Valentine’s Day is on the horizon, and as the most romantic day of the year it’s the perfect opportunity for a date night.
While last year’s Valentine’s Day was somewhat limited, 53% of Brits had said they planned to get a takeaway or cook a special meal, making a romantic dinner one of the most popular date ideas for this day of love (Finder).
This year, restaurants and cafés are back open for business, and if you’re one of the lucky ones who’ll be spending the day with someone special, a romantic dinner might just be on the cards. And while you may have picked out the perfect outfit and found the ideal restaurant, have you considered what you’re going to eat — or rather, what you’re not going to eat?
Your food choices can make or break a successful date night. You don’t want to be leaning in for a kiss with smelly breath, and you certainly don’t want to be spilling food all over the outfit which took you hours to plan. To help your date go smoothly, catering and kitchen equipment suppliers Alliance Online suggest you avoid these five foods that are guaranteed mood-killers.
Foods you should never eat on a date – Garlic and onions
We couldn’t have a list of the worst date foods without mentioning garlic and onions, could we? These pungent ingredients contain sulphur, which is not only what gives them their delicious flavour, but it’s also responsible for their smell. When garlic and onions are chopped or crushed, the sulphur compounds release strong gasses that can linger in your mouth after eating.
Not only this, but they can continue to leave a bad smell hours after you’ve eaten. This is because some of the gasses produced when you eat garlic and onions are absorbed into your bloodstream and into your lungs, causing even more bad breath as you exhale. To avoid putting your date off for good, it’s probably best to skip these ingredients for one night.
Foods you should never eat on a date – Corn on the cob
Corn can be a delicious side dish come mealtime, but they’re by far one of the most difficult foods to eat cleanly. Butter dripping down your chin may not be the most attractive sight for your date, and you don’t want to be left picking kernels from between your teeth once you’re done.
While some suggest buttering each section separately before you eat it to avoid any mess, we advise you avoid this food altogether if you’re planning on making a good impression this Valentine’s Day.
Foods you should never eat on a date – Dairy
Bad news for all you cheese-lovers — dairy can be a prime cause of bad breath. This is because foods like milk, cheese, and other dairy products contain amino acids. When you eat them, the naturally occurring bacteria on your tongue feed on the amino acids, with not so pleasant results.
Avoid dairy products on your date if you’d like to keep your breath fresh. But, if you really can’t resist a cheeseboard, then be sure to have a glass of water when you’re done to wash the amino acids away.
The good news is, a glass of milk may help to wash away the smell of garlic, according to a study published in the Journal of Food Science, which could make them the perfect date night combo.
Foods you should never eat on a date – Pasta
Pasta is a fantastic go-to dish, but it may be one to avoid this date night. Not only can it be messy to eat, but tomato-based sauces could put a dampener on the romance. This is because the acids in tomatoes can encourage bacterial growth in your mouth, which results in bad breath. And if you’re thinking of opting for a cream-based sauce instead, remember dairy can cause bad breath too! Luckily, like dairy, drinking a glass of water alongside your meal can help to rinse the acids away and keep everything under control.
Foods you should never eat on a date – Alcohol
It’s the perfect date night setting: a romantic candlelit meal and a glass of wine in hand. But while alcohol might be on the menu this date night, did you know it’s also a contributor to bad breath? This is because alcohol is a desiccant, which means it dehydrates your body. So, your drink could actually end up drying out your mouth instead. And when your mouth is dry, it makes the perfect conditions for bacteria to thrive. To combat this, be sure to have a glass of water to hand, or just avoid alcohol altogether.
Rachel Kiss from Alliance Online said:
“Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular dates of the year for hospitality, and for good reason. There’s nothing as romantic as a candlelit dinner with good food and great conversation. But if you’re thinking of heading out to a local restaurant or cooking up a storm in your kitchen, you might just want to put a little planning into your food choices.
“Some foods can be responsible for bad breath, while others are plain messy to eat. To avoid embarrassment and make a good impression this February 14th, you may want to give particularly strong or acidic foods a miss.
“Of course, you can eat whatever you want — just make sure you have a mint handy!