So What Can I Eat on a Date?

If you know me personally (or even via Twitter), you know I’ve been doing quite a share of dating recently. So when I stumbled across Thought Catalog’s 20 Foods To Avoid On A Date…I realized maybe I’m ordering the wrong shit.

Although I don’t always do first dates over dinner because I don’t like eating with people I’m not very familiar with…some guys just insist, and I mean come on. I’m a writer. I’m not about to turn down a free meal.

Here’s the start of their list (you can read the rest over at Thought Catalog):

  1. Corn on the cob
  2. Buffalo wings
  3. Spaghetti
  4. Candy apple
  5. Egg drop soup
  6. Crunchy tacos + over-application of salsas and various watery sauces
  7. The tail end of a spider roll
  8. Spare ribs
  9. Steamed/ boiled spinach as main course
  10. Nachos that use ‘cheese sauce’ instead of cheese

Fine, I’m probably not going to eat buffalo wings or corn on the cob on a date. Or a gas station hot dog. Because…if that’s what you’re eating on a date, that’s the least of your problems. But really. Egg drop soup? SPAGHETTI? CHEESE SAUCE? I LOVE CHEESE SAUCE. For the love of god, what am I supposed to eat on a date?

And for the record, I ate olives with pits discarded in a nearby dish on two recent dates (with the same man) who still seems interested. What I’m saying is…if my date likes olives, I’m going to take advantage of that shit.

But what do I know. I AM single. Am I single because I’m ordering the wrong foods? Does dating mean I have to give up my foodie-ness until I become comfortable enough with a person to eat a burrito?

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15 comments

  • Jackie O September 26, 2011  

    great.. now they just made dating even MORE complicated! forget dating.. I’d rather just be able to eat a burrito. haha.

  • ML September 26, 2011  

    THATS WHAT I’M SAYIN

  • Emily September 26, 2011  

    Ugh. I’m always torn between getting something “safe” like a salad.. but then you’re THAT girl… or getting something badass and being like “fuck the rules!” and seeming cool, but then risking that I’m gonna get BBQ sauce all over my face/shirt. Usually I just roll my eyes and order the salad, dressing on the side. Buzzkill.

    I agree though, wtf you can’t even order spaghetti or egg drop soup?! And who is ordering nachos with fake cheese sauce unless you’re at a sporting event, in which case this is not a time to act classy. You’re probably guzzling cheap beer and your only other option is a messy bratwurst anyway.

    For some reason the most annoying one is “the tail end of a spider roll” …way to get specific. Every sushi roll should just be cut into mouthful-size pieces. The tail end is no messier than the rest. If you can’t fit it in your mouth, then I guess you’re just outta luck. (Those words of wisdom can be applied to other aspects of dating as well.)

  • ML September 26, 2011  

    I once had a guy order a salad on the first date (the guy in the picture, actually)

    It should have been a red flag.

  • BS September 26, 2011  

    @Emily – always go for the second option. At least in my opinion, there is nothing hotter than a girl with BBQ sauce all over her face.

  • Emily September 26, 2011  

    @BS – Really? A refreshing point of view. Looks like you and my dream man Paul Rudd disagree on this controversial topic: http://www.anyclip.com/movies/wet-hot-american-summer/bbq-sauce-all-over-the-place/

  • erica September 26, 2011  

    i like the advice to avoid “unexpectedly spicy” mexican dishes.

  • Haley H. September 26, 2011  

    @Emily I just have to say. You just made my day.
    “If you can’t fit it in your mouth, then I guess you’re just outta luck. (Those words of wisdom can be applied to other aspects of dating as well.)”

  • Jacob T September 26, 2011  

    In my opinion, it’s a little less ‘what you eat’, more ‘how you eat it’. If you can rock through a sloppy burrito or a pile of extra-wet buffalo wings with relative class, then consider me impressed and looking forward to round 2.

    The deal-breaker for me is when she orders something, tells me how delicious it is but eats 3 bites. Lady, we came here to eat.

  • Amy September 26, 2011  

    I can see everything but the egg drop soup. What’s wrong with egg drop soup?

  • Dan September 27, 2011  

    Oh hey ML. Do you like guys with beards?

  • ML September 27, 2011  

    I only date guys with beards.

  • erica September 27, 2011  

    hey, i like guys with beards too! just in case we’re taking a poll.

  • Borracho September 27, 2011  

    I don’t know how I missed this conversation but couldn’t agree more with Jacob’s “how you eat it” comment. That being said, if you go ahead and order the second plate of tripe, I would assume that a goodnight kiss is the last thing on your mind

  • Jim September 27, 2011  

    The is hilarious… of course you shouldn’t eat these foods on a date!

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