Gluten-Free Seeking Same: GlutenfreeSingles & Diet Dating
Hi, my name is Nicole and I am gluten intolerant. I’ve kept this fact out of my internet presence thus far because “gluten” seems to be the new “Kardashians” when it comes to easy jokes. And I get it. A few years ago, most of us had never heard the word gluten and now it’s everywhere… just like the Kardashians. However, unlike the Kardashians, gluten is something that those with Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance can’t just choose to ignore. For many, eating gluten-free isn’t a fad, but a necessity for their health. It’s not something they do for attention, but a hassle they have to deal with every day. It can make going out to dinner with new people awkward and put a strain on existing relationships. So, when my friends started sending me texts and emails about a dating site called GlutenfreeSingles, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued.
According to the website, “GlutenfreeSingles is a dating, networking, and informative website where you never have to feel alone, awkward, or a burden because you are gluten-free. Our website is a welcoming place where people can find gluten-free dating partners, friends, and activity groups.”This sounds great! Sometimes explaining my dietary restrictions is isolating, awkward and a burden. There are some definite pros here. I would immediately have something in common with the people I meet through this site. It would be great to avoid having to discuss my stomach issues with someone on a first date. Taking a giant leap into the future, it would be super convenient to share groceries, meals and a life with someone who eats the same things as me.
Taking all that into consideration, it still seems pretty drastic to limit potential dating partners to those who share my dietary restriction. While, it would certainly be convenient, is that reason enough to weed out the entire wheat eating dating pool? I don’t think so, at least for me. My gluten intolerance is such a minor part of who I am and I would hate for someone not to date me because of it. Maybe things will be slightly more complicated. Maybe we will need to purchase two loaves of bread and cook our separate pasta, but I’d like to think that whoever I end up with will love me enough to look past these inconveniences.
So, will I be creating a profile on GlutenfreeSingles? No, probably not. To be fair though, I’m not really an online dating person in general. I’m more comfortable meeting people in a group or through mutual friends. However, if I were a Match.com kinda gal and I were to open a GlutenfreeSingles account, I would probably balance it out with some OKCupid and Tinder profiles as well. If I find someone on Glutenfree who is cool, gets me and I want to spend time with… amazing. If not, there are plenty of other fish in the gluten consuming sea.
Also, if you work for GlutenfreeSingles, I’ve written a pretty sweet jingle for you guys set to Katy Perry’s “Roar“. If that’s something you’re interested in, please let me know.
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