My best advise is:

• Eat before you go so you aren't ravenously hungry.
• Check the menu beforehand and already have something picked out. Call the restaurant beforehand with any question you may have about the food you're interested in.
• Remember it's not about the food while at this stage. Go to focus on him and try to have fun even if the food isn't exactly what you may have liked.

I would not even mention your way of eating on a first date. Nothing. No paleo. No ancestral. No gluten anything. Just don't go there. If he asks why you're not eating the bread just say you don't want any right now. Make do and focus on getting to know the person. There will be time enough to disclose your ways later. People fear what they cannot or do not understand. There is no way to disclose this way of eating to someone who has no understanding of it without sounding like a food lunatic which translated to plain old lunatic which translates to no second date.

And good luck! Just have fun and enjoy the process.

OR: You could do what I do; not do dinner dates. This is something I did long before I ate Paleo so diet isn't a factor. Even though they're ingrained in most people's minds as a necessary step in dating, I think they're a terrible idea. They cost money, you're separated by a table, they give off the whole "job interview" vibe. Go to the zoo, go to a lake, go for a hike, go to a museum, go to a concert. "Action dates" have been shown to increase attraction on both sides. Dinners/movies are for when you already know someone.

Join a crossfit box, plenty of down to earth, single blokes who take pride in their appearance and appreciate eating a good solid paleo diet! How can you go wrong!

Just say your allergic if it comes up. If they seem interested, it's a neat conversation to have, but it's not a opportunity for conversion, as you might come off as pushy. Saying you have an allergy, or an intolerance (better word if you're dating a scientist, might be suspicious of so many "allergies", haha) should clear it up no problem. People are pretty used to fussy eaters, or people that eat this and not that.

I used to date fine as a vegan/vegetarian, but dated much better as a paleo because as it turns out, guys are pretty fascinated with ladies that can tuck into a pile of meat ;) It seems almost fetishized (not to make you feel creeped out next time you eat a bunch of meat) because it's a rare sight. Never a problem!

My restaurant advice is simple--go Italian and have appetizers and the house red. Caprese, shrimp in garlic sauce, salmon carpaccio, mussels in tomato/garlic sauce, etc.

And if you ever make it to Columbus, give me a call!

I was a fussy eater, long before I joined the paleo lifestyle, and it never was much of a big deal. I don't think you need to explain anything, until you feel like it.

I just would order what you like (grilled meats, side veg, no starch sides), and not worry too much about it. If you have to make special orders (no butter/veg oil, confirming no soy sauce), I'd just say "veg oil doesn't agree with me" and move on. Your best bet at making this a "no big deal" is if you make it one too.

Good luck!

If a man were to take you out to a restaurant, most restaurants you can find something that you can probably eat (even though it may not be the healthiest)- the problem I run into is it will either be in small quantities or uber expensive. :P

Be honest and open with the guy. If he's interested in you, he should respect your food allergies and choices.

I hope that helps some. :)

Dunno how you're looking for male creatures, but I've put "paleo" right on my dating site profile. Having tried to date "normal" guys, I find that I'm much more likely to slip up in my eating if I'm constantly hanging around someone who eats SAD. I also think that mentioning it early lets someone know you're health-conscious, and that's a pretty big compatibility issue, at least for me.

Good luck!

Join a paleo dating website. If there isn't one, start one! Paleo is a lifestyle choice not a favouite colour so probably important to share from the very start or before. Good luck. I met my husband/soul mate on a dating site and my only advice would be the more honest you are about whaT you want and who you are the closer you'll get to meeting your perfect match.

hey guys! my (now) boyfriend and i couldn't have been more different food-wise when we first met. he LIVES off of pasta. once he knew i ate the way i do for my health (a few months down the road), he wanted to do everything he could to make sure i was taken care of. i think that's a pretty good way to test if the person you are dating is a good catch - are they sensitive to your needs, even "weird" ones? it's not high maintainance if it protects your health.

also? good luck! a vibrant personality covers many "strange" habits they may think you have. be yourself and the rest will follow!

If someone is freaked out by your diet choices, even if you explain them rationally and logically, then you probably don't need them anyways.

Why on earth would it be a problem? Take the guy out, start with some roasted bone marrow, order a bleu steak and ask for extra salad on the side. Come dessert, ask for raspberries with pure whipped cream (if you do dairy). What guy wouldn't eat that? You don't even have to use the word paleo or diet.

I mean, if he's vegan, best to find out right away so you can shake his hand goodbye before the second course. :)

There's almost always a paleo-esque option available. There's no reason you even need to bring it up until later on, though it might make for an interesting conversation if you're not judgmental about your partner's choices.

You could also offer to cook some delicious paleo food!

I'm long done with the dating scene, and I wasn't very good at it either; however, I haven't been to a restaurant where, with a few minor substitutions, you couldn't get a Paleo meal.

Granted, I live in a pretty good area for restaurants, but I still think you can do it anywhere. Also, while a bit "boring" chain restaurants are pretty good with the whole gluten free thing. They are aware of it and really don't want to make anyone sick. So they take requests like that pretty seriously. Small mom and pop places sometimes don't understand it.

Not at all :

• Quite some people are interested in getting rid of their health problems, and as long as you're dating someone who isn't the "do you want some pizza, do you want this do you want that"-type paleo should not be in the way.
• I already mentioned in an other thread that I lost my shyness since getting rid of gluten and/or casein (I know it's one of these because it only worked when I went raw vegan and when I went paleo). I have never spoken to as many strangers as I did last week, and there were no awkward conversations at all. This makes dating way easier for me.
• Eating a lot of meat and fat is cool when you're a student :). I have no trouble explaining my diet, I just say I eat a lot of fat and they smile and don't ask more about it.

Only alcohol is in my way. If only I could drink it without ill effects :) ...

I've been in the dating-world for only a tiny bit of my Paleo-time, but I couldn't imagine it being an issue. Its all about balance- yeah, he might think you're a little high-maintenance, but what sort of close-minded lame-o would let that one thing dissuade him so quickly if you guys get along well? None I've ever met. I've told men that I've just met that I'm a very picky eater, and have always been asked out in spite of it. Its just who you are. Also, its kind of an amusing conversation, I think, and it means you're interested in health. How is that not cool?

Or...its way more normal-sounding to say you don't eat grains or dairy.

Mr. Furley is a lifelong bachelor, of course. I have enjoyed dating. In my experience, dating tends to revolve mostly (not always) around three activities: 1) meet for coffee, 2) meet for drinks after work, or 3) dinner. Coffee: meeting for a first date is easy, can be brief if you want it to be. Have a cup of coffee or tea, sit and talk. See if you like Mr. Suitor enough to grant him a dinner date. Drinks after work: similar. Have a martini or a glass of wine, see if the guy is good enough to get a dinner date the next week. Dinner date: don't make a big deal out of your dietary choices. Just order real food. It's okay to ask for a substitution. He probably won't even notice that you're eating a piece of fish and vegetables. If he's the right guy for you, he will probably be eating something similar.

You can also try to plan some second dates, after your first date for coffee or cocktails, based on a common activity: running, hike, bike ride, etc. This way, your third date can be your first date that involves food. By now, he digs you and he probably won't think it's strange that you're not eating bread.

Wine, seafood appetizer, and salad is doable at most halfway decent places. If it's a Bistro, virtually every main dish is paleo- just don't eat the baguette.

Look for people to date in your local Paleo-friendly groups (Paleo groups on meetup.com, CrossFit gyms, etc.).

If going out with someone who isn't Paleo, suggest a restaurant or offer to cook.

If it doesn't come up naturally (I can't imagine not talking about Paleo within the first few conversations), he'll eventually notice your food choices and ask about them.

Eating a 5x5 protein style from in n out goes a long way towards making a paleo eater seem pretty normal. Not sure if you know what in n out is, but it's a really yummy fast food place. I order 5 hamburger patties wrapped in lettuce and it's awesome, while also making you look like you don't eat that healthy. I don't really see a problem with it on occasion though, meat + lettuce+ tomato, no sauce.

First date, coffee or wine. Dinner? Thai or a burger in a lettuce wrap. In truth, we men expect women to be picky and substitute-happy at restaurants. Most first date dinner dates I've had, the girl has ordered a grilled chicken salad.

The only place you'll hit a snag is if he wants to cook for you. So cook for him first, have some bread available on the side, and broach the subject then.