Food isn’t always the best way to bring families together.

It may be true that one of the best ways to get on a lot of people’s good sides is to feed them, but cooking can prove to be a surprisingly divisive topic as well. When we take into consideration different upbringings, backgrounds, tastes, and the phenomenon of picky eaters, what we eat together also has plenty of potential to spark drama (not least if there are some weird relationship dynamics going on in the background).

The truth is that different family members, especially if they are in-laws, are quite likely to have different standards in terms of preparing food. What is perfectly acceptable in one household might be unconscionable in another. It can make things awkward when wanting to share that beloved traditional family recipe, or eating any type of food prepared by somebody who the other person doesn’t trust.