I’m always amused when I hear young couples at the grocery store. I can tell which ones are shopping for the first time. They are always very careful to clear their choices with their spouse, to the point of self-denial. “Honey, do you like carrots? You don’t? Okay, I’ll put this back.”
When you get married, you are taking two lives and melding them into one, and this is true on so many levels, right down to the grocery shopping. Suddenly you’re trying to decide what to eat—a decision that once was so simple, now made complex. How do two completely different people learn to compromise in this department?
First, sit down with some paper and a pencil and write down the things you absolutely hate and will not eat. It’s good for the two of you to know this about each other. Then pull out some cookbooks and thumb through the pages. What appeals to both of you? Would the recipe on page 304 work if you left out the onions?
As you walk through the store, discuss the food you see with your partner. Talking about your likes and dislikes can actually be a lot of fun, a unique way to get to know each other better. Make sure you each buy something that you really like. You might even introduce your spouse to a food they’ve never tried before, but remember, if they don’t like it, they aren’t rejecting you or saying you have bad taste.
Last, but not least, feel free to buy something just for you. It’s not necessary for the husband and wife to eat exactly the same meal all the time. If he wants a burrito and she wants a corn dog, by all means, cook them both up. Newlyweds often feel that eating together means eating the same thing, and that’s not the case. It means sharing quality time together, and you can do that even if your plates don’t exactly match.
Above all, remember that loving compromise is the key. Be flexible. Be willing to try new things. And if you happen to detest your new husband’s favorite food, well, more for him.
Related Blogs:
The One-Bite Rule for Picky Eaters