Am I the Asshole for telling my girlfriend I don’t like her cultural food?

Am I the Asshole for telling my girlfriend I don’t like her cultural food?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re served food you don’t like at your partner’s house? A situation where your taste bud barely meets up with your partner’s cultural heritage? It’s normal to feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place in those situations. You don’t want to come off as disrespectful, but you also don’t want to suffer in silence.

Every culture has dietary practices peculiar to them, and getting to know your partner’s food culture is an important aspect of understanding and appreciating their background. While some people acclimatize to such foods with ease, others don’t get accustomed to them easily. If you happen to fall among the latter group, there are better ways to express your feelings to your partner other than outrightly saying you don’t like their food.

Why you shouldn’t tell your girlfriend you don’t like her cultural food

Telling your partner that you don’t like their food can be a significant source of offense and could lead to an argument. Criticizing your partner’s cuisine can be perceived as disrespectful, and it could have damaging implications for your relationship. No matter how good your intentions are, telling your partner that you don’t like their food can come across like you’re rejecting their cultural heritage and subconsciously creating a divide.

Apart from the emotional impact your words may have, cultural food is also sentimental. Many people associate specific foods with fond memories and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Your girlfriend’s favourite cultural food that you don’t fancy may hold a sacred place in her heart.

What to do instead of criticizing your girlfriend’s food

Now that criticizing your girlfriend’s food is out of the window, what should you do instead? One thing you could do to ease the situation is to be diplomatic about it. Rather than outrightly criticising the food, express your thoughts gently. You could say something like, “I’m not used to these flavours.” or “this is new to me.  It’s different from what I’m used to, but I’m willing to try anything.”

You could also try cooking together. Instead of outrightly rejecting the food, try cooking the dish yourself or asking to be taught the recipe. You could even introduce your partner to your native dishes, and this could create a balance that would strengthen your relationship.

The bottom line

Food transcends what’s on the plate. It’s a reflection of one’s culture, heritage, and traditions. Criticizing your partner’s cultural food can be offensive, and it may lead to an argument or put a dent in your relationship. Instead of criticising your girlfriend’s food, try being diplomatic about it, and if that doesn’t work, try cooking together. Ultimately, a relationship should be about acceptance and trying new things with your partner.

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