MCT Campus“What can I get you tonight?”
“I’ll take three of your 16 oz. steak entrees, and the lady will have your house salad with non-fat dressing and no croutons.”
Dinner dates can get complicated when one person has a big appetite and the other is on a diet. Aside from the everyday pressure of trying to have an ideal figure, couples who have a special diet must deal with when, where and even what they can eat together.
Some of the most popular diets for women are low in carbohydrates, such as Atkins and the South Beach Diet. However, men who are working to build muscle and are on a precise workout plan tend to favor diets with high protein, which usually demands specific meal selections.
Biology sophomore Scott Mitchell was on a strict diet while training for the 2007 Pacific Naturals Bodybuilding and Figure Championships last month.
“My diet when I was training consisted of about 1,200 calories a day and little to no carbs,” he said.
Mitchell ate a lot of vegetables and was consistently tracking his calorie intake. His workouts were planned and strict, leaving him few alternative meal options.
On a typical dinner date, people imagine women ordering a salad and men ordering a hearty entree. However, in Mitchell’s case, he was opting for the less fatty, low-carb options.
“I really couldn’t go out to dinner unless it was salads or sushi,” Mitchell said.
His rigorous diet didn’t dissuade him from the dating scene though. Mitchell found alternatives to typical dates and avoided going out to restaurants.
“You can go on a date but it has to be more active than conventional dates people are used to,” Mitchell said. “You can go to the beach, see a movie – not really out to dinner though. I would avoid food dates.”
For psychology sophomore Kimberly Salaan, dieting is a lifestyle. Salaan said that she has had to adjust to her boyfriend’s eating habits over the course of their relationship.
“We both eat healthy just in different ways,” Salaan said. “He eats a ton of carbs – a lot of breads and pastas – I stick to salads and a lot of vegetables.”
Dinnertime is the most difficult for Salaan and her boyfriend to compromise. Her boyfriend enjoys going out for food, and Salaan finds restaurants the most difficult place to manage her diet.
“When we were first dating, I wasn’t as picky when ordering at restaurants,” Salaan said. “But now that we’re together, I am much pickier.”
Salaan suggests not being too choosy about meal options in the first few dates. She said women should keep track of their diet needs in their head when choosing an appetizer, but order your own entree with your own preferences.
Most compromises will happen in the beginning of the dating process according to Salaan.
“If he’s asked you out for a third date, he shouldn’t be as focused on your eating habits as he is on you,” Salaan said.
If your conversation doesn’t stop at, “What are you ordering?” you’re likely in the clear for the rest of the meal. It’s best to use table time at restaurants to focus on getting to know each other better through questions and conversation.
Dating is always a compromise – food is just a part of it.
“It’s not discouraging to go on a date when you’re on a special diet,” Mitchell said. “(But) the conventional courting just isn’t really an option.”
Dieters and daters can co-exist. It’s a matter of respecting each others needs and finding some great alternatives to keep you and your loved one enjoying each other’s company – instead of that 3,000 calorie meal.
