I'm a vegan, he's a carnivore. I only eat non-dairy and gluten free, yet he's never met a piece of cheese or an ice cream cone he didn't like. Umm, what's for dinner?

It's true that in relationships opposites attract, but what happens when those differences also include diets and living a healthy lifestyle? There are many people who aim to make the differing diet preferences in their relationship work and many who decide it's too much of a challenge. Find out which side of the spectrum you fall on.

There is an overabundance of reasons to fight in a relationship, however, these days with the increased emphasis on healthy lifestyles and alternative diets, couples are finding themselves in an all-out culinary war when it comes to diet restrictions and preferences. If you find yourself in this situation you may be prone to ask yourself if you can spend the rest of your life with someone whose eating habits are the complete opposite of yours. In the grand scheme of relationship issues that can arise, dietary complications may seem like a very small detail…that is until you realize just how big of a part food plays in a relationship. Family gatherings, birthdays, anniversaries, going out with friends, vacations and regular daily meals all involve the presence of food, which means there is no getting around it.

One of the key things to remember if you and your partner have differing diets is to respect the others choice and don’t try to change their eating habits to mirror your own. Doing so will only create resentment and anger. Instead, acknowledge their preference without belittling or mocking. Additionally, any successful relationship survives on compromise, so apply it to your opposing diets as well. Maybe that involves trying some vegan dishes if you’re not vegan or cooking individual meals for yourself that are gluten-free while your partner makes dishes that satisfy their own dietary choices.

There is also nothing wrong with finding the time and space to eat whatever you like without worrying about your partner’s needs. This would involve going out to dinner with your friends or family members who share your eating habits. Also, be sure to let family members know that they shouldn’t feel offended if your significant other doesn’t eat a lot of the food that is prepared for family gatherings, it’s nothing personal.

The bottom line is that there are many serious issues that tear apart relationships all the time, it would be a pity to ruin a happy union over dietary issues when all you have to do is apply a little logic to make things run smoother.