Their Date Nights Were Ruined by Her Expensive Dinner Orders, But When He Handed Her a Kid’s Menu, He Pushed Their Marriage to the Brink.

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In a delicate dance of culinary conflicts, the Original Poster (OP) grapples with his wife’s peculiar yet wasteful dining habits. Despite tolerating her tastes at home, dining out escalates the issue, culminating in a public standoff at a wing joint. The OP’s firm stance on ordering from the kid’s menu or sharing a dish ignites a silent feud, leaving their relationship at a dangerous crossroads.

Small Portions

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OP’s wife has peculiar eating habits. She isn’t a big eater but enjoys having various foods in small quantities. This doesn’t pose much of an issue at home, but when dining out, it becomes problematic.

A Little Of Everything

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While dining out, OP’s wife tends to order various dishes at the same time to maximize her options. She pays little regard to the cost and only eats a few bites from each dish, leaving most of her order untouched.

The Budget

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OP is a frugal man and maintains the family budget. On the other hand, his wife has no regard for financial restrictions and does not consider costs when making daily decisions. OP finds he often has to redirect her to keep them on track to meet their monetary goals.

A Lot of Wasted Food

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OP’s wife doesn’t eat leftovers, as a rule, leading to unnecessary food wastage. This annoys OP, who often finds himself finishing her orders, even though he doesn’t like most of her choices, to prevent waste.

Excessive Ordering

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The situation comes to a head when OP and his wife go out on a date to an up-scale steak and seafood restaurant to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. OP has been dreaming of a rare filet mignon all week with all the trimmings.

The Controversial Order

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OP’s wife orders an appetizer and a full rack of ribs, even though a half rack was an option. She eats barely a fifth of each. OP, anticipating finishing her food, orders a salad instead of his dream filet. He attempts to finish her food but finds it distasteful due to her choice of sauces.

The Suggestion

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Fed up with the recurring issue, OP confronts his wife about her eating habits and waste. He proposes that she either orders from the kid’s menu or agrees to share a dish they both enjoy. However, she dismisses his concerns, not believing he’s serious.

The Wing Joint Showdown

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Later, dinner at a restaurant specializing in buffalo wings becomes the scene of their next conflict. OP requests a kid’s menu, confusing his wife. The situation escalates when he explains she needs to order from it or share a meal with him.

The Condescending Recommendation

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OP’s wife reacts poorly to the choice he offers. She accuses him of insulting and belittling her, losing her appetite in the process. The heated discussion moves to the parking lot, culminating in her leaving alone in an Uber.

The Angry In-Law

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OP’s wife continues to give him the silent treatment after their fight. The next morning, he receives an angry call from her father, who berates him for his actions during the previous night’s dinner.

Second Thoughts

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Following the fallout from the argument and the wife’s father’s call, OP questions his approach. He is uncertain if he was too harsh or should have handled things differently. He loves his wife and hopes to find a solution quickly.

A Thoughtful Compromise

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After a long discussion, the couple comes up with a potential solution: to try restaurants with tapas-style servings or shareable meals, allowing for variety without excessive waste. They research a few and set up date nights to try them.

A Restaurant Resolution

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The new plan is put into action. While not perfect, this solution offers a way to respect both their food preferences and their budget, providing a hopeful end to the story despite the underlying issues that remain to be addressed.

Was The Husband’s Behavior Appropriate?

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OP posts his story online for feedback. The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “Look for buffets. I’m the same way. I love variety but don’t eat much. I always get a salad that has a little of everything or go to a buffet.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote, “Wasting food like that is a serious peeve for me, but I think the execution of your frustration could have been better.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person stated, “I’d suggest apologizing for embarrassing her with the kid’s menu – that was condescending. Tell her it probably makes the most sense if you each paid for your individual meals in the future.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another reader commented, “Being greedy and wasting food are not excuses, and if she continues to want to order more food that she’s not eating, I would insist that she pays for it herself.”