Everyone has their own dealbreakers in a relationship. Maybe it's something as basic as age, or as complicated as trust issues. Or maybe just maybe your boyfriend eats the most boring food, like chicken nuggets and bare cheeseburgers.
At least that was the case for a 28-year-old Reddit user and sous chef who broke up with a guy over his picky eating habits. After a few dinners, his aversion to anything with real flavor became evident.
"Every meal turned into a challenge, and he even made faces or comments about dishes I enjoyed, which started to feel disrespectful, considering my background," she wrote on Reddit.
He avoided sauces and toppings and instead opting for plain, unadventurous dishes like buttered noodles and a bare burger. However, the original poster hit her breaking point when she took her date to a work potluck—and he practically refused to eat everything he was offered.
"It was a big event with lots of homemade dishes from various cultures—exactly the kind of thing I love," she wrote. "When we arrived, Jake immediately looked uncomfortable. As we moved through the buffet line, he barely put anything on his plate. He kept making comments like, 'This looks weird,' or 'I don’t trust food that has too many ingredients.'"
He eventually admitted he "couldn't eat this stuff" and left the party early to pick up fast food French fries instead. She broke up with him shortly after and claimed she wasn't ready for a serious relationship, but when he pushed the issue, she finally revealed the real reason. He called her "shallow" and ridiculous" for ending things over something trivial like food.
The scenario begs the question: Is it okay to dump someone over their picky eating habits? According to Delish editors, YES.
"You spend so many hours of your life eating with a significant other," food editor Brooke Caison argues. "Also, I’m not about to spend my life watching someone eat chicken tenders for dinner every night. Gotta have an open mind at the very least."
Assistant food editor Francesca Zani has been in a similar situation and says she knew the relationship wasn't going to work out because the person "didn't enjoy or understand food" in the way that she needed.
"It's a non-negotiable," she says. "But even if you are a picky eater you have to be interested in understanding, learning, or trying food. And definitely be someone who's going to go back for seconds and thirds. Otherwise, you're out."
Senior food director Robert Seixas says that it "depends on picky-ness level," but it's totally fine to break up with someone "if they are some kind of weirdo where, say, they will only eat spaghetti if the sauce is perfectly pureed, or [they] pull out certain herbs in a herb salad."
At the end of the day, just like any relationship dealbreaker, it's going to depend on the person and your individual dynamic. If you're passionate about food and your partner doesn't align, that can feel like a barrier to a successful relationship. However, maybe you're perfectly fine chomping on sashimi while your BF downs a PB&J?
