The Date for Food Program

November 8, 6:44 AMLA Singles ExaminerNiki Payne

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Will date for food. Photographer: Jawcey

When your finances are tight, and you’ve got to eat, the Date for Food Program is an excellent source of protein for your financial diet. But who will be your meal ticket? The answer is simple: someone older, wiser and more successful than you.

The Date for Food Program is a program implored by young women in an effort to fulfill their basic physiological needs of food, water, clothing and shelter. The idea is to go on frequent dates with the intent of being fed while you entertain your host with good company and good conversation. (I’d say this is a fair exchange, wouldn’t you?).

Now, it’s always been a best practice of mine to always carry cash on a date and to always offer to go Dutch because you never know what kind of financial situation a person might be in. However, I also realize that we are living through some trying times here – historical even – and it’s not always probable to pay your own way on a date, especially if your hours at work have been reduced or you’ve recently been laid off.

So do you stop dating altogether because you can no longer afford to go Dutch? No way! You date up, which usually entails someone a decade older than you (and then some).

Dating someone older can definitely have its perks. For starters, free food. There’s also that much needed wisdom us young people need to survive and thrive during this harsh economy. Let’s also not forget the sense of stability and security that comes with dating someone older, wiser and more established. You know you’re covered when you're dating someone older.

Dating someone older can have its drawbacks as well. For starters, you grew up in two completely different decades, which could mean that much of your common ground would probably have to exist in the present. Secondly, when you’re “young and beautiful,” you don’t always want to be seen with the “old and ugly,” especially considering the fact that we live in a rather superficial society. But hey, some people are superficial enough to look past “old and ugly” to see only dollar signs and pots of gold. (I don’t care how much money Hugh Hefner has, I would never sleep with him, though I wouldn’t mind playing a game of chess with him).

If you are interested in participating in the Date for Food program, I recommend that you choose your meal tickets carefully, and then weigh the pros and cons of going on a date (or two or more) with this person. If you’re going to engage in this program, it’s important to provide your host with value. I’m not saying you have to put out because your date bought you dinner, but I am saying that you should be kind, courteous and a delight to be around if you plan on dating for food.

Do you think the Date for Food Program is morally just? Why or why not?

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