There are some products and services developed specifically for gluten-free individuals that make perfect sense, like gluten-free food brands, restaurants and cookbooks. But do people leading gluten-free lifestyles really need their own dating website?
The creators of GlutenfreeSingles, a dating website for -- you guessed it --gluten-free singles, believes they do. According to its website, GlutenfreeSingles was created for users who, "[have] celiac disease, are gluten intolerant or choose to be gluten free for health reasons" because "relationships last longer when partners have similar lifestyle needs and common interests."
It seems that GlutenfreeSingles is less an attempt for gluten-free individuals to avoid wheat-eating potential partners, and more a response to marginalization they have experienced -- in dating and beyond. GlutenfreeSingles' website notes that their goal is to create a community where users, "never have to feel alone, awkward, or a burden because you are gluten-free."
While GlutenfreeSingles may offer refuge for those who feel their gluten-free lifestyle is misunderstood, whether or not it's an effective basis for creating lasting relationships remains to be seen.
As Laura Beck of Jezebel pointed out, ultimately, gluten-free individuals are a niche group and that when it comes to dating, one's odds are logically improved by a larger dating pool. "The problem is, without a million people, the odds of finding a match are drastically lowered," she wrote. "I'm no statistician, but I'd say it's damn near impossible to find a match if the dating pool isn't filled to the brim with nearby single people."
It's undoubtedly beneficial for any "outsider" group to find a community of peers, but it remains questionable whether one's dietary preferences or requirements are a useful basis for finding a romantic partner. After all, only 1 in 133 people actually have celiac's disease -- although about one-third of Americans are actively trying to cut out gluten. Having a dietary need in common with someone will definitely make choosing a date spot easier, but it doesn't necessarily ensure authentic compatibility.
Would you ever join a dating site based on your dietary needs? Let us know in the comments!