Going on Dates with a Gluten Free/Wheat Free Partner

Dating someone who adheres to a gluten free/wheat free diet doesn't have to be scary. The mind is a powerful thing and you find that if you simply re-condition your mind to adjust to a new experience, it can actually be fun and selecting gluten free/wheat free foods may soon become second nature to you.

When becoming accustomed to gluten free/wheat free dating, the key is planning ahead of time. If you intend to acquire food at the venue, call before to see if they have food safe for gluten free/wheat free eaters, and then see if your date is okay with the available options. Calling before has several advantages; this will save you a trip if the venue has no gluten free/wheat free options and also, some eateries will offer to adjust a recipe if asked from early about their gluten free/wheat free options.

Some people really want to surprise their dates. That's sweet. However, it doesn't mean you can't ask them to tell you places they like to go and what are the options there. You could surprise them with a date there one day.

Gluten free/wheat free dating also gives persons who had previously limited themselves to dates that only involved eating the opportunity to go beyond just meal dates and to explore other types of dating activities.  A date does not have to be an eating-only activity.

Here are some ideas and locations for dates. Locations in South Eastern Jamaica are used as examples:

• A picnic at the zoo.  A picnic is a very romantic and cute date idea. If your date is more to the hopeless romantic side or is an animal lover, then this date will very likely impress.  Hope Zoo in St. Andrew has several eating areas (picnic tables) in shaded areas.  Pack a large lunch bag of various gluten free/wheat free snacks.  If you have items you would like to serve warm, do remember to use an insulated container e.g. a thermos for liquids.

Deer; taken at Hope Zoo

Tortoise; taken at Hope Zoo

Duck; taken at Hope Zoo

Monkey; taken at Hope Zoo

• Going to an adventure or amusement park. Sun Coast Adventure Park (suncoastadventurepark.com) in St. Thomas has Paintball Courses, Mini Golf, hiking trails, rope challenge course and a maze.
• Going to see a movie and having drinks after. There are several wheat free/gluten free options at the concession stand. Bars that offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as the bartender makes drinks to your order are the best choice. Your date will have the option of going non-alcoholic if they so desire and with the bartender being able to do drinks to order, your date will not be as limited. The thing is several alcoholic beverages contain gluten or wheat.  Several beers and vodkas contain wheat or gluten.
• Going to a play and having dinner after. There are several restaurants in Kingston which accommodate the gluten free/wheat free diner such as Tamarind Restaurant (Indian Cuisine) in Liguanea (better to call ahead and make reservations and to let them know to take extra care with your order), Saffron Restaurant (Indian Cuisine) in Marketplace, Chaser's Cafe in New Kingston and Cocoro Restaurant (Japanese Cuisine) at Mayfair Hotel near Devon House.
  For Cocoro Restaurant, the staff is very accommodating. Advise the waitress that you are unable to eat wheat or gluten and she will advise the chef as well as to advise you of what options are safe for you. They will read the ingredients on everything they intend to use before advising you what is safe.

There are several other restaurants at which a gluten free/wheat free diner will be accommodated. You may even do simple things like getting coconut water straight out of the coconut from a coconut vendor or peppered shrimps from a vendor.

Also you may cook yourself or have someone cook for you, and have dinner at home or carry it to a location.

Dating should be fun and a time to get to know each other better and to have good times together.