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"  Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to create a holiday that mixes skimpy lingerie with heart-shaped ravioli, oyster, champagne and chocolate? While we believe in indulgence (and chocolate, always chocolate) it&amp;#039;s all too common to feel a lot more like a nap after a big, heavy meal and a lot less like getting it on. Jolene Hart, a holistic health expert and author of the upcoming book Eat Pretty, specializes in beauty-oriented eating, and swears even she&amp;#039;s run into the pasta problem before. Here&amp;#039;s her ultimate ordering plan to enjoy your meal and still feel sexy afterwards: Canoodling in a cozy Italian restaurant. &amp;quot;Skip the garlic and cream sauce on this carb-heavy (read: sleep-inducing) menu,&amp;quot; says Hart. If it&amp;#039;s pasta you crave, &amp;quot;inquire about a gluten-free version and choose a dish with plenty of veggies and a tomato-based sauce, or pair a soup and a salad topped with the protein of your choice.&amp;quot; Hart&amp;#039;s philosophy is that bloat is caused by poor food combinations: When you have too much variety, your body doesn&amp;#039;t know what to digest first. So pick either a starch-based meal or a protein, and add abundant non-starchy veggies for tons of beauty benefits. Our favorite piece of advice? &amp;quot;Splurge on a fabulous red wine.&amp;quot; Trying a fancy, multi-course prix fixe. It&amp;#039;s nearly impossible to think about properly combining foods from a tasting menu, since courses vary widely and you&amp;#039;re often at the whim of the chef. Your best bet is to choose quality over quantity and take it slow. Celebrating at a steakhouse. Here&amp;#039;s your chance to enjoy some high-quality proteins like wild salmon, oysters (although Hart cautions against trying them for the first time on a date), or even grass-fed meat as a splurge. &amp;quot;Skip starchy sides like baked potato or mac and cheese that don&amp;#039;t pair well with proteins and choose veggies like spinach or a fresh salad instead,&amp;quot; she says. If you want to feel sexy post-meal, hydration is key, but did you know that gulping liquids during your meal actually works against you? &amp;quot;They dilute your digestive juices,&amp;quot; says Hart. &amp;quot;Sip water while you&amp;#039;re perusing the menu and you&amp;#039;ll be hydrated by the time your appetizer arrives.&amp;quot; Hitting up a sushi place. This could be your best bet for waistline-friendly eats. &amp;quot;Start by sharing protein-packed edamame, and skip the deep-fried tempura,&amp;quot; says Hart. Opting for sashimi, especially clean seafood picks like wild salmon and eel, or an avocado maki roll (ask for brown rice), will provides quick-burning energy and beauty-friendly fats. If you&amp;#039;re using soy sauce, request a lower-sodium version, or a wheat-free tamari, to avoid bloating. Indulging at a classic French restaurant. Anything au gratin is bound to be tasty\u2014 and heavy. &amp;quot;The best choices here are clean seafood: again, wild salmon is a perfect choice since it&amp;#039;s loaded with anti-inflammatory, beauty-friendly benefits you&amp;#039;ll enjoy in the days ahead,&amp;quot; says Hart. &amp;quot;Pair your meal with a fresh salad and share a plate of fine French cheeses so you&amp;#039;ll split the selection\u2014and the calories.&amp;quot; Cooking at home. Turn up the heat in your kitchen with a dish that incorporates spices\u2014&amp;quot;nature&amp;#039;s digestive aids,&amp;quot; as Hart calls them. &amp;quot;Try an Indian curry packed with fresh ginger, which eases digestion, boosts circulation and leaves you with a sexy glow. For dessert, dark chocolate (look for at least 70% cacao) increases blood flow to the skin and gives your brain a feel-good surge of endorphins.&amp;quot; Dessert time. &amp;quot;I love fruit as an option, but if you don&amp;#039;t eat it with enough space after your meal it can be problematic.&amp;quot; And as for chocolate, &amp;quot;You know, if you can&amp;#039;t go for 70% dark, flourless chocolate cake is full of cocoa. Don&amp;#039;t go for the fondue that you know is half butter; you want something a little more solid.&amp;quot; Your actual best bet? &amp;quot;Split a sorbet, or have a special cocktail to finish off your meal\u2014you don&amp;#039;t really need another course. It&amp;#039;ll spike your blood sugar and make you want to go to bed after\u2014and not in a good way.&amp;quot; Photo: New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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