No matter how big a foodie you are, there are some things you should just stay away from before a date.
We are sure you are very excited to go out with the new guy you swiped right on on Tinder, or the new girl your friend set you up with? You have dressed in your most stylish clothes, bathed yourself in that oh-so-lovely perfume, put on your sky-high heels or boots and re-touched your makeup, when you feel your stomach churning because of the fish tartare you had for lunch. Oops! That was a bad idea, right?
For the uninitiated, and for those who do want a second and third date, here are some food items that you must avoid eating before going out and while on a date.
1. Salads
You might want to show the other person how health conscious you are (but why!). However, take it from the experts. It’s a bad idea. Those crunchy croutons make a lot of noise when you chew, and leafy veggies take a long time to chew. Plus, you don’t want to be caught with a piece of spinach green stuck between your teeth as you are flashing your pearlies at him/her, do you?
2. Spaghetti
You may love your spaghetti bolognese, but slurping those noodles in front of your date will not make such a great impression. For the same reasons, you might also want to avoid ordering soup, and anything that comes with oodles of sauce, like meatballs. If you are a big slurper or a clumsy eater, you don’t want to splatter the sauce on your clothes. Opt for smaller gnocchi instead.
3. Lobster or shellfish
While you may think of ordering a fancy lobster dish on a dinner date, avoid it, period. You do not want your date to see you cracking shells, pulling out bones, or tearing apart any sea creature with your bare hands on the very first date. Try going for a more sophisticated salmon instead.
4. Tacos, nachos, burritos
A bracket-like object overloaded with beans, veggies, lots of cheese and sauces…You will definitely spill more food than you put in your mouth. Please don’t make your date go through that.
5. Beans
There is a scientific reason behind steering clear of this food. Beans contain a sugar molecule — oligosaccharides — that release a lot of gas once they reach the large intestine. We hope you get where we are going with this! Avoid ordering anything Mexican or burritos and chili bowls if you don’t want to end up wanting to break wind at the date.
6. Onions and garlic
This is a given. Keep onion rings, onion salad and anything garlicky out of your order. You don’t want a bad breath when you are on a date or plan to go home with the date. And no, no amount of minty gum is going to take that stink away from you.
7. Blueberries
Unless you want your tongue and your teeth colored into multiple shades of blue and purple, avoid any food that will add colors to your mouth. You may opt for the superfood after you have been on a couple of dates with the person and have developed a comfort level.
8. Anything fermented
No matter how big a fan you are of pickled foods, kimchi or fermented tofu, you have to admit it. Fermented foods taste weird, smell weird, and also, look weird. If your date is not familiar with fermented foods, he/she is going to keep throwing awkward glances at you during dinner.
9. Dairy products
You should avoid eating anything dairy a few hours before you go out. With age, the production of enzymes in our body that breaks down the lactose found in dairy products go down. This would result in the dairy causing an upset stomach, gas or bloating.
10. Spicy foods
Even if you are a fan of the flavor and can take any amount of chili, there is a chance that ordering something too spicy might end up badly for you. Don’t risk it. You will end up sweating profusely, feel uncomfortable, and in worst cases, with watery eyes and a runny nose.
11. Crudites
Fancy going crunch, crunch, munch, munch loudly in front of someone else? Do it in front of your friends or your sibling to annoy them, not with your date. Also, raw veggies are hard to digest and may end up causing bloating and stomach ache.
12. Carbonated drinks
This one is pretty obvious. Carbonated drinks cause gas bubbles in the stomach, which if not released immediately, would come out in front of your date in the form of a loud burp. You don’t want that, right? Opt for simpler brews and beverages like tea, coffee or cocktails.
