AITA if my boyfriend made a meal and asked me how it was and I said “fine”?

Venus Hours
Comments 0 Comments

Picture a cozy dinner table, chicken sizzling and salad crisp, where a boyfriend’s eager “How’s it taste?” gets a casual “Fine.” Sounds harmless, right? Not for this couple, where one word turned a simple meal into a recipe for hurt feelings. She thought she was just being honest, but he felt like his culinary efforts got tossed in the trash. It’s a classic case of love served with a side of misunderstanding.

For her, food’s just food—no need for poetry. But for him, every bite’s a chance for applause, a tradition from his chatty family table. When she stuck to her straight-talking roots, he stormed off to eat solo, leaving Reddit to taste-test their spat. Was “fine” a fair review, or did she dish out a low blow? Let’s dig into this savory saga and find out.

‘AITA if my boyfriend made a meal and asked me how it was and I said “fine”?’

So my boyfriend made chicken b**ast with some white rice, a salad with garlic and we had some pickles and beetroot on the side (from jars) and we sit down and he says: how is it? And I said fine, there's nothing special, everything tastes as it should.

And he got upset and said he added extra garlic in the lettuce and soy sauce on the b**ast ( we both said we couldn't taste that) and I said I am not used to making comments about food like he is in his family. When we eat with his mother everyone has to say something along the lines of

And in my family we probably find that behaviour a bit fake. We just sit down and talk about other things and if there was something new in the food then that would be a normal question to ask how it was... So he got really upset because I should've just said, it's great or it's good instead of a normal and not very enthusiastic..

And he proceeded to pick his plate up and left to eat in the office. I don't feel like partaking in a family tradition I don't feel is natural... I feel like I am forced to say something I don't care about it or don't believe in.. it's chicken b**ast and white rice... I mean, AITA for not making a bigger deal out of a simple meal? Is he overreacting or should I just be fake and oblige and say

A single word—“fine”—turned a cozy dinner into a cold shoulder, showing how fast love can simmer over small stuff. This couple’s clash isn’t just about chicken; it’s about clashing love languages and family quirks. Let’s chew on it.

She’s from a no-fuss family where meals spark talk about life, not flavors. He’s raised on praise, where every dish gets a cheer. Her “fine” felt like a shrug to him, deflating his effort, while she saw his sulk as over-the-top. Both meant no harm, but their wires crossed—her honesty stung, his exit felt like a tantrum.

This ties to a bigger dish: communication styles in relationships. A 2022 Psychology Today article notes 70% of couples struggle when partners value different forms of affection. Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, says, “Acts of service, like cooking, often seek words of affirmation in return”. Her bluntness missed his need for a verbal hug; his reaction skipped her need for real talk. Chapman’s lens shows they’re speaking past each other.

They could bridge it with a chat—maybe she tries a “Thanks, it’s good” next time, and he eases up on expecting a foodie TED Talk. A little give-and-take could season their bond. Readers, ever tripped over a partner’s pet peeve? How do you spice up your talks? Share below (Psychology Today on communication).

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Reddit sank its teeth into this dinner drama, serving up takes hotter than a fresh-baked casserole. From calling her tone-deaf to eyeing his sulk as extra, it’s a buffet of opinions that’s anything but bland. Here’s what hit the table:

FlyingSpaghettiFell − Ok… let’s break this down differently. I will be making some assumptions because there isn’t a ton of context.. - boyfriend goes out of his way and makes a nice dinner. - acts excited about doing something nice. - gf acts like not only is it not special but that it isn’t very good.

- bf feels embarrassed and deflated— acts hurt. - gf thinks it is dumb to treat people nicely when they do something nice. Either this isn’t a match that you understand each other .. at all… or you need to be nicer… or both. YTA

Puzzleheaded_Rule134 − He and his family are used to words of affirmation as ways to show love. You don’t have to use flowery language but you could have said it’s good babe, thanks for making dinner. What you said was a deliberate snub and that’s why YTA.

yoyomaappa − YTA. . You: Honey, how do I look?. Him: Fine. . That's what you did and you know it. 

Guadaloopey − I am curious if there is a cultural difference between you two?

certified-cynic − YTA. if someone makes you food and then asks you about their food, the first thing out of your mouth should be a compliment. even a small one like 'its nice'. constructive criticisms can be given after that.

this is some basic rules of living in a relationship, family, society which has nothing to do with your family or how you were raised. this is just politeness towards someone you love and live with. these are some small things that make a lot of difference

BuilderWide1961 − YTA. Just say it’s good… or thanks for cooking . You can give a small compliment . What you said was actually negative and a snub 

WindyMint443 − *sigh* I am reluctantly giving YTA, though it's a mild one because I really feel more on your side here. I would strongly suggest you say

If you are appreciating the meal enough to happily eat it, say it's good. Someone else went to the effort of cooking, you didn't have to, make a gesture of appreciation. That said, here's where I feel like I relate. My former partner loved to cook, to fiddle with flavors, etc. It was important to him.

Me, I don't like to cook, I don't find enjoyment out of talking about food nuances, I hardly ever notice them. I found it a strain to discuss a meal. I didn't have anything to contribute and it felt stupid to gush about it. But I still didn't even say

(One issue we did have was our wildly different sense of spice, so he wouldn't see something as

You might want to talk about your differences approaching food. If he's asking for specific feedback, that can be hard to do and you might want to put it out there that you struggle with that and it's not something that comes naturally to you. But still show appreciation for the fact that he made a meal.

HorseFeathersFur − Did you even thank him?

Ok_Aioli3897 − YTA you even come off condescending in the way you write. Why does it matter that things were out of jars etc. if someone puts effort to Cook for you they deserve some sort of gratitude

ravenofmyheart − YTA,

These Redditors are cooking with gas—some roast her for snubbing his effort, others nod at her keep-it-real vibe. But is it just a culture clash, or a sign of deeper tastes not mixing? The thread’s a lively potluck, stirring laughs and lessons alike. What’s your bite—did she undersell the meal, or is he craving too much hype? Dish it below!

This “fine” fiasco proves even a plain meal can stir a spicy row. Was she too curt, or was he fishing for too much praise? Reddit’s got a fork in both sides—some see a girlfriend needing softer words, others a boyfriend needing thicker skin. Truth’s likely a blend: love’s sweeter when you meet halfway. What would you say if your partner’s dinner needed a review? Toss your thoughts below—let’s keep this kitchen chat sizzling!

Share this post

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *