Dianne Scheinberg, MS, RD, LDN Responds:

First, focus on spending time as a couple. Make the kitchen a place to be together to create great-tasting meals. Listen to some music, turn on a television, or sip a beverage or some wine as you cook. Other steps to get a spouse interested in the meal preparation:

• Begin with the grocery list. Have your spouse select some favorite foods, then find recipes that sound appealing that you can prepare together.

• Share some of the wonders of cooking. Talk about different cooking techniques and how food can taste different when cooked in different ways. For example, simple broccoli can be sampled raw versus steamed, in a casserole, quiche, or stir-fry dish.

• Ask for help chopping vegetables, boiling water, preheating the oven, and measuring ingredients, putting things away, and cleaning up.