Problem: Samuel ate a great deal of rice but Matthew did not because

My choice: Matthew was trying to decrease their carb consumption.

Problem: Emily owned a cat and Felicia owned a dog, so

My choice: Emily never played fetch with her pet.

Problem: Lindsey tried to train their puppy on their own but Elena hired a pro.

My choice: Elena had a well-behaved puppy at the dog park.

Problem: Ryan was excited to try the nuts but not Matthew because

My choice:
Ryan was fond of nuts.