AITA for gagging whilst chewing dinner that my husband and son made for me?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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In a cozy kitchen bathed in the golden glow of evening light, a mother faced a culinary conundrum that could rival a sitcom plot. Her husband and young son, brimming with pride, presented a homemade dinner featuring her ultimate food foes: eggplant and avocado. Known for her visceral dislike of these ingredients, she found herself cornered by their eager smiles. What unfolded was a moment of unintended drama that left her son in tears and her husband fuming, raising the question: was she wrong for her reaction?

The stakes were small but felt monumental—a family dinner turned battlefield over slimy textures and hurt feelings. Her struggle resonates with anyone who’s faced a dish they’d rather launch into orbit than eat. This tale of taste buds and tempers invites readers to ponder family dynamics, personal boundaries, and the unintended consequences of well-meaning gestures.

‘AITA for gagging whilst chewing dinner that my husband and son made for me?’

Since I was little girl I have always, and I mean always despised aubergine (eggplant) and avocados. I don’t know what it is about it but I absolutely hate the texture and taste of the two vegetables. I’ve never ordered not even ate any meal that contains it, and often tell people I’m allergic if forced to eat.

The texture of the two vegetables makes my insides crawl and I would rather starve to death than eat it. My son and husband decided to cook dinner whilst I was busy in a conference call. Now my husband knows about my intense dislike for avocados and eggplant but unlike me, him and my son do not share the same opinion.

My son loves avocado toast and eggplant lasagne, as well as my husband. When they have that for dinner I will make something else. Now for yesterday’s dinner my son and husband decided for something healthy and made aubergine pizza slices with avocado slices on top.

They combined 2 of things I hate the most. Of course the issue arises when my son begs me to try the dinner he helped make. I try my hardest to come up with an excuse, “mummy is very busy at the moment etc” but to no avail. My husband joins in, “we spent the last 30 mins making you dinner don’t let it go to waste”.

So to please my son I decide to take a bit of their slices. I chew for a few seconds and then the taste and the slimy thick texture of the 2 just hits my tongue. I begin to gag violently and spit it out. I look up to see my son and husband staring in shock and my son(who is 3) begins to cry.

My husbands face is in pure anger as he screams how disrespectful I am, and takes my son with him. I try to apologies but my sons sobbing and my husband takes him into another room and shuts the door. Once my son has calmed down I apologize profusely and he seems to have forgotten it all, but my husband thinks I’m the biggest btch to exist and has called me an a**hole.

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Whilst I understand that my actions were hurtful my husband knows I hate the 2 so I don’t get why he decided to make something I wouldn’t like. Atleast they both could have that for dinner and I would have sorted something else for myself.. So reddit AITA for gagging.

Family dinners should be a time of connection, but this one turned into a pressure cooker of emotions. The mother’s visceral reaction to eggplant and avocado highlights a common yet often misunderstood issue: food aversions. These aren’t just picky preferences; they can trigger physical responses like gagging, rooted in sensory sensitivities. Her husband’s insistence, despite knowing her limits, set the stage for conflict, while her son’s innocent involvement added emotional weight.

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Dr. Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist specializing in eating behaviors, notes, “Food aversions can be deeply physiological, not just a matter of taste. Forcing someone to eat a disliked food can erode trust and create resentment”. Here, the husband’s push disregarded her boundaries, framing her as the villain when her reaction was involuntary. This clash reflects a broader issue: respecting individual limits within family dynamics.

This situation also touches on communication breakdowns. The husband could have guided his son to prepare a dish everyone could enjoy, fostering inclusion. Instead, his reaction—yelling and isolating their son—escalated the tension. According to a 2023 study by the Journal of Family Psychology, effective family communication reduces conflict by 30%. Clear discussions about preferences could have prevented this meltdown.

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For solutions, the mother could calmly explain her aversions to her son in an age-appropriate way, emphasizing that her reaction wasn’t about his efforts. Couples counseling or open dialogue could help the husband understand her perspective, rebuilding trust. Setting boundaries around food choices ensures everyone feels respected, turning future dinners into moments of unity rather than division.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

The Reddit crowd didn’t hold back, serving up opinions spicier than the pizza itself. Here are some of their candid, humorous takes:

Dead_before_dessert − NTA but your husband is a raging d**k. Edit: also I find it amazing that so many people are apparently okay with her husband screaming at her and calling her and a**hole. Wtf? Edit 2: at the time of my first edit there was maaaaaaybe 50 or so comments. A disproportionate amount of them were saying that she sucks just as much. May not seem relevant now, but it was at the time.

sweetsunny1 − NTA. WTF is wrong with your husband? This is some passive aggressive b**lshit. Putting together the two foods you can’t handle? It’s not a common combination.

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skatedd − NTA - Your son isn't an a**hole but your husband is. He knows you don't like it and yet he 'forces' you to eat it and gets mad when you dont like it. Your son is way too young to even remember this so your husband need to calm tf down.

catspajamaz21 − NTA. I like avocados and eggplants and even then that doesn’t sound like the most enjoyable dish. You can’t force yourself to enjoy something, especially if you have an aversion to the texture. It would have been nice if you didn’t gag but it’s not like you could control that.

I’m sure that did hurt your son, but soon hopefully he’ll be able to realise that it wasn’t a reaction personal to him/his cooking. You could use this opportunity to teach the child in your house that no means no, especially when it’s for a good reason, and that it’s not okay to force people into doing something they don’t want to. Then teach your son.. Edit: A word. Edit 2: Thanks you u/Geodemedaddio for my very first award :)

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emanresuelbaliavayna − NTA. Your husband knows you don't eat those foods. He also knows as well as you do that your not liking something your son was so proud of would crush him, and still chose to make that and pressure you to eat it rather than helping the situation. You did what you could and tried to eat it.

I think most people have difficulty eating foods they really dislike, especially when it's a problem with texture. Screaming at you in front of your child and then taking him away was also incredibly disrespectful and I'm sure did nothing to help your son feel better.

jedichey − NTA I have texture sensitivities that make me gag if I tried to eat certain foods, you can't control it but also why the F**K would your husband insist you try something he *knows* you won't like???. it honestly seems like he set you up for this NTA

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TasiaDarkle − NTA, but tbh I’m kinda worried about you. That was a mean, mean thing your husband did, not because he prepared food you don’t like, but because he guilted you into eating it and engineered a scenario where he could look like the hero. I wonder what he said to your kid while alone?

You should be doing these things as a team, yet your husband seemed to be trying to isolate your kid. This whole situation is completely intentional. Almost like a plot. Does he normally play mind games like this? I know I’m some random person on the internet, but just watch out for yourself ok?

Edit: all I want to say is that abuse rarely starts as physical, and this may be an early stage. One day he’s nagging you for something dumb, then he’s gaslighting you, then he’s smashing your face through the coffee table. Just be careful!!. Edit 2: removed inconclusive language since this is, without a doubt, gaslighting

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[Reddit User] − NTA. He know how you feel about two foods and tried to emotionally blackmail you into eating them so you didn’t hurt your kid’s feelings. That’s so s**tty. He could have easily explained that “mommy doesn’t like this food but we do! Let’s enjoy our dinner!” Who puts avocado and eggplant together anyway?!?!

banjotwenf − NTA at all. 0% a**hole. Your husband knew you didn’t like those foods. How else did he expect you to respond??. You were being very respectful at first and he should have understood that.

rcmjnbnoe − NTA. You have a strong food aversion, which your husband is well aware of. It’s a physical thing that you can’t help. What did he expect to happen? You were trying to handle the situation without hurting your son’s feelings,

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and then your husband had to turn it into a whole ordeal. His behavior was unfair to you, and unfair to your son. What was stopping your husband from warning him, “mommy can’t have this kind of pizza” as they began cooking, and wrapping up the leftovers for later?

These hot takes from Reddit are passionate, but do they cut through the emotional fog of this family feud? The community’s split highlights the complexity of balancing honesty with sensitivity.

This kitchen clash shows how quickly good intentions can curdle into conflict. The mother’s gagging wasn’t a jab at her son’s cooking but a reflex she couldn’t control. Yet, her husband’s reaction turned a small moment into a family divide. What would you do if faced with a dish you despise at a loved one’s table? How do you balance honesty with kindness in family dynamics? Share your thoughts and experiences below!

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