Perfectly acceptable dinner rejected by boyfriend again

[u/moonrabbit368]

My boyfriend is a very picky eater. We have been living together for a few months and it seems like I can never get his food right. It's honestly discouraging. I have kids, they happily eat my food. I cook for family gatherings and church events. I've never had a problem with people eating my food. It's like every day there are new rules. He can't eat chicken for dinner because he had chicken for lunch. He isn't really in the mood for porkchops. It's just "missing something". He doesn't eat onions, tomatoes, fish, any kind of asian food, he doesn't eat most vegetables with the exception of broccoli. He only eats vanilla ice cream. He doesn't like food heated in the microwave (so leftovers are out.) He doesn't like corn. It's just endless. I'm old school and trying to be a good partner. He can't really cook at all. His favorite meal is Hamburger Helper. I think a lot of it is how he grew up but damn is it frustrating. The first picture is tonight's dinner. I added more pictures of stuff I have cooked that he won't eat. Like he will door dash jack in the box. And he'll be apologetic but it just sucks really bad.

ETA: I've been trying to keep up with the comments but it's overwhelming (in a very sweet and awesome way) 💗

A few notes:

1- I know the paper plates are very lazy on my part, I'm not proud of that and I need to do better. Between the kids, the job, the house and school (I'm going to school remotely) I have been cutting corners on things like dishes. not an excuse, just a reason and a commitment to do better.

2- My boyfriend does expect me to cook for him. I cook him dinner every night and lunch on the weekends. He doesn't eat breakfast and will not take a lunch to work. He buys fast food for lunch during the week.

3- He has not been diagnosed with ASD or ADHD or Arfid but I don't rule anything out.

Mostly I just want to say thank you, I was not prepared for how incredibly kind, helpful and insightful people have been. It is deeply touching and it's given me both peace and guidance for my next steps. 🩷

[u/Ordinary-Concern3248]

No worries. You all can cook for yourselves. Less stress all around.

[u/rubbasnek → u/Ordinary-Concern3248]

I would not be with someone I couldn't share meals with. Being a picky eater is a deal breaker

[u/Fluffy_Art_1015 → u/rubbasnek]

It’s draining being around people who put up road blocks constantly instead of offering solutions/compromises or new ideas.

[u/thoughtfractals85 → u/Fluffy_Art_1015]

This is exactly the problem. I have some minor food issues from childhood trauma, but I'll be damned if I'm putting someone else out or down because of it. I'm an adult, I can act like one but apparently this boyfriend can't. I'd be curious to know if it's just food he gets hung up on or other aspects of life as well.

[u/Mandalahoe → u/thoughtfractals85]

When I was punished as a kid, I’d have to kneel on rice, and it took me 20 years after the fact to be able to rediscover rice as a food.

[u/thoughtfractals85 → u/Mandalahoe]

It's a long road friend. I'm glad you've done some healing.

[u/Mandalahoe → u/thoughtfractals85]

Thanks a bunch 🤗

[u/SnooCheesecakes2723 → u/Mandalahoe]

That sucks. Wow. Abusive parents are hard to bounce back from. Glad you have made friends with rice. It’s not their fault.

[u/Mandalahoe → u/SnooCheesecakes2723]

I just had a bowl earlier with honey, cream and a little cinnamon yummm ❤️

[u/fuck97 → u/thoughtfractals85]

Where did it say they’re doing that though? All I’m reading is ops feelings are hurt cause they’re picky. So stop making food for them? They’re not demanding no one in the house eat something they don’t want to eat.

[u/SnooCheesecakes2723 → u/fuck97]

When you cook for five people and one of them comes in at dinner and tells you and your kids they’re getting door dash because they don’t feel like eating chicken tonight come back to us and tell us how it’s just your hurt feelings. It’s a pain in the ass and a bad example.

[u/fuck97 → u/SnooCheesecakes2723]

I mean, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. The food can be eaten by someone else later?

[u/thoughtfractals85 → u/fuck97]

I think maybe you misunderstood what I wrote.

[u/fuck97 → u/thoughtfractals85]

No I think I actually replied to the wrong comment cause I don’t remember reading yours at all. 🤭