Husband is a very picky eater.

[frolicmum]

Hello, my husband is a very picky eater and would probably love a sandwich and oven food (chicken & chips etc) all week. It was the same when we met but we were 20, now 10 years later, I just want him to try more foods. I'm a veggie (been for years, this was already the case when we met).

I make a meal plan for every week which is on the fridge. If he doesn't eat what I cooked, I usually freeze it and DS can often have them unfrozen at some point for lunch and our yesterday's dinner for dinner next day. This is the meal plan for this week. I adjust and try to make things he likes as well:

Monday: chickpea masala (DH didn't eat this)
Tuesday: Veggie cottage pie (he just said, I won't eat that will I?)
Wednesday: take away (he can obvs order what he likes)
Thursday: creamy spinach and tomato pasta (he said he will eat this)
Friday: black bean Chili with rice (confirmed he won't eat this)
Saturday: bangers & mash (he will eat this)
Sunday: we always have a roast on Sunday and he eats most of it but only like carrots as veg.

Am i being unreasonable to be unhappy that he doesn't even try anything new?

He's a lovely man, father and husband, we are very happy but because I really enjoy cooking it's getting me down. Maybe it's because I'm hormonal because I'm pregnant 🤷🏼‍♀️

And I disagree that meat doesn’t make a difference.

I wouldn’t eat a veggie cottage pie, would eat one with meat though. And again like a PP I don’t like beans, so even chilli with meat would be a no for me...

Imagine branding a third of India’s entire population as ‘picky eaters’ because they don’t eat meat...

Your DP eats loads compared to mine. My DP is 35 and lives mainly off burgers (microwave or sometimes will cook Asda ones) chips, pizza, hot dogs and super noodles. Since we got to together 10 years ago I have expanded his food choice somewhat, he will now eat shepherds pie/spag Bol (but with no veg), Roast Beef, Yorkshire Puddings, Mash and Roast Potatoes. He doesn't like any veg at all and will eat Bananas, unless fruit is in a dessert then will eat a bit more fruit. He eats crisps/chocolate/sweets daily. I've stopped asking him to try stuff because he won't so I just cook for me and DS and he cooks for himself every night. It's annoying but I've stopped trying to change his ways and just accepted that's how he is!

@Lucidas

Imagine branding a third of India’s entire population as ‘picky eaters’ because they don’t eat meat...

Haha love this!

Btw, OP, will you invite me over? I will eat everything you cooked. I am a semi vegetarian but occasionally I will eat meat.

I haven't got anything helpful to say but this post could have been written by me!
my DP would also live on a diet of purely kids menu items, plus I'm also veggie and a big foodie/not fussy. It's exhausting, I end up compromising constantly. The unwillingness to even try new foods is what annoys me the most - or he says he'll try it and then take the tiniest bite and declare he can't eat it when he had clearly already decided that. Solidarity, OP. I feel your pain

Picky eaters are frustrating for those who have a wide range of tastes, but I think it's not on to expect others to change their eating habits because it's not to someone elses standard.

Food is to be enjoyed - and theres no point making someone eat what they don't like. It can also trigger eating disorders

@i

Maybe you should hide peas under his mashed potato, or blend the onions. Jesus what a child. But there are worse faults. I would tolerate if he were good otherwise.

My DP is also a picky eater with childish tastes but he's also easy to cater for so I don't mind, all he needs is some chicken strips and chips bunged in the oven and he's happy.
I'm a picky eater in a different way in that I dont eat most meats (not veggie though) so it would be a bit hypocritical of me to get worked up about it. If he wants to eat a boring diet then its no skin off my nose.

@iabvvu it's good to know other people feel the same as me. I've decided I'll cook more for people who love and enjoy my food. I can't wait until I can invite people over again for dinners etc.

@Snowman2020 I will do that same but will try to work with him more etc. We exchanged Chili for beef goulash (meat is in the freezer) with potatoes and I have a freezer meal from a few weeks ago!

@Blueberries0112 I'm worried about that my children will pick this up and being a veggie, I don't want meat to be consumed every day in my house. I want it to be organic & less - 1x - 2x a week which is enough.

@ShagMeRiggins I will cook and bake more for others again once all of this is over and we actually get to see other people (he does enjoy my cakes) but also like to give them to neighbours, friends and family.

P.S. My husband has no sensory issues and he's is not autistic. It will not trigger food disorders for me to ask him to try something I have cooked. Again, I do not force anyone in my house or elsewhere to eat my food.

Also I noticed that you are worried about your DS picking up on his behaviour, both of our older children are less fussy then either me or DP! (Youngest is weaning). It hasn't rubbed off on them in the least, they both have a couple of foods that they strongly dislike but that is it.

@frolicmum I'm worried about that my children will pick this up and being a veggie, I don't want meat to be consumed every day in my house. I want it to be organic & less - 1x - 2x a week which is enough.

That’s not your decision to make. If your children enjoy and like meat they can eat it. I can see why you think your DH is fussy now. As a non vegetarian you are trying to force him to be a veggie 6 days a week as it fits with your own views....

I really sympathise. I used to feel like this when I was growing up with with my DM. She doesn’t eat:

• anything with onions, leeks or garlic, in even the tiniest amount
• pasta in any form
• anything with a sauce, including things like mayonnaise
• curries or Chinese food (because of the onions but also spice)
• seafood

I do sympathise as onions are in lots of foods, but she has a strange resentment that anyone WOULD want to eat what she doesn’t like. Going out for meals with her generally involves her rolling her eyes that ‘everything has onions.’ DH and I remember the time she sat in Pizza Express, with its option-filled menu, and complained at the lack of choice, despite the fact you can order your own toppings. I had garlic bread at a friend’s party when I was about 7 and remember having to restrain myself from scoffing the lot, I’d never had it before and loved it so much (still do)

@Frestba he's the best person I know, nicest and kindest man I have ever met.

People have given great suggestions here and I already had a chat with him and we are meeting in the middle. I am never going to make him eat everything but we will plan meals together more and he said he will come up with veggie suggestions he would like me to cook and then he will try. Win win 💙

That's a bit harsh, I'm not a fussy eater at all, but wouldn't eat Monday, Tuesday or Friday as it doesn't float my boat.

Your poor DH being forced into vegetarianism when he doesn’t enjoy it. Kids also being forced into it

@Racinglikeapronow

Your poor DH being forced into vegetarianism when he doesn’t enjoy it. Kids also being forced into it

Kids are forced into eating meat all the time, what’s the difference as for poor DH, wtf 😂😂

Well there's your answer. It's a tiny thing in the grand scheme.

@Feministicon please don’t force feed your children meat if they don’t want it and actively tell you so.

[quote Racinglikeapronow]@Feministicon please don’t force feed your children meat if they don’t want it and actively tell you so.[/quote]
Where did I say I do?

@Feministicon I couldn't even get myself to respond to a comment like that. There is no point.

Surely everybody is entitled to their own likes and dislikes? There are at least three of those meals I wouldn't like either and I wouldn't be too keen on a couple of the others. I'm sure there are some meals you cook that he does like - maybe discuss with him other things you could cook that he would try. How would you like it if he prepared meals for you that you didn't like and then called you picky? Your tastes don't trump his - just because you like something doesn't mean he has to too. I realise that being vegetarian reduces the options for the foods you want to cook, but there are other options too.

@frolicmum why? You fully admit you don’t want meat eaten more than twice a week max in your house. I wouldn’t tolerate my DH trying to control my eating habits and tastes like that. I enjoy meat and I eat it as I enjoy it.

Your DH is not vegetarian. Your children may well have similar tastes to him and not be vegetarian. Why do you think anyone who doesn’t eat according to your ‘rules’ is a very picky eater?

You also say you were vegetarian when you met your DH. Well presumably he was also NOT a vegetarian but now he has to be 5 - 6 days a week???