Mouth-watering ways food can increase sex drive
Sex and food have some key commonalities: they're both nourishing, sensually gratifying and often enjoyed with someone you love (or like!).
Enjoying the two together can seriously elevate your senses and, as a result, enhance libido. Whether it’s foreplay or the main course, there are plenty of ways to incorporate food into your sex life. If you're interested in food play but aren't sure where to begin, we’re breaking down how you can introduce mouth-watering edible ingredients into the bedroom.
What is food play?
Simply put, food play describes the act of bringing foods into foreplay or sex. It includes everything from Nyotaimori, the art of eating sushi off a naked body, to sploshing, a sexual kink or fetish that involves playing with an abundance of foods in a sexual setting — and all that exists in between.
How can you (safely) engage in food play?
With food play, your options are limitless. You can get really messy, preferred among those with a "wet and messy" (WAM) fetish like sploshing, or you can stay within your comfort zone. After washing the food item, you can stroke it, lick it off of your partner(s) or use it to tease, caress or massage sensitive zones, like one’s earlobes, neck, lips or chest.
When introducing food into sex, however, it’s important to keep items away from any genital areas. Even pre-washed foodstuffs can cause adverse reactions. For people with vulvas, inserting items into the vagina can lead to contact dermatitis, a rash that results in irritation and burning, as well as UTIs, yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.
While the anus can naturally handle more bacteria than the vagina, inserting food into the orifice should still be avoided. Without a string or platform attached to it, it’s possible the item could get stuck or lost inside. Because the penis has external skin, those with this sexual anatomy can enjoy food play in this area with caution. You’ll still want to avoid rubbing or inserting any food in or on the urethra.
As a rule of thumb, keep all food action above the waist. However, if you still decide to insert a food item into an orifice, be sure to cover it with a condom and avoid double-dipping, especially if you plan to eat the food.
Which foods should you avoid?
Avoid spicy or savory foods. These ingredients can irritate or burn your skin or mouth. Additionally, stay away from foods you or your partner(s) are allergic to. Even if you’re not eating the food, you can still get a nasty reaction from contact with the skin or kissing someone who did gobble it down. Finally, smell is tied to arousal, so be sure to avoid foods with foul odors like garlic or onions.
What are some top-menu items?
Most people enjoy incorporating foods that are light, refreshing and sweet. The usual suspects, like whipped cream, melted chocolate and honey, are classics because they can be massaged and licked up. The consistency of these ingredients also make them perfect for foreplay: create a line with the item toward your partner(s)’s genitals and lick your way down (or up) to oral sex.
Other fruits, like cucumbers and grapefruits, can also act as sex toys. While you'll want to avoid inserting a cucumber into a vagina or anus, it can safely be used orally. Some couples enjoy watching each other suck on penis-shaped food items, like cucumbers, bananas or popsicles. It’s a fun way to show off your blowjob skills and swap the item back and forth.
Before- and after-care tips
When incorporating food into your sex life, things can get messy fast. Be sure to wash up beforehand, lay out a sheet you don’t mind getting dirty.
No matter how much licking you or your partner(s) does, things will likely still end pretty sticky. Follow up playtime with a shower. We recommend using a gentle, pH-balanced intimate wash like Cleanse to rinse your external intimate skin.