Ahead of spring break, a healthful date

I t’s just about time for spring break and, whether or not you’re planning a getaway, time off is good for a mid-semester recharge. The downsides are that you may be heading in the opposite direction as your love interest, and the spring-fling lifestyle is more likely to facilitate a hangover than it is to refresh body, mind and soul.

So for this week’s date-night ideas, I’d like to suggest spending some quality time while making a pre-emptive strike against the binge drinking and overeating. Mix and match these one-on-one sweat session with a tasty, good-for-you meal and you’ll have all the ingredients for a great date.

Sweat sessions

There’s nothing sexier than a room full of fit, scantily-clad folks flexing their muscles — especially if one of them is your date. And what’s one of the hottest Boulder fitness plans around? Climbing. Even if you’re not much of a climber, the bonuses of tackling some low-risk rocky projects together are undeniable: You’ll be able to cheer each other on, develop a sense of accomplishment (if not a few shared laughs) and get a great view of her best assets while spotting from below. One of the best workout and beautiful-people-watching (and low-risk climbing) venues in town is the Spot Bouldering Gym ($17 for a day pass; 3240 Prairie Ave.; thespotgym.com). Bring (or rent, $5) climbing shoes and a chalk bag, and expect to work up an appetite.

She’s afraid of heights? Or you are? No problem. Take a dance class together for an out-of-the-box date that lets you stay firmly planted on solid ground. Dance class, you ask? Relax. I’m not talking about tutus or tango. Streetside Dance Studio (6681 Arapahoe Rd.; streetsidedance.com) offers hip-hop classes in which even the most rhythmically challenged are welcome. Both the 6:15 p.m. Thursday hip-hop session and the 7:15 p.m. Friday class for waacking ($10 each) — a arm-swinging update to your Rogger Rabbit — are beginner-level and focus on a few moves that combine into a mini choreographed routine you can toss out next time “I’m Sexy and I Know It” plays at K’s.

Eats

Keep things casual but uber-healthy after your workout with a meal at Modmarket (1600 28th St.; midmarket.com). Their entrée-size salads are loaded with goodies, and you and your date could split one with a personal-size pizza for a great post-workout meal for two.

If your sweat-session didn’t leave you dripping, opt for a more upscale dinner date at Shine Restaurant and Gathering Place (2027 13th St.; shineboulder.com). Their crunchy menu serves up healthy choices like seaweed salad, probiotic coleslaw and vegetarian soft tacos filled with exotic jackfruit, but with some more indulgent options like mac and cheese and duck wings, too.

Kristy Holland writes about date-night ideas once a week for the Colorado Daily. Tell her about your date ideas at boulderdatenight@gmail.com.