Dating with Celiac Disease

Honestly, I hit the jackpot when it comes to dating with celiac disease. Everyone meet Ciro, the celiac disease dream partner😂

Your partner does not have to go gluten-free but ciro decided to because it is safer, especially when you live together and share the same kitchen. He already was super healthy and mainly just ate chicken and rice so he was perfect for this! We had been dating for 6 months before I was diagnosed and had known each other for a year. He was there for me through the diagnosis process when I was sick and he stuck by my side while I figured it all out. I don't think many college guys would have done that, let alone go strictly gluten-free with me. He cooks me meals and understands what I can and can't eat. He speaks three languages so he can explain things when we travel. Just a full package for this scenerio that I had never planned.

Now that we are long distance and he can't strictly eat gluten-free, nor do I expect him to😂 I ask him to try to eat gluten free for a couple days before we see each other. When he arrives from the airport I make him brush his teeth twice before he gets a kiss. I'm not getting glutened from a kiss. Yes, it's possible. I also make sure he uses gluten-free chapstick and toothpaste when he visits. I'm very cautious all of the time.

Planning dates with celiac disease can be hard. Almost everything involves or might involve food. What if they order something with gluten and try to kiss you? What if your food gets contaminated from theirs? All possible scenarios. Some things that Ciro and I do are go to the movies but pack my own snacks, go to a park, go to yoga together, stay in and cook or bake something new, go shopping (again pack snacks). We have gone to an amusement park together and packed food for the day and we have travelled out of country and have packed snacks and food for the flights. It's nice to have someone that knows about your dietary needs so I would always explain before a first date with someone:) Sometimes Ciro and I will go out to eat (almost always dedicated gluten-free) and after two bites I'll say I need to go home because I'm starting to feel sick and he gets to-go boxes and I head for the car. Being comfortable enough with someone to be able to do that is important. Feeling like you are somewhere unsafe with someone that does not know how sick you could get is scary and that's why I like going places with Ciro because he understands.

Visiting your partners family: What are the odds that Ciro's mom had to go gluten-free the same week I did😂it honestly was really nice because when I went to Argentina she understood what I could eat and made separate food for us when we went to family gatherings. You might feel bad for not being able to eat the food they prepare for you but in those scenarios I always say thank you for the food and explain that I am not able to eat it due to cross contamination in the kitchen. Don't eat something that might be unsafe to make others feel happy or if they want you to try it! Just pop your food in the microwave or ask your partner to do it for you before you go so it is less awkward for you:)

Ciro's perspective:

When dating the right person, dating is never hard, and things like this are just opportunities to go out of the ordinary. For us, this is the perfect excuse to try new recipes, restaurants, and one day open our own gluten free bakery.

Some of you guys reading this might wonder how dating someone with celiac is, or even be afraid of being in a relationship because it is “hard”. Being celiac is not easy, especially the first months, and it requires you to be positive even though sometimes you don’t feel like doing it.

Here are some tips on planning a date with someone with celiac: ask them where they have ate before that is safe, download find me gluten free and find options with safe reviews, if you want to cook for them ask to do it in their kitchen and check all ingredients with them to make sure they are safe. Ask them before the date if you have any questions about their celiac disease and don't talk too much about the food because they are probably thinking about it anyways😂

Something like packing a picnic is the perfect date! I suggest leaving the food decisions to them and planning something like a painting date, a hike, visit a museum or the zoo, a drive-in movie, or a movie but pack snacks. Stuff that doesn't revolve around food:)