How Dietary Differences Became A Serious Relationship Deal Breaker

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Lots of people are looking forward to the big Thanksgiving meal, but dietary differences are causing heartburn for some couples in and out of the kitchen.

Those dietary differences cover a big range of food preferences from vegans and vegetarians, to those who go gluten-free and Paleo which is all about protein and meat.

With all those food preferences there's no shortage of incompatible eating habits. Sharing a meal normally brings couples together, but for Grace Farren, a nutritionist and a vegan, it's what tore her 5-year relationship apart.

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"When I was buying milk, he'd say 'why do you have to buy almond milk, why can't we drink regular milk'," said Fareen.

So-called relationship food fights are becoming more common. "Watching my ex-boyfriend eat steak was at the same time alienating, depressing," said Farren.

She wanted to be vegan, but she knew her man didn't want to be vegan and that was a big game-changer.

"We're seeing more specialty diets," says psychiatrist Dr. Drew Ramsey. "You're vegan or paleo or on Weight Watchers and that's good. We want more people more focused on food. We don't want to see that then causing a lot of conflict."

"I think it can be threatening," says dietitian Lauren Slayton. She has devoted an entire chapter of her book to dietary differences.

"I think couples are taking food more seriously and I think it's a big part of their lifestyle," she says. "They want someone that sort of aligns with them in that way."

Slayton's advice to people is to just lighten up.

"It's important to find common ground, especially over things like ingredients," says Slayton.

"We have some recipes that are amazing," says Jennifer Chiminiello about her 13-year relationship with her husband Robert.

And that's worked for meat-eater Jennifer and Robert who is a vegan.

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A recent survey of more than 500 singles found dietary differences are the newest deal breaker when it comes to romance and not religion and politics. It also found that 72% of respondents would prefer dating someone with similar food tastes.