how to date when youre on a diet

Socializing, in general, is the hardest hurdle to cross when you’re watching your weight. Everything from business lunches to weddings present more opportunities to eat, sit still, and be super polite about it. Add dating to that mix and it can feel like a lost cause, except it’s definitely not!

There’s no reason you can’t fall in love, or at least have some fun, while mingling with a potential partner. Your “diet” will not get in the way; if anything, it will force some creativity for more fun, interesting date ideas.

If the date is a casual stop for drinks, trade the bar for the barista. A couple of cocktails or glasses of wine can fill you up with a few hundred empty calories, not to mention the loss of your inhibitions. Suggest the date at a cool coffee shop or tea house, somewhere off the beaten path. Go easy on the caramel, whipped cream, and syrup flavors. A simple cup of joe or tea will let you focus more on each other and less on your high maintenance mocha needs.

“A good old-fashioned dinner is the number one favorite first date activity of singles,” reports Match.com in their fourth annual Singles In America survey. Don’t ever skip meals, but plan ahead by eating lighter during the day if you’re unsure where the dinner plans may be. If the location isn’t a surprise, pre-game by reviewing the menu and knowing what fits into your food plan. With 95 percent of singles being turned off by picky eaters, according to Match.com, you can skip the part where you ask the waiter to design a meal just for you!