-real homemade kind that requires cream, at least three types of cheese, flour, and bread crumbs to sprinkle on top. Either way, you just can’t lose. Carbs + cheese = true love.

2. Filet mignon and potatoes.

You know, for special occasions. We like our potatoes scalloped, but mashed potatoes are always a classic.

3. Literally anything on the grill.

The flame of the grill mimics the flame in our hearts. I mean, there is nothing more romantic than grilling in the backyard with the love of your life. The smell of charcoal is the best, and makes you think of carefree times and vacations and summer (even when it’s not summer and definitely very fall). Plus, the grill lends itself to vegetarian and vegan options, so it’s not like you have to make burgers and hotdogs. A nice, grilled portobello with some white wine makes for a great dinner.

4. A Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese (with fries, obvi).

It’s a #4 on the drive-thru menu, just so you know.

5. Lobster.

Serve it with lemon and a LOT of butter. Just making lobster shows how dedicated you are! I mean, you literally have to wrestle with a thing with claws, what could be more romantic?

6. Soup dumplings.

So cozy and perfect for snuggling on the couch and watching holiday movies. Just sayin’.

7. A cheese board — just a cheese board.

Give us a minimum of five diverse cheeses on a simple plank of wood and our love for you with floweth over.

And now, we present to you, a bunch of beautiful cheese boards that will make you believe in love even if you don’t:

Need a cute cheeseboard? We love this kitch-y one that can also hang as wall decor:

Buy it here for $10.99!

8. Pizza.

You love pizza. We love pizza. It’s a shared love between us. Let’s eat pizza. Bonus if you make it from scratch (or at least buy the pre-made dough and add pizza sauce, cheese, and topping — it totally counts).

9. All of the Panera menu items that can be served in a bread bowl.

A Panera bread bowl sampler, if you will. Who doesn’t love Panera?!

10. Grilled cheese.

There are two grilled cheese camps. Camp #1: the classic grilled cheese (American cheese, obvs) with a bowl of tomato soup. Camp #2: artisan grilled cheese (brie with apple, herbed goat cheese and arugula, sharp cheddar and sliced avocado). Whichever camp you side with, you’ll win any heart.

11. Water after a night out.

Honestly, leaving a glass of water on your S.O.’s nightstand is the definition of romance. This shows that your S.O. values your mind, body, and soul. And no, maybe this isn’t a meal. But it’s just as important.

*Whispers* And you can make the gesture even cuter with these emoji ice cubes!

Buy here for $9.99!

12. Brownies.

Also not a meal. But also very good and very “I love you” in chocolate-y, baked form.

13. Spaghetti and meatballs.

Hello? Lady and the Tramp anyone?

14. Sushi.

Homemade sushi is just as good as the kind you order at a restaurant. Plus, isn’t fish an aphrodisiac?

15. A heart-shaped cake.

Sometimes you just gotta spell it out.

Need some cake inspo? Watch our cake decorating hacks video and you’ll be cake-ready in no time.

Alright, so the list may be a bit too tailor-fit to our appetite. But hey, are we wrong to think that every person deserves for their partner to make them mac and cheese…or prepare them a delicious cheese board? We don’t think so.