Dating And Celiac

[Sillyyakdidi]

Is anyone on this board in the wonderful world of dating? What types of things do you do on dates to avoid food? How soon do you explain whats going on to a date? I need some ideas!

[Guest Norah022]

I bring it up pretty early on since most dates involve food. Besides if they can't handle it then they can't date me.

[NicoleAJ]

I dated when I was first diagnosed (but then found a good one soon after). I would try to avoid a meal date for the first date--go to a movie, ice skating, out for coffee, bowling, etc. See if you have anything in common with a guy to make it even worth explaining, and then I agree with the last poster--let the person know early on that you have some food intolerances that you need to follow strictly (so they don't think you're a total lunatic for double-checking with the waitress or restaurant manager a million times about the presence of a substance in your food that they may not even have heard about before. Let them know that eating out is difficult sometimes. If you really like the person, then this is a great excuse for eating several romantic meals in as your relationship progresses. In short, I'd be upfront without getting into graphic details about what happens when you do encounter gluten.

[converse-xx]

I usually tell them really early on...like the first date.

My boyfriend right now has Diabetes, so he understands all my needs & I understand his.

& when they do ask what happens when I eat gluten. I tell them, its kind of like a milder stomach flu.

[GlutenWrangler]

It really is a good idea to tell your date right away. Celiac disease is more than just a medical condition. It's a lifestyle. If there is any possibility of a relationship becoming serious, the non-celiac has to know what they are really getting into. Unfortunately, some people will be put off by it. But it's better to know who you're dealing with right away.

-Brian

[Groucho]

I bring it up pretty early on since most dates involve food. Besides if they can't handle it then they can't date me.

Brava, Norah! Especially on screening them out fast that way.

I think people get scared by "food allergy" when they think of the more typical ones, where people swell up and can die on the spot.

I'll explain celiac in different ways depending on who is asking me. If it's not something I want to get deeply into, I'll just say it's a food allergy and it's a complicated problem because it is used in so many foods in so many ways, and that I won't keel over and die like peanut allergies but "I will get very sick, or maybe burst into flames and explode". Which is usually a way to let them know I've got a sense of humor about it and, at least then and there, they just shouldn't worry about it.

If you've gotten far enough past the first date to be talking about genetics & life ever after...then it's something to get further into.

[Groucho]

I bring it up pretty early on since most dates involve food. Besides if they can't handle it then they can't date me.

Brava, Norah! Especially on screening them out fast that way.

I think people get scared by "food allergy" when they think of the more typical ones, where people swell up and can die on the spot.

I'll explain celiac in different ways depending on who is asking me. If it's not something I want to get deeply into, I'll just say it's a food allergy and it's a complicated problem because it is used in so many foods in so many ways, and that I won't keel over and die like peanut allergies but "I will get very sick, or maybe burst into flames and explode". Which is usually a way to let them know I've got a sense of humor about it and, at least then and there, they just shouldn't worry about it.

If you've gotten far enough past the first date to be talking about genetics & life ever after...then it's something to get further into.

[RiceAddict]

Hey I'm on the dating scene. I'm tall, hansom, intelligent, witty, romantic, caring, and best of all, I'm gluten free! Any takers.....[crickets chirping in the background]....I didn't think so.

Speaking from the guys standpoint, I have only gone on one new date since diagnosis in November. She was a physician and actually guessed before I told her. You gals sure are smart!

Here's a novel idea for you. Suggest an old-fashioned blanket and basket style picnic in the park, and you can offer to provide all the food (or you can specifically designate what the other should bring, say beverages or something safe) Then post another thread here and we will ALL help you come up with the most amazing picnic foods your date will have ever eaten, and it will all be gluten free. What a good way to explain your condition in a very comfortable environment. See, I told you I was a romantic!

[Aizlynn]

My mom said, "If you can find someone who can deal with your farts... keep 'em!!!"

[RiceAddict]

Ah...the smell of love in the air.

Azilynn....was that you????

[amber-rose]

Hm. I'm not allowed to date until I'm 16. But once I can, I plan to tell them right away. Because if the relationship does end up going serious & we get married, it'll be a big part of both of our lives.

[Laurad-]

Here's a novel idea for you. Suggest an old-fashioned blanket and basket style picnic in the park, and you can offer to provide all the food (or you can specifically designate what the other should bring, say beverages or something safe)

Picnics are a great idea! Along the same lines, I tend to invite dates over for chocolate chip pancakes (I just add chocolate chips to Pamela's pancake mix -- soooo good) even if it's an evening thing. That way I have control over what we're eating even though I'm a terrible cook, AND my date gets a clue from the get-go that I eat weird things at weird times.