My husband does not like the food I make

I grew up in a culture where meals are a big part of daily life—eating together as a family is important, and food is made from scratch with fresh ingredients. For me, cooking and sharing meals is not just about eating; it’s about connection and health.

My husband, on the other hand, grew up in the U.S. in a household where both parents were always working. As a result, he didn’t have access to home-cooked meals and developed a preference for convenience foods. He’s 40 and has struggled with obesity, but the only foods he enjoys are mac and cheese, pancakes, fried chicken, and bologna sandwiches.

I prefer eating whole, homemade foods with vegetables and real sauces instead of processed ones. The problem is that he gets very defensive when we grocery shop or talk about food. I really want to help him eat healthier, but he resists any changes.

To make things harder, we don’t even eat meals together. He makes his sandwiches at random times and isn’t hungry when I’m ready to eat.

I feel really frustrated and discouraged because food and shared meals are such a big part of how I connect with people. I don’t know how to approach this situation without pushing him away. Does anyone have advice on how to handle this?