We all have our “things” when it comes to food.
Certain textures or smells or maybe even the memories of particular foods can trigger a repulsed reaction.
Kids can be especially picky eaters, as well, but oftentimes parents can accommodate within reasonable boundaries to ensure their child still eats healthy while also catering to their palate.
Over time, though, they usually grow out of it and broaden their fare.
Usually.
One woman on Reddit, however, said her husband and son are so picky that sometimes they don’t even eat their special meals she cooks for them and she’s had enough, so she turned to the “Am I The A**hole Here” (AITAH) subReddit to seek feedback from fellow Redditors.
Redditor IDONTKNOWPICKLES asked:
“AITA because I stopped cooking dinner for my husband and son?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I (37/f[emale]) am fed up with making dinner only for my husband (39/M[ale]) and son (13/M[ale]) to usually not eat it.”
“They have both become the most unbearable pickiest eaters on the planet and I’m so sick of their sh*t”
“At first I was able to make at least 10 different dishes out of their picky eating habits, so i’d rotate those out.”
“Over these last few years they have both gotten worse with their picky eating to the point where there’s only like 3 different dishes they will eat that I cook.”
“I cook really good, I am spanish and my mother taught me how to make so many different cultural dishes as well as ‘Americanized’ dishes.”
“My husband is American italian, he won’t eat anything that isnt American/italian but hes even pickier than that.”
“To give you an example he will only eat white meat chicken that isn’t touching any bone, he will never touch seafood…he told me that he used to be the person that would only order chicken fingers at a restaurant so im married to the adult version of that kid.”
“My son has recently started following in his image.”
“My son used to have a wide palette and would try anything, but not anymore. All of a sudden he can’t handle anything, just like my husband (they aren’t even blood related; my husband is stepfather)”
“They used to loved my dishes and I used to get a lot of praise for how good my cooking was Im not sure why over time they have become the pickiest eaters!”
“Now all I get is,’ I’m not hungry right now; I’ll eat later,’ and then they don’t touch the food, and it goes to waste.’
“Or straight up ‘I’m not eating that’ when it is perfectly delicious and edible.”
“I’m so sick of the two of them that I have refused to cook for a couple of months now, and my husband brought it up like it was a problem that I’m not making any of the 3 damn boring a** dishes he can handle.”
“I’m sick of cooking these 3 dishes, and sometimes they won’t even eat that!!”
“They’ve been fending for themselves for dinner, and I feel way less stressed out now.”
“And just so you know I work full time just like my husband does so why he can’t do the cooking if he wants to be so picky I don’t understand, apparently because I have the vagina I’m the one expected to cook, over it!”
“I come home from work ready to eat dinner but will he cook it, no?”
“So I’ve been having to just have a ‘girl dinner’ by myself, which usually consists of cheese and crackers.”
“I think I’m just ranting at this point, I wish someone else would mind dinner, and I didnt have to be responsible anymore, anyway do you think I’m an a**hole?”
Redditors weighed in on the situation and decided OP was not the a**hole (NTA).
“Nta, but start cooking nice food for you; you deserve that . Let them eat the mundane” – Fancy-Priority9863
“NTA”
“But why are you eating only cheese and crackers?”
“You can finally use all your cooking skills and make wonderful food, you can enjoy, without stressing about wether they will eat it or not”
“Imagine all the recipes you can finally make :)”
“I am a bit bit concerned though, about your boy”
“He is imitating his dad.”
“Does he get the vitamins and minerals he needs? He is still growing and needs it”
“On the plus side since dad is the one who wants it, he can cook it and also cook for your son :)”
“Also: your son is 13. Old enough to make his own food” – Initial-Company3926
“NTA.”
“Reminds me of a reply someone made to someone with picky eaters a while ago.”
“They told their family they can eat what she made, or make their own dinner and put bread, peanut butter, and jelly out on the kitchen counter.”
“After a few days, they were miraculously cured of their picky eating.” – jeffprop
“NTA. They’re old enough to sort themselves out.”
“My husband doesn’t eat vegetables. It’s pathetic.”
“I’m worried our sons will do the same.” – TopAd7154
“NTA”
“Cook what you want for yourself, and if they won’t eat it, I’m sure there are things in the fridge that can be used to make a sandwich.”
“You put effort into your food so they can either appreciate it or make their own food.”
“Don’t put up with it anymore.” – SockMaster9273
“NTA but cook your meals for yourself. ..you can even freeze leftovers and rotate them for busy / tired days.”
“They can fend for themselves.” – ms_zori
“NTA.”
“As a GenX mama, I like to follow the example of my own Baby Boomer mama and Greatest Generation grandma, who always offered two choices for dinner if they were cooking:”
“1). Eat it, or”
“2). Be hungry.”
“I’ve found that to be a great menu, with allowances only made for food allergies/sensitivities.” – ImColdandImTired
“NTA”
“If your family ain’t appreciating your efforts to feed them, let them fend for themselves until they start missing your food again, cook for yourself and get some fun at it again”
“It’s been years I had a proper paella, tortilla or bravas, at least I’d be greatful” – Reddit user
“NTA. My husband tried to pull that, I wasn’t having it.”
“I flat out told him if he wasn’t at least trying the new dishes out, I won’t be cooking for him and he can figure out his own meal plan.” – Kittytigris
“NTA but son is old enough to learn to cook a healthy balanced meal.”
“Make it clear to him that no one will respect him when he moves out (to Uni or elsewhere) if he’s incapable of doing more than ordering takeout or boiling some noodles.”
“Husband can fend for himself, but it’s your duty as a parent to make sure son is on the path to becoming a self-sufficient human being.” – I_wanna_be_anemone
“Nta.”
“Start cooking what you feel like eating. If they don’t want it, then they can make their own food.” – Old-Meal2640
“NTA.”
“Make what you like for yourself, if they want something, they can make it themselves.” – Dull-Reputation3134
“NTA”
“Screw the ungrateful husband and child.”
“Cook what you want to eat – husband and cooks his plain bland food for him and son.” – SpecialModusOperandi
“NTA My friend stopped cooking for her husband and 3 sons for about 1.5 YEARS for a similar reason.”
“She held out until she got the apology she felt she was owed.”
“Be strong and love yourself.”
“Let them cook if they want to be so picky.” – Motor-Juggernaut1009
“NTA”
“My beloved has sensory issues with meat on-the-bone, so I cook simple stuff for date night (which is usually a day that I don’t want to make anything fancy anyway)”
“However, both of them are old enough to fix their own meals.”
“Cook for yourself, and let them sort out their own meals” – WhyAmIStillHere86
“NTA.”
“It’s reasonable to stop cooking when your efforts go unappreciated.”
“You’ve made an effort to cater to their tastes, but they should also take responsibility for their meals.”
“Everyone should contribute, especially if you’re all working.” – BabeAngelic
“NTA I stopped cooking a few years ago because it would end up wasted.”
“They weren’t in the mood for it, had something else to eat, etc. I will NEVER go back, and I should’ve done it years ago!”
“I cook for me only now.”
“Saves a ton of money on groceries, too.” – RedneckDebutante
“It’s hard to cook for one person, too, so I’m sorry.”
“you’re not wrong, definitely NTA.”
“If, however, you want to make huge batches of delicious food and mail it to random strangers on the internet, I am one such random stranger.” – stopcallingmeSteve_
“NTA. I did the same thing.”
“They lasted a month, and subsisted entirely on fast-food.”
“Now husband is responsible for making breakfast every weekday morning and we alternate making dinner on weeknights.”
“Meals on weekends are prepared together.”
“I am a much, much happier person as a result.” – JTBlakeinNYC
“NTA I’m a picky eater, always have been, and once I was old enough, I had to make myself something if I didn’t want what the rest of the family was eating.”
“They don’t appreciate your effort, so just cook for yourself, and they can continue to do their own thing.”
“Otherwise you’re just wasting food too.” – Jerseygirl2468
“NTA. They have immature palates.”
“Cook good food for yourself and let then order their chicken nuggies like the overgrown man children that they are.” – Lonely-Toe9877
“Absolutely NTA”
“Your husband is an adult who can make his own dinner, so you should make what you want to eat.”
“Your son can eat what your husband gives him if he’s going to be so picky.”
“I would be fed up with this too, and I would refuse to cook for them.”
“Your husband is a manchild” – Adventurous_Tree3386
OP should feel at least a little relieved that her fellow Redditors agree she is not overreacting.
Hopefully she will take their advice and make herself some nice meals, too.