Embarrassed

mrsloganlife

Just need to vent...

At my job we have a chef who makes lunch for us. Buttery, fattening, unhealthy food. So I started bringing in Lean Cuisines for lunch. Today I made one and it made a stink in the office by accident. That was 30 minutes ago. Since then it has been non-stop teasing, screaming, dramatics about how the smell will kill someone. And now since people are coming back into lunch people are asking "do you smell that smell? It was her!" I mean they are acting like this is the end of the world and they are all going to die.

It's just discouraging. I'm trying to eat something a bit healthier (albeit still processed), and while I understand the smell and immediately started to open doors and throw it out in the dumpster, it's just getting ridiculous.

Any advice on rising above this teasing and picking apart? I am not losing my motivation to lose weight, but honestly I am sitting at my desk and thinking about just leaving.

tress29

Yeah, when someone burns popcorn in the microwave, OMG! I say stick to your guns (and your goals.) Just make a note to not bring that variety to work again.

ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken

That would irritate me. I mean especially if it were the same folks hammering away at it over and over and over.... and over again as some folks like to do. Just keep bringing what you want to eat. I would also meet the next loud mouth with a comment of my own. Not a nasty comment necessarily but I would make it clear that I do not appreciate them making such a scene.

Therealobi1

they will get over it. dont mind them.

TavistockToad

Just ignore them...

Tacklewasher

Man adults can be children sometimes.
Ignore them.

lemurcat12

TavistockToad wrote: »

Just ignore them...

This.

And I'm sorry that happened and they are reacting that way, but probably in an hour something else will be the source of drama/humor.

ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken

They are lucky It wasn't me. I would have a jar of kimchee opened so fast it would make their head spin.

woodwardtm

Just try to tune them out. You are trying to make better choices for yourself and accidentally ruined it in the microwave. Crap happens. I am sure none of them have ever made anything in your office stink, right? (like the bathroom?)

CafeRacer808

If that happens to me, I usually tease them back. I find it tends to lighten the mood and makes me part of the fun rather than the source of it, if that makes sense.

coboblack

That sounds like you have some pretty crappy co-workers, but something tells me if they act this way about a smell in the microwave, they are probably pretty crappy in general and it is more about their personalities than it is the food you brought in.

Now, this, of course, is based on how you framed it. You also might want to look at whether or not you are simply embarrassed, (especially since the act is tied to something emotional like your goal of losing weight) and are reading too much into the things they are saying and giving their words too much power. Instead of shutting down and letting it effect you, you can try to embrace it with humor. "Yeah, yeah, I know...healthy food taste like crap and apparently smells like crap too. But at least I won't feel like crap after eating it".

That said, I think there are a ton of better options out there than lean cuisines that you can do that can be fun to make, taste better, and be better for you.


Its very cheap to pick up your own food containers.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I8AQYCQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can get multiple packages of Uncle Bens Brown and Wild rice. (Two servings per package)
https://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Bens-Ready-Whole-Medley/dp/B0053B7CT8/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1485540588&sr=1-1&keywords=Uncle+Bens+brown+wild+rice

And then you can grill/bake 5 servings of salmon or chicken spiced the way you like. Throw in either some peas, asparagus tips, or some green beans and you have a perfect meal for lunch that will taste good, be healthier for you and won't make a smell in the office.

You can switch it up from time to time to getting whole grain pasta with some chicken and a few sprinkles of cheese with some well-made tomato sauce. (Something with only a few ingredients or one that you make yourself)

The great thing about this is you spend one-day cooking, like a Sunday, and you fix meals for the whole week. (We do it as a family and use it as time to spend together with my wife and kids) You remove the decision-making process out of it and keep the convenience. Just grab your lunch and then bring a lot of water and some fruit to work with you to snack in between meals. Hope this helps, don't let them get you down and good luck!

zoober

Gotta fall back on Dr. Seuss - the people who mind don't matter, and the people who matter don't mind. Blow it off, everybody makes a mistake. The only ones who don't are the ones who aren't doing anything at all.

Savannah2990

As not so much about the type of food as it is about poor personal Co worker habits and behaviors.
Perhaps this is where you can use humor and teach some skills of work place manors.
Let it fall back on them.
Do remember those perhaps who should eat better maybe jelouse and those who think they are perfect are just plain rude .

Show them that this simple smell is a little bit of heaven for you .. and perfection can be their duty if they chose. Ha

98bikinisuitedlbs

Keep talking to yourself as to how great you feel making good choices and staying healthy. If comfortable, tell them you eat healthy choices as it makes you feel great and healthy mind!! Ignore the people, as they will always have something negative to say if they are not busting their *kitten**** Chin up and walk confidently!!

kaleebrenner

I sometimes make and freeze breakfast sandwiches with turkey bacon and bring them to work to reheat in the communal microwave. There was a snarky coworker who made rude comments the first couple times I did this about the "foul smell" and wondering "who would eat something that smells that gross?" until I decided I had had enough. Even though I was embarrassed, I just loudly responded with "Yep! That was me!" After that she never had anything to say again. Instead of feeling embarrassed, try and own it. In my experience, your own reaction will often determine how others choose to react.

fitoverfortymom

Curiosity is killing me. What on EARTH does Lean Cuisine make that got so stinky?

Rebecca0224

It's a smell. Tell them to act like adults and remember it's a smell and not all smells are pleasant

hamsammy67

I guess it really depends on your relationship with your co-workers. Do you normally get along well? If so, then maybe they mean to rib you about it? Perhaps you are mistaking their intent? Sometimes people think they're being funny, but it actually gets received as hurtful. If you have a good relationship with your co-workers, then call them out on being juvenile! Tell them you're trying to make some changes and it bums you out when they tease you about your food. I agree with Tress29 - stick to your guns and your goals!

rosebarnalice

Tell 'em "better the smell that thighs from hell!"

Also, coudl you talk to the chef and ask if s/he has anything a little lighter in his/her repertoire?

WeTakeControl

Just lighten up, it may seem childish to everyone else, but jokes are jokes and when we make and tease people sometimes it's not with bad intentions, just light jabs. If you know it stunk, then you can't be mad about it or insecure about it, may have been the most perculiar thing that happened, it is what it is. Just laugh it off. Let the joke pass don't let it define you at your work; it'll brand you if you let it lol. You don't want to be that person who can't take a joke. Usually jokes run dry eventually, just try less loud foods.

kenyonhaff

Illegitimi non carborundum

(Pseudo-Latin for:)

"Don't let the *kitten* grind you down"

Holly_Roman_Empire

Bring a sandwich next time.

mrsloganlife

Thanks everyone for the help, be it encouragement or alternate suggestions. Definitely going to rise above and continue doing my job the best I can...good thing is these instigators are always goofing off in the office anyway so it won't be hard to prove up the chain that despite the unsavory smell I am a good worker.

It was a Five Cheese Rigatoni from Lean Cuisine--I need to do more meal prep on Sundays and carve out time for that moving forward. Although I was tempted to go buy some fish and heat it up in the microwave as a revenge move

fitoverfortymom

Holy cow. I have a hard time believing, unless you caught the meal on fire that it stunk that bad. I have smoked out an entire office with the burnt popcorn walk of shame, but what asshats your coworkers must be.

endlessfall16

You have to grow a thicker skin. That doesn't mean your coworkers are discouraged from growing their own skins and not criticizing you either. A balance will prevail where everybody is equally happy (or agitated). It's only bad when things only go to one extreme.

This reminds me of a time where I started to use a microwave after someone. I fanned the inside of the microwave to lessen the smell after she removed her food and she got offended. She seriously asked me if I didn't like pizza smell. I said no I don't want my broccoli to smell like pizza just like she wouldn't like her pizza to smell like broccoli.

People often forget to put themselves in the other's shoe to see...

dwulet130

That's so weird. My coworker has Lean Cuisine pastas every day and they smell AMAZING! Currently sitting over here jealous with my stupid healthy homemade meal.

mamadon

coboblack wrote: »

That sounds like you have some pretty crappy co-workers, but something tells me if they act this way about a smell in the microwave, they are probably pretty crappy in general and it is more about their personalities than it is the food you brought in.

Now, this, of course, is based on how you framed it. You also might want to look at whether or not you are simply embarrassed, (especially since the act is tied to something emotional like your goal of losing weight) and are reading too much into the things they are saying and giving their words too much power. Instead of shutting down and letting it effect you, you can try to embrace it with humor. "Yeah, yeah, I know...healthy food taste like crap and apparently smells like crap too. But at least I won't feel like crap after eating it".

That said, I think there are a ton of better options out there than lean cuisines that you can do that can be fun to make, taste better, and be better for you.


Its very cheap to pick up your own food containers.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I8AQYCQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can get multiple packages of Uncle Bens Brown and Wild rice. (Two servings per package)
https://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Bens-Ready-Whole-Medley/dp/B0053B7CT8/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1485540588&sr=1-1&keywords=Uncle+Bens+brown+wild+rice

And then you can grill/bake 5 servings of salmon or chicken spiced the way you like. Throw in either some peas, asparagus tips, or some green beans and you have a perfect meal for lunch that will taste good, be healthier for you and won't make a smell in the office.

You can switch it up from time to time to getting whole grain pasta with some chicken and a few sprinkles of cheese with some well-made tomato sauce. (Something with only a few ingredients or one that you make yourself)

The great thing about this is you spend one-day cooking, like a Sunday, and you fix meals for the whole week. (We do it as a family and use it as time to spend together with my wife and kids) You remove the decision-making process out of it and keep the convenience. Just grab your lunch and then bring a lot of water and some fruit to work with you to snack in between meals. Hope this helps, don't let them get you down and good luck!

I admit, I actually like a lot of the Lean Cuisines, including the rigatoni that the OP ate. For the past four years I eat them for lunch almost daily at work, but never at home or on the weekends. I hate to cook though. I don't like W.W. ones much and I hate Healthy Choice. I really like the Lean Cuisine pizza's sandwiches and fish.

mrsloganlife

I don't know what happened with this one--they usually smell OK but maybe the plastic got affected somehow? I did use the microwave right after someone used it for 10 minutes straight so maybe all that heat built up did something. Either way might just steer clear of the rigatoni one for a bit.

Psychgrrl

Once, I did meet childish with childish. The leader of the constant drama was headed to the restroom (single use, gender-inclusive restroom) and I made an obvious move of "Hey ___, wait a second! Don't forget to take the Poo-pourri with you. We all have to share that bathroom, you know." I handed him the Poo-pourri and went back to my office.

Immature response, but I felt so much better. And never had another issue with him again.

BTW, Poo-pourri is awesome. I have it in the bathroom in the new office. Lots of people, one little poorly ventilated bathroom.

***I am not sponsored by, nor do I represent Poo-pourri.

mrsloganlife

rosebarnalice wrote: »

Tell 'em "better the smell that thighs from hell!"

Also, coudl you talk to the chef and ask if s/he has anything a little lighter in his/her repertoire?

Ha I like that one! Unfortunately our chef is...um very full of pride. When someone even requests less of a meal (like lamb every single week) he gets insulted and moody. I know a few people have asked for lighter options and he rolled out a terrible hack of a salad bar. He has started adding fresh fruit everyday which is nice, but I tend to not get on the chef's bad side because it's just not good when he gets moody.

I love that quote!!

ahoy_m8

Know a guy who was an Army Ranger before starting a business. No matter how heated things got (and I'm talking about the ability to make payroll or otherwise keep the business going, not lunch in the microwave), he maintained his poise. Would always say, "It's a good day if nobody got shot and everyone got a meal." I think once you have had people in your responsibility shot and killed, you might be genuinely grateful to have problems that worst case involve job-loss, not life-loss. At least he seemed genuinely grateful. (FWIW, after an IPO, dot.com rollercoaster & acquisition, the operation is still running and money was made by all.)

To get your panties in a bunch about a smell, well, it sounds like life is just too easy for those folks. Maybe they need harder jobs or something.