First date night: Food to avoid eating on a date

So, you’re all ready to go for a night on the town. You’ve got your favorite cologne/perfume (hopefully not drenched in it), your most flattering ensemble and an appetite for something delicious. And hoping that just maybe, just maybe, this will be the last first date you’ll ever have to put yourself though.

Your date night kicks off to a great start, connecting almost immediately, exchanging looks with each other from across the table-- what could possibly go wrong? Then the host finally brings out the menus you’ve been waiting for.

Hmmm, what to choose? Those marinated ribs look mighty tasty-- and so does that pasta and cheesy garlic bread! But wait a minute there, pal. Before your taste buds start to salivate even more than they are now, you may want to think twice about what you order. While a meal can be a great way to get to know somebody new, there are some foods you should avoid ordering at all costs.

Otherwise, your first date might be your last. So, hold the garlic and onions (at least for tonight) and reconsider the below foods to save yourself from a messy-- and potentially smelly-- meant-to-be romantic dinner:

Ribs.

Ribs might be a summertime staple, but eating them without looking like a mess when you’re done is pretty difficult. While you might be able to get away with boneless ribs that you can easily cut with a fork and knife, the heavy sauce used for most ribs isn’t a good first date option.

It’s also difficult to eat a big rib while looking elegant, sophisticated or like anything but a food-crazed carnivore. Save the trip to the barbecue joint for when you become more comfortable with your partner (assuming you make it past this one!).

Spaghetti.

Like ribs, it’s incredibly difficult to eat a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce and still be able manage to keep your clothes spotless -- even without that very unattractive shirt-bib that’s going to make you look like a child.

Certain pasta dishes on the menu, particularly those that use penne or other small pasta shapes, might be safer, but avoid dishes that involve spaghetti, angel hair or any other type of long stringy pasta.

Ripe Cheese.

Ripe cheeses are a staple of many fine restaurants, particularly those serving French food, but it can leave an unpleasant lingering smell and render your breath pretty awful after eating it. If you discover that your date loves ripe cheese it, go ahead and eat it, but make sure you follow it with palate-cleansing fruit.

Apples, raspberries, fresh figs and other foods pair well with most ripe cheeses.

Garlic and Onion-Heavy Foods.

Almost everybody knows that eating tons of garlic and onions on a first date is almost a surefire way to guarantee you won’t be getting that first kiss, and if you do, it will likely be remembered as an attack instead of a pleasant experience.

While you might not be able to avoid all garlic and onions used to flavor cooked dishes, avoid foods that are obviously garlic and onion-heavy. Raw onions are particularly bad for your breath.

Corn-on-the-Cob.

Corn-on-the-cob might be delicious, but it’s one of the messiest foods you can eat. In fact, keeping corn-on-the-cob off your top is nearly impossible, unless you stuff a napkin in your shirt collar, and let’s face it, that’s not the most attractive look. Corn kernels can also easily get stuck in your teeth in big chunks – another very unappealing look.

Instead of going for the corn-on-the-cob, choose side dishes that aren’t as messy or likely to get stuck in your teeth, like roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans or carrots.

If you’re planning a first date, check the restaurant menu beforehand to make sure it isn’t loaded with potentially poor food choices. You’ll feel self-conscious ordering from the menu, and your date might have a hard time picking something to order as well. To avoid even more embarrassment on your first date, you might want to consider investing in some antacids as your breath will not be the only thing to worry about.

Taken from: Guest Post (article, By Virginia Cunningham), Google (images).