I know of no relationship in which both people like and dislike exactly the same things. So you don't get to eat cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus often. Me - I don't get to eat fish, which I dearly love. Sure I could make it for myself but just don't get around to it. My fault, no one else's. The better half of us will eat steamed sea bass in a Chinese place but no where else - go figure. But I had better get on point.
Maverick has a great idea about cooking the veggies in different ways, but I have to agree with your bf about the cauliflower. Have had it many ways and I just don't cotton to it. Oh I can choke it down if am served it by someone who does not know my preference, but it has never made me happy. (If there is a he** they will serve me bananas and cauliflower eternally. Maybe I deserve it but I don't think I ever did anything that bad.)
But there are so many other veggies out there. Peas, beans (there are a lot of beans to be had), lentils, carrots, artichokes (something that does not go over well here either, sigh), corn, rutabagas (toss that in because I like to spell it), peppers, onions, fennel (on this we both agree - blech), corn, cabbage, okra (one of my favorites), just cruise the market.
Oh yeah baby corn, Asian veggies, there are all kinds of possibilites. And then there are mushrooms.
So totally agree with bf about the cauliflower distaste, man has a palate in my humble opinion. Like broccoli, but were it to be banned would not suffer any particular angst. It is just OK, except as a soup in which it can be spectacular. But the asparagus thing would be a problem. Fresh asparagus in the Spring is a total joy, to me it means the world has become alive again. Steam it, saute it, bake it, it is one of the most wonderful experiences a palate can experience, at least as far as a veggie can take it.
So toss some shrooms with baby peas, or make candied carrots, or make okra and tomatoes - there is so much to do with veggies.
And if you find a good buy of asparagus make it for yourself.
Me, I gotta go and buy some fish.