10 Little Ways to Show Someone You Love Them in the Kitchen
Love is in the air this time of year. It’s also in the kitchen … if you know where to look for it. Seriously! Here at Kitchn, we firmly believe that you don’t have to go on a date to a fancy restaurant, book a trip to a 5-star resort, or orchestrate a spontaneous public flash mob to show someone that you love them. There are a lot of little things you can do, right in your kitchen, to make someone special feel very, well, special.
We put our heads together to come up with 10 little ways that you can show someone (anyone!) that you love them in our favorite room of all.
1. Brew coffee before the alarm clock goes off.
Breakfast in bed might seem like the ultimate loving gesture, but ask anyone who’s ever been on the receiving end and they’ll probably tell you the experience was a bit crumbier than they hoped (pun intended). You know what is way more thoughtful and practical? Coffee (and or tea) that’s ready and waiting.
2. Stock the kitchen with their favorite groceries.
Buying an extra package of Oreos because you know your s/o loves them will definitely make their day. It’s a simple way to show someone you love that you’re thinking of them — even while you’re in the grocery trenches.
3. Wash dishes (that aren’t yours).
If you’re tempted to only rinse and wash the dishes that you dirtied yourself, resist the urge and just wash them all. Allowing a passive aggressive (or lazy) sink full of dishes to pile up isn’t exactly what love looks like. Yes, this goes for roommate situations, too.
4. Unload the dishwasher.
Have you ever opened the dishwasher to find that it’s full and everything is clean? Of course you have. Have you ever quietly closed the door and tip-toed away hoping the next person who opens it will unload it instead? Of course you have. Don’t do this! Unload the dishwasher when the dishes are clean. Simple.
5. Eat (or do not eat) the leftovers.
Depending on how the other people in your family feel about leftovers, this one could go one of two ways. If your loved one hates eating leftovers, you can make it your job. If your s/o prefers food the second time around, save that extra taco meat!
6. Leave sneaky love notes.
Take note from Kitchn’s Lifestyle Director Lisa Freedman who has a chalkboard in her kitchen that currently says “I love you more than cheese.” (If you know Lisa, you also know that that’s a lot of love!) Of course, you don’t have to have a designated love note board to get your message across. Stick a note on the fridge, in your kid’s lunchbox, or next to the high-traffic snacks in the pantry. Whoever stumbles upon it first is in for a pleasant surprise.
7. Vacuum crumbs off of the floor.
Anyone who has ever walked barefoot in a kitchen knows how annoying it is to feel a bunch of crumbs stuck to the bottoms of your feet. Help everyone you love avoid this inconvenience by breaking out the vacuum more often than not — even if it’s not exactly time for a deep clean.
8. Cook a meal together.
One of the best ways to show someone how much you love them is to cook a meal with them instead of just “for” them. Call us cheesy, but making a little bit of a mess in the kitchen and eating the fruits of your labor together is our idea of the perfect date night.
9. Pack the leftovers away.
Nothing says “I love you” more than finding the right-sized containers to store the remnants of your big meal in and stowing them in the fridge or freezer for later. Show off your spatial skills and conscientiousness at the same time!
10. Shut down the kitchen every night.
Start each day off right by ending each night with this simple kitchen ritual. This means you (and your loved ones) can go to sleep with an empty sink, wiped-down countertops, orderly cabinets, and a clear head.
There are certainly a lot more things you can do in the kitchen to show someone you love them. What do you do? Tell us in the comments below!