Man's Mother-in-Law Throws Away Food He Cooks Based on Late Wife's Recipes for 'Picky Eater' Daughter

After his wife's death, a widower lovingly recreated her recipes to please their picky-eater daughter. However, when his mother-in-law stepped in to help while he worked, a shocking discovery unfolded: his daughter had been surviving on snacks alone. What drove his mother-in-law to reject his carefully crafted meals and impose her own?

In June 2021, an anonymous male took to Reddit's "AITA" forum to share his story. His narrative began with the backdrop of being a widower with a six-year-old daughter who was already a "picky eater"—a trait that had intensified following her mother's passing. His daughter had cherished her late mom's culinary creations and adamantly refused to partake in any dish not prepared by her.

Determined to provide a sense of continuity and comfort, the widower embarked on a culinary journey to recreate his late wife's beloved recipes. Remarkably, his daughter embraced his version of her mother's dishes with open arms, finding solace in the familiar flavors.

A Startling Discovery

However, a twist in the tale emerged when the widower started a new job, necessitating childcare assistance. Enter his mother-in-law, who agreed to watch over his daughter three days a week. With his sister's support, the original poster continued to prepare meals for his daughter to take with her to her grandparents' house—a measure aimed at alleviating his MIL's concerns about catering to the child's selective palate.

Despite their appeals, OP remained resolute in his decision, skeptical of their intentions.

Tensions began to simmer when the mother-in-law expressed dissatisfaction with the meals he provided, insisting that his daughter needed encouragement to broaden her culinary horizons. The widower had already attempted to explain his daughter's food preferences and his ongoing efforts to introduce new dishes into her diet. Then, a startling discovery sent shockwaves through the family.

The widower learned that his daughter had been surviving on snacks alone during her visits to her grandparents. "I asked about the meals I send with [my daughter] and she said her grandma would take them from her hand once I leave, throw them in the trashcan then tell her to eat dishes she makes," explained the single father. However, the daughter steadfastly refused to comply, leading to a concerning diet of snacks.

Outraged, the widower confronted his MIL, demanding answers. She justified her actions by asserting that she disagreed with his approach of sending meals with the child. She believed her granddaughter should consume her cooking and expressed frustration at her refusal to do so.

Moreover, the man's mother-in-law accused him of spoiling the child and criticized his parenting skills, all while dismissing the significance of his efforts to prepare his late wife's recipes.

Ultimately, OP decided to terminate his mother-in-law's role in caring for his daughter and turned to his sister for assistance. His father-in-law and sister-in-law, however, criticized his decision, labeling him as cruel for denying them access to their granddaughter. They promised to persuade his MIL to allow the child to eat as she wished during visits. Despite their appeals, OP remained resolute in his decision, skeptical of their intentions.

In one of his comments, OP explained how his in-laws blamed him for his daughter's behavior, claiming he was the reason she refused to eat anything her grandma cooked and also held him responsible for her reliance on snacks during their visits.

Despite providing snacks themselves, they argued it was to prevent her from going hungry. The mother-in-law insisted that the man was mishandling everything, leading to such consequences due to his poor parenting.

What Do Redditors Say?

The widower's story struck a chord with many netizens, the majority of whom deemed him "NTA." A user commended OP's dedication to learning his late wife's recipes and empathized with his daughter's loss.

They criticized the mother-in-law's insensitivity and wastefulness, emphasizing the daughter's nutritional needs. Moreover, they suggested a gradual approach to introducing new foods. In response, the widower thanked the user and agreed with their perspective. He expressed disappointment in the MIL's actions and her lack of respect.

A second commenter supported the widower and stressed that picky eating should not lead to a child going hungry. A third user emphasized the potential for disordered eating and control issues in forcing a child to eat against their will.

A fourth Redditor highlighted the enduring connection between the widower, his daughter, and his late wife through food. They criticized the in-laws' behavior, concluding that OP was not in the wrong.

Sharing a personal experience, another commenter supported the widower's stance and affirmed his decision to protect his daughter. They also stated that grief should not justify mistreatment.

Yet another user questioned the mother-in-law's actions, praised the widower's efforts to learn the recipes, and criticized his in-laws for allowing the child to eat snacks instead of proper meals. They supported the widower's decision to stop having them babysit his daughter.

What do you think about OP's decision? Would you have done the same if you were in his place? Click here to read another story where a widower's girlfriend insulted his daughter's provocative look, and he couldn't ignore it.