Foods that should never be eaten on a first date

A first date already comes with enough things to think about. You are deciding what to wear, wondering whether the other person will like you, checking your appearance one more time before leaving the house and trying not to look too nervous when you finally meet. Then comes the biggest question of the evening: what are you going to eat?

Food should be one of the easiest parts of a date, but the wrong meal can quickly turn a pleasant evening into an uncomfortable experience. Some foods are too messy, others are too noisy to eat, while some can leave you with sauce on your face or something green stubbornly stuck between your teeth. Then there are those meals that can give you breath so powerful that you start wondering whether sitting across the table is still socially acceptable.

This does not mean you have to order a tiny salad and spend the evening pretending you are not hungry. A first date is still dinner, and you should enjoy yourself. However, choosing something that is easy to eat and does not require too much concentration can make the evening much more comfortable.

Spaghetti can become a whole performance

Spaghetti looks romantic in movies. Two people sit across from each other, twirl their noodles around a fork and somehow manage to look elegant while doing it. In real life, spaghetti can be surprisingly difficult to handle, especially when you are sitting across from someone you are trying to impress.

One noodle refuses to fit into your mouth. Another hangs from your lips. You try to cut it with your fork, make another attempt and suddenly realise you have spent the last thirty seconds fighting with dinner instead of listening to your date.

Then there is the sauce. Tomato sauce has a strange ability to find the most visible part of your clothing. You can wear a black dress and somehow still end up with a tiny red mark right in the middle.

If you really want pasta, choose something easier to manage. Penne, ravioli or another short pasta allows you to eat comfortably while keeping your attention on the person sitting opposite you.

Garlic and onion heavy meals

Garlic is wonderful until you remember that you might want to get close to your date later.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying garlic, onions or a beautifully seasoned meal. The problem is that their smell can stay with you long after the plate has been cleared. You might finish your food, drink water and even chew gum, only to discover that the garlic has decided to accompany you for the rest of the evening.

This can become particularly awkward if the date is going extremely well and you are wondering whether there might be a kiss at the end. Suddenly, that extra spoonful of garlic sauce does not seem like such a brilliant decision.

You do not have to avoid these foods completely. If both of you order the same garlic heavy meal, you probably have nothing to worry about. However, if you are unsure about how strong a dish is, choosing something milder may save you from spending the rest of the night worrying about your breath.

Huge burgers and overloaded sandwiches

A massive burger can look irresistible when it arrives at the table. There is the juicy meat, melted cheese, fresh vegetables, sauce and a soft bun holding everything together.

The problem begins when you try to take the first bite.

You squeeze the burger and the sauce comes out from the other side. The tomato moves. The lettuce falls onto the plate. The bun slides away from the filling and suddenly your elegant dinner has become a construction project.

Trying to eat an enormous burger while maintaining a conversation can also be difficult because you cannot exactly take a delicate bite. At some point, you have to open your mouth wide enough to make your date wonder whether you are trying to eat the burger or swallow it whole.

If you are craving a burger, there is no reason to completely avoid it. Choose one that is reasonably sized and avoid piling it with every sauce and topping available. You can still enjoy your meal without needing an emergency shower afterwards.

Ribs and sticky chicken wings

There is a certain joy in eating food with your hands. Chicken wings, ribs and other finger foods can be delicious, especially when they are covered in a good sauce.

But a first date may not be the best occasion for them.

Ribs and wings can leave your fingers covered in sauce and require plenty of napkins. You might find yourself licking sauce from your fingers, trying to remove grease from your hands and wondering whether you should shake your date’s hand afterwards.

There is also the issue of trying to remove every last piece of meat from the bone while someone is watching you. At home, you can attack that rib with complete dedication. On a first date, you may want to leave a little dignity intact.

These foods are perfectly fine once you are comfortable with each other. In fact, eating messy food together can eventually become fun. But when you are still learning each other’s personalities, something that can be eaten with a knife and fork is probably the safer option.

Extremely spicy food

Ordering very spicy food on a first date can be a dangerous game, especially if you are doing it to prove that you can handle heat.

The meal arrives looking innocent enough. You take the first bite and confidently nod. Then the heat arrives.

Suddenly your forehead is sweating. Your eyes begin watering. You are drinking water as if you have just crossed a desert and wondering why you decided to challenge a bowl of curry in front of a person you are trying to impress.

Spicy food is not a problem if you genuinely enjoy it and know your limits. The problem is ordering something much hotter than you normally eat because you want to look adventurous.

There is nothing impressive about spending half the date searching for relief while your meal sits untouched.