Relationships, in general, are a lot of work and have their own share of problems and obstacles to overcome. So what happens when a foodie falls in love with a non-foodie? When someone who loves food and loves trying new foods marries someone who is content with bland food and has no interest in trying different cuisines? Is that relationship set for failure or is that a recipe for success?
As a foodie, I always wondered what would happen if I fell for someone who lacked my enthusiasm for food. I thought of how awkward it would be when a guy would order a salad and I'd want a fancy entree, or how annoying it would be if he wanted the same foods every day and I wanted variety. Or worse: If he hated the cuisines that I loved. At the same time, I also thought the foodie-non-foodie relationship could be an unpredictable success. Here's why: Maybe the guy's ambivalence towards food would allow me to call the shots on what restaurants to go to and I wouldn't have to worry about him stealing my food.
And it's not only us foodies who suffer in the relationship--imagine the life of a non-foodie who is content with Taco Bell but his/her foodie partner only wants gourmet Mexican food.
A recent article in the
Wall Street Journal looks into exactly that: Can a foodie and a non-foodie be in a healthy, happy relationship? According to a specific example in their article, yes. The key to this sort of relationship, as with any, is compromise.
The article lists a few ways to make such a relationship work, including:
- Find common foods you enjoy
- Don't hesitate to order whatever you like at a restaurant
- Ask questions if you don't know what you're eating
- Be willing to compromise
What do you think? Can a foodie and a non-foodie have a successful relationship?
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Comments (24)
What qualifies you to be a foodie? Aren't we all a "foodie" at heart? I mean, who DOESN'T like food?
Waste of a post lol.
@kev1nccho1@xanga - Actually there are people out there who don't care about food at all. I don't know if they "don't like" food, but there are definitely people out there who would be happy eating the same stuff just so they can survive. They eat because they have to, not because they enjoy it.
@Stephanie - Exactly. There are those who cannot afford the luxury to eat out like some of us do. Do you think they'll continue to eat the same thing, if they had the time/money?
@kev1nccho1@xanga - Yeah, actually one of my co-workers (who makes a good chunk of change) just has no real interest in food. He is content eating chicken every single day and doesn't care to try new things and he doesn't get excited about food like I do.
@kev1nccho1@xanga - I'm just saying not everyone is a foodie. Some people get excited over food, some don't care and can't understand why others enjoy it as much as they do.
I think "foodies" and "non-foodies" can have happy relationships. I think the main difference between the two, is the desire to seek out quality and variety. Some people can eat any old chocolate chip cookie, but a foodie would want one made with butter and quality chocolate chunks rather than margarine and chocolate "flavored" candy bits.
:( omg that's the problem I have when it comes to dating. I personally looove food, all kinds of food, at any time of the day, and I loooove being around fellow foodies (all my good friends loove food), but my boyfriend of 2.5 years has like no sense of attachment to food. He eats whenever necessary and only binges on McDonald's and 7-11. It's so difficult to get him to try new restaurants with me but I guess he makes his compromises too- eating the stuff I don' like and paying for overly extravagant dinners.
@kev1nccho1@xanga - I agree with Stephanie. I also know someone who is making quite a bit of money who has no interest in eating whatsoever. He eats just because he needs to live, but he is as thin as a rail and doesn't actually enjoy eating.
I have this problem with my dad, actually. He absolutely hates spices, herbs, trying new things, eating things other other steak-chicken-potatoes-applesauce, etc, while my mom and I are much more adventurous eaters. I've tried compromising and making toned down new versions of meals at home just to try to branch out his palate a bit, but it's a never ending struggle. Number one reason why I get extremely frustrated when visiting them.
I am a much more adventurous eater than my boyfriend, but if the person who is less experienced has an open mind and is willing to try new things, it can work out fine. For example, my boyfriend used to claim he detested mushrooms, but he will actually eat them in certain dishes now, like my bacon and mushroom risotto. He doesn't particularly like fish, but he will eat it on occasion, or at least try it, if that's what I want to make (I would only make him try it if it was something like a stew or casserole, otherwise I'd just cook him a chicken filet and have fish myself), and he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy but will tolerate a vegetarian meal every so often. He is sometimes fussy about familiar foods used in new and different ways, but he usually gets used to it.
People who are picky and refuse to try new things when it comes to food drive me up a wall. I have two friends that are like that, and when we go out to eat everything is an argument, since they only want to eat at diners or fast food restaurants. I honestly don't know if I would enjoy dating someone who was that close minded about food. I do most of the cooking, and it would bore me to death to have to cook the same basic, bland foods day after day - I like a challenge and a little creativity when I cook. :)
I tried to date a non-foodie and it was boring...
He was one of those that only eats certain foods and doesn't have or want much variety, he didn't like to TALK about the food we were currently eating (while I love to do this) and he chuckled every time I took a photo.
It didn't work out.
My boyfriend is a bit like that. I love spicy food, he can't take the smallest hint of spiciness; I like fish and shellfish, he despises them; he likes his meats, steak, I like 80%veg 20%meat and he thinks I'm a weirdo. He's also someone who eats pretty much the same thing, toasties for breakfast, greek spinach pie/ or a sub for lunch, and steak/ schnitzel/ pasta for dinner.. He's willing to try new things, (when I make him tehehe) and when he doesn't have to cook (ie. me cooking)
But we get on well, compromise, when he cooks he always add a veg, or make a greek salad; when I cook, I try to 'sneak' in as much veggie as possible with chunks of meat.. (I grate carrot really fine and then chop it up more and add it to pasta sauces/ soups, he hates it but can't tell =P) He does sometimes ask "where's the meat?" lol.. but we get along ok.. I still have my spicy foods and fish, just when I'm alone, or add the spices he doesn't like as much to my portion after cooking.
We don't live together though, so it could be more difficult for those who DO live together but for me, it does work..
I think as a non-foodie, non-foodies might be able to get along with foodies but not sure about the other way around.
i think it would a challenge for me to be with somebody that eats unhealthy junk food all the time. i have done that in my life, but now am ready to make nutritious natural food a lifestyle .. for life! there are so many healthy recipes and a variety of healthy foods out there and it would be awesome to be in a relationship with somebody that is passionate about whole natural foods. im vegetarian (mostly vegan) and that would be a plus but not necessary. i would want my future children to be raised vegan or vegetarian though, and if someday they made the choice to eat meat, that would be their choice, but at least i would start them off in life with (my idea) of healthy clean eating habits and then they could decide from there...
I wouldn't necessarily label myself a foodie, but with my last boyfriend, whenever I ate something I'd say what was so good about it and he'd look at me as if I had some problem. I think he secretly had no taste buds. I mean, he couldn't smell.
@colormysky27@xanga - That's how my bf is. He has limited sense of taste and smell from using Zicam swabs before they were pulled from the market. :(
@kev1nccho1@xanga - I thought this too about everyone loving food. But its not the case. My bf dislikes eating and is indifferent to food...also pickiest eater in universe.
We work out though, he eats what he wants and I try new things. Its really no biggie in our relationship.
its not that I don't like trying new food, its that my stomach usually rejects it... haha but I wouldn't mind trying new things, as long as its not too spicy!
Technically, being a "foodie"falls under a character trait category. Let's say I got angry easily. Would I get along with my partner in a relationship if he was easily angered also?
It all really depends.
So sure, compromise is the answer to this whole post.
it drives me crazy, I can't be with people who aren't open to it at least
Relationships are about compromise. With everything. Why should food be any different?
I have this problem throughout my family. With the exception of my mother, me, and two cousins, everyone else in my family really doesn't like trying new foods. If it isn't South Asian, Chinese, or normal American, they just won't really have it, and everyone from amongst them can afford to eat out quite a bit to get their tastebuds a kick of some new cuisine. Yes, foodies and non-foodies can have successful relationships, but foodies should make sure they have foodie friends that they can sate their need for culinary adventures with.
Lol this is me and a guy I'm seeing right now. He loves food, he's not a foodie in the way that he has to meet the chef at every restaurant and has to learn how to cook things, but this guy loves food. We always go to nice places and he always knows what to order, no matter which city it is! But I'm always on a diet! I always order a salad. It doesn't seem to bother him though. But now after reading this post I'm worried it does. Ugh lol.
My husband and I are major foodies. There are certain foods he loves that I can't tolerate (my stomach rejects them, mostly), but we both love to cook and try new things. Food is so amazing.