Girlfriend won't let picky eater boyfriend join her on vacation since he will only eat chicken fingers and grilled cheese, constantly complains: 'I just don't want to hear about it while I'm on vacation'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 8, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Odds are you have at least one picky eater in your life. It's hard to go through this world without knowing one or two. Most of them come by it honestly, they just can't help what they don't like. But most of the picky eaters I know manage to keep it from being everyone else's business. They handle their own food needs and they don't yuck anyone else's yum. 

Even so, it can be hard to go through life with a picky eater if you're someone who loves food. If you're a food lover (like me), chances are food is a big part of your life. You love exploring new restaurants, new cuisines, new recipes, and new places. You are delighted to share a food experience with someone, and it's a big way to bond with others. If you're, let's say dating someone with really restrictive food preferences, it might take some of the joy out of these experiences. 

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  • 01

    AITA for not letting my boyfriend come on vacation with me because he's a picky eater?

    My boyfriend has tons a food restrictions and is picky in general. He basically can only eat chicken fingers, grilled cheese, Mac and cheese, and pad Thai. Ive never seen him eat a
    via u/makeme_f4f_pdx
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    Cheezburger Image 10502769664
    via Marco Vitiello

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's the situation one woman found herself in when she entered a new relationship. While everything else was going well, she wasn't sure if she could handle his picky eating. It came to a head when she was about to go on vacation and thought about what it would mean for them. Read on for the story and see what you think.

  • 03
    vegetable. We just started dating a few months ago and I love him, but I eat everything and am very laid back. I know I will have to plan my entire day around finding food he can eat, on top of listening to him complain that
    via u/makeme_f4f_pdx
  • 04
    things aren't the same. Even if a restaurant does have chicken fingers or Mac and cheese, it won't be the same as what we get at home and I just dont want to hear about it while Im on vacation. AITA? I feel bad.
    via u/makeme_f4f_pdx
  • 05

    Some commenters came to her defense.

    Savvy-Snail4112 • 4h ago NTA.. told myself NEVER again with the picky eaters after dating a chicken finger man lol somehow it will always be you who is expected to plan the meals too I understand not liking some things but unless this is medical/allergies there's a point where this is just stuck up and annoying as a fully grown man.
    via u/Savvy-Snail4112
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    makeme_f4f_pdx OP • 4h ago Imao honestly, the level of irritation I am experiencing when people on here suggest I should just let him come and listen to his complaints are really making me realize I need to end things. Im not that bothered by it now but low key, I think I would be embarrassed if other people knew he could only eat chicky fingies and choky milk and the thought of taking him to an event or a dinner with friends/family and having him eat like a toddler makes me already experience s
    via u/makeme_f4f_pdx
  • 07
    Tiny_ghosts_ • 4h ago If he was willing to try to change his habits, or didn't complain about it all the time (making it your problem) would be different. But if he just expects you do deal with it then I wouldn't be able to put up with him myself. Think of all the important events that involve food e.g family gatherings, Christmas, weddings. Is he gonna sit there and complain about the food options? Id be so embarrassed, unless it was because he has a medical condition. Also is he like this abo
    via u/Tiny_ghosts_
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    Crazyandiloveit 4h ago I totally agree. If he's be self-sufficient I wouldn't care about what he eats or doesn't eat (or what other people think about it. If other people are that judgy that they take notice or offence I wouldn't want them as friends anyway).
    via u/Crazyandiloveit
  • 09
    But he needs to find food options himself without complaining or expecting other people to do it for him like he's a child. He could even bring his own food (not to a restaurant obviously) or get something at a supermarket. Maybe skip dinner with OP because sitting there with just a coke watching her eat will be awkward.
    via u/Crazyandiloveit
  • 10
    On the other hand you'll never have a nice dinner date with him ever. If that's something you like maybe it's just not a good compatibility even if he'd start doing all the other things. (I personally hate eating out most times and are not very exited most other times about it, I wouldn't care about that. But if it's something you like as a couple self-care thing than that'll possibly grow resentment one day).
    via u/Crazyandiloveit
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    Cheezburger Image 10502769920
    via Aleksandar Andreev

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 12
    WestCovina12345h ago "He basically can only eat chicken fingers, grilled cheese, Mac and cheese, and pad Thai." He *can* only eat those things or he will only eat those things? I have a friend with an unusual disease such that she literally can only eat three
    via u/WestCovina1234
  • 13
    things, but that's a fair cry from being a super picky eater who *will* only eat a few things. Assuming from your description that this is a pickiness issue, not a health issue, I wouldn't take him with me either. He would definitely bring down your enjoyment in the trip. NTA.
    via u/WestCovina1234
  • 14
    makeme_f4f_pdx OP. 5h ago He says he was never fed other things growing up and now he cant stand the taste of regular food. He really only like processed food.
    via u/makeme_f4f_pdx
  • 15
    BobR969 4h ago Doesn't say how old you guys are, but you will both need to have a serious chat about this at some point. I'm not going to do the classic Reddit and tell you to break up, but there might come a time the guy will need to buckle up and address his eating habits. I'm assuming you'll want to travel with him at some point. Or go out for a nice meal on an anniversary or whatever. Or, you know, eat something that isn't processed and terrible. H I, it will definitely have long lasting imp
    via u/BobR969
  • 16
    Thing I'm saying is - NTA for going on your own, but maybe when you're back, it's something worth talking about and seeing if he's open to fixing it. Being a picky eater because "I've only ever eaten this" is sorta a poor excuse. He'd have some leeway if it was allergies or neurodivergence, but simply not wanting to move outside his comfort zone... No...
    via u/BobR969
  • 17
    Chance-Animal1856 • 4h ago you just started dating him...... but you love him. you just started dating him...... and think maybe he should go on your vacation? slow down just a bit maybe? doesn't sounds like you're even sure yet you like him
    via u/Chance-Animal1856
  • 18
    fsuman110 · 4h ago Info. Does he even want to go? Have you told him the reason why you don't want him to go? If so, how'd he react? Does your boyfriend acknowledge his childish eating habits and would he be adult enough to know better than to constantly complain while abroad if you talked to him about it beforehand?
    via u/fsuman110
  • 19
    As an anecdote, I live in Japan and had a friend and her boyfriend come visit me. My friend's boyfriend was also a very picky eater was insufferable during their visit and essentially ruined the trip for my friend. He couldn't even eat yakisoba because it had bits of
    via u/fsuman110
  • 20
    cooked cabbage in it, so they ended up going to KFC, McDonald's and Mister Donuts every single day they were here. No sushi, no okonomiyaki, no curry, no ramen, no tonkatsu. Can you imagine coming all the way to Japan and not being able to enjoy that stuff. My friend Jp ed and was so they ended up breaking up shortly after they got back to the U.S.
    via u/fsuman110
  • 21
    Lost_Needleworke... 5h ago You shouldn't be dating him if his diet is a problem for you.
    via u/Lost_Needleworker285
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    Fragrant-Sail-6002 4h ago • Oof yeah that's a no from me. I travel a lot and I could never date a picky eater. As someone who's been to Turkey twice, I can guarantee that they don't have grilled cheese. You're right about wasting time finding food for him even though it sounds like a preference, not a real dietary restrictions.
    via u/Fragrant-Sail-6002
  • 23
    And this might just be me..... But if I were to take partner to Italy and they ordered just a plain cheese pizza, or to Thailand and they ordered buttered noodles, or to Spain and they ordered white rice... I would be humiliated to be seen as "ugly Americans" who don't appreciate culture. Food is culture. If this is an issue, this isn't the relationship for you.
    via u/Fragrant-Sail-6002
  • 24
    My partner had not traveled internationally and had a relatively simple diet when we met. But he was super open to trying new foods. and ended up liking most of them. We traveled to Portugal and got a tasting menu that included Sardine Flan... Not only did we both try it, we both LOVED it.
    via u/Fragrant-Sail-6002
  • 25
    If you stay with him, you'll never try a tasting menu with him for the rest of your life. And no vegetables? Immiturity like that gives me the ick. Live your life girl. Be free. Don't be burdened by his bulls.
    via u/Fragrant-Sail-6002
  • 26
    Queasy-Ad4289.4h ago Info: Does he expect you to plan everything around him? My brother is a very picky eater but he never makes it anyone elses problem. He will accompany people to restaurants where he can't eat anything, and just get his own food at a supermarket later. It's not that hard to find a few basic food items, even in a different country.
    via u/Queasy-Ad4289
  • 27
    Sudden-Draft-887 4h ago NAH. His preferences are very limiting and you are not his parent. These aren't allergies or digestion-altering sensitivities, it's a restrictive diet based on food he knows he enjoys and it sounds like he's not interested in trying new things.
    via u/Sudden-Draft-887
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    But you may want to consider the future of the relationship unless he can manage his diet without whining. It's likely not just during the vacation that it will annoy you. Enjoy your holiday though, it sounds amazing
    via u/Sudden-Draft-887
  • 29
    Big-Okie 4h ago • Aint gonna lie, the pad Thai was definitely a surprise. Kinda like saying, "My three favorite sports are American football, rugby, and rhythmic dance." Not that there's anything wrong with dance, it would be an interesting "outlier".
    via u/Big-Okie
  • 30
    EDIT: I am breaking up with him. After seeing a glimpse into my future via your responses, I realized I cannot do this and it will eventually wreck us. Thank you.
    via u/makeme_f4f_pdx

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boyfriend long term relationship relationship advice aita relationship relationship status the ick relationship-drama reddit story relationships story picky food reddit thread Reddit picky eater healthy relationship
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