Saying no to office junk food

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Replies

  • Troutrouter1968
    Troutrouter1968 Posts: 122 Member
    Be a jerk at the office and no one will ever offer you anything. Works for me.
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    kali31337 wrote: »
    By boss often brings Dunkin Munchkins to the office. I may have told him I was so happy that he didn't today and if I would have kicked him in the shins....they sit right outside my cube and I have to walk by them EVERY TIME I leave my cube...

    Those donuts are here today. Nope! I'm ignoring them and will drink my water. Luckily i'm taking a half day today so I only have 30 minutes of temptation left. To reward myself, I'm take the mile walk home instead of taking the train since the weather is BEAUTIFUL today!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I say no most of the time but have certain things I'll almost always say yes to...like donuts from one particular (local) place. Now, I might have to change my M.O. if they were bringing in those donuts weekly. But for now, that works out well because it's every couple of months. The rest of the stuff I just pass on.
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    If someone offers me something directly I just say no thanks. Most of the time people just leave something in the kitchen area and people help themselves.

    I have a rule that I mostly follow - no sweets until after dinner. This has helped me avoid eating most of the treats people bring in. One of my co-workers is a really good baker. Occasionally I will snag a cookie she makes and bring it home to eat in the evening. But most of the time they are all gone before I get a chance!
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    I used to work in a bakery. I just ignored most of what was being made. Luckily I'm not too big on sweets.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    There's always food being brought into my office...I've never noticed any kind of expectation that everyone should eat it...it's just there if you want it. If there were, I don't really see any big deal in saying, "no thanks...I already ate" or whatever.

    I've learned after years of doing this that there are temptations everywhere. Sometimes I indulge and other times I just ignore them and walk away. In most cases, I don't find what's being brought into the office to be of particularly good quality...mostly commercial stuff. Also, it's sitting there in the open with the 95 other people in the office rummaging through the doughnut box which is kind of gross. I'm more tempted when someone brings in homemade stuff, but even then I often wonder about the sanitary conditions at their home and in their kitchen. I've been to a lot of people's homes, and they don't have the same sanitary standards I do.

    100% this for when I worked in an office.
  • skelterhelter
    skelterhelter Posts: 803 Member
    edited February 2019
    It's a daily struggle for me too. I work in a large public library where it's common to have leftover cakes, cookies, donuts, chips from programs where the patrons didn't consume everything (and the lucky staff gets what's left). Not to mention all the celebrations, retirement parties, and whatever else people feel like dumping into the break room. I just take a small piece of something I like, track it, and call it a day. For instance, yesterday we had a whole stockpile of Valentine's Day sweets and Entenmanns cakes. I took one Italian style bakery cookie (because I absolutely love those and consider them a treat), and ignored the rest. It takes a lot of discipline but it can be done.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I used to work in a bakery. I just ignored most of what was being made. Luckily I'm not too big on sweets.

    I have only worked around food once and it was retail, not freshly baked. But I found that to be the case for me also. I could have all of the cookies, brownies, danish, etc... and I never ate it. A lot of my coworkers had something on every break and complained they were gaining weight from that. The smell in the store which was pleasant to customers kind of made me nauseous or I just didn't notice it. I've always been a lover of sweets but being around it all of the time made it less appealing to me! I actually lost weight in the year that I worked for that company. Even now if I am faced with good chocolate, ice cream, or a donut, it's generally tempting - but I am not interested in any of the goods my former employer sold.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    I used to work in a bakery. I just ignored most of what was being made. Luckily I'm not too big on sweets.

    I have only worked around food once and it was retail, not freshly baked. But I found that to be the case for me also. I could have all of the cookies, brownies, danish, etc... and I never ate it. A lot of my coworkers had something on every break and complained they were gaining weight from that. The smell in the store which was pleasant to customers kind of made me nauseous or I just didn't notice it. I've always been a lover of sweets but being around it all of the time made it less appealing to me! I actually lost weight in the year that I worked for that company. Even now if I am faced with good chocolate, ice cream, or a donut, it's generally tempting - but I am not interested in any of the goods my former employer sold.

    Exactly this! Although the smell was enticing so to speak, it eventually became ugh. This sometimes happens at home too! I'll cook a huge elaborate meal and barely eat any of it since I've been smelling it while cooking.
  • WilmaValley
    WilmaValley Posts: 1,092 Member
    My problem too, thanks for the ideas!!!
  • mangofish44
    mangofish44 Posts: 57 Member
    I had a big breakfast or even just im cutting back a bit on sweets.
  • They already know. They say “I'm not even going to ask i know you bring your own lunch and you wont eat out”
    I never felt i would hurt their feelings. I bring my lunch from home and always have. They know i eat healthy and exercise. (17 years working there)

    For the temptation of when they bring things in. I just think of how hard i worked and its not worth it. Usually if i have something unhealthy i dont feel well after.

  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    I work in an office where sewers and junk took is always on hand and either breakfast or lunch is provided at least a few times a month but it is rarely healthy. How do I turn down these things that I am expected to eat without causing issues or hurting someone's feelings?

    It's ok to have something now and then if it fits in your calories.

    On the good side (and bad side) for me, I'm allergic to so much stuff now that eating random food people bring in can trigger a physical reaction I don't want, so I have to avoid.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    LisaLethal wrote: »
    I will usually just throw in a little white lie... "Oh shoot, I'd love to... but I just ate." Or a good ol, "Ah dang, I would totally but what I brought is going to go bad if I don't eat it today." Now the planned potlucks are a bit tricky. I usually sign up for a healthier dish, and load up on that and try to find a few other items that are high in protein or load my plate with veggies so it looks like I'm partaking. No one really notices what you have or don't have on your plate, or if you mention, "Gee thanks I'll get one in just a few when I'm done working on this."... they will typically forget all about you. :)

    Another thing is you can always bring your own healthy dish to the potluck then only eat what you brought. :)
  • JohnnytotheB
    JohnnytotheB Posts: 361 Member
    Always remember that "no" is a complete sentence!! If you feel you have to take it for aesthetics, throw it in the trash right away. Trust me people bring in junk food because misery loves company. I used to bring in donuts "for everyone" because I didn't want to be the only person eating them.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member

    7FINISHEDCHOCOLATE.gif

    This would have been me before they started making everything with corn syrup instead of sugar. Now I'm allergic. B@st@rds.. ruining my chocolate binging.

  • runnermom419
    runnermom419 Posts: 366 Member
    I work in an office where sewers and junk took is always on hand and either breakfast or lunch is provided at least a few times a month but it is rarely healthy. How do I turn down these things that I am expected to eat without causing issues or hurting someone's feelings?

    A few that I've used:
    "I just ate - can't think about another bite right now. Looks delicious though, thank you!"
    "My stomach has been weird today, so I will pass this time. Thank you though!"
    "Looks great, but no thank you."
    Homemade items - tough call. If I am reasonably comfortable that you don't hate us all and want to poison us and that you don't prepare the food on the same surface where your cat walks after it uses its litter box, I will probably eat it.

    I work with someone who recently admitted (out loud) that she does not always wash her hands after using the restroom. Can you guess who's cooking I will no longer touch with a ten-foot pole? She also does have a cat that she admits likes to help her cook.
  • dsboohead
    dsboohead Posts: 1,899 Member
    I work in an office where sewers and junk took is always on hand and either breakfast or lunch is provided at least a few times a month but it is rarely healthy. How do I turn down these things that I am expected to eat without causing issues or hurting someone's feelings?

    A few that I've used:
    "I just ate - can't think about another bite right now. Looks delicious though, thank you!"
    "My stomach has been weird today, so I will pass this time. Thank you though!"
    "Looks great, but no thank you."
    Homemade items - tough call. If I am reasonably comfortable that you don't hate us all and want to poison us and that you don't prepare the food on the same surface where your cat walks after it uses its litter box, I will probably eat it.

    I work with someone who recently admitted (out loud) that she does not always wash her hands after using the restroom. Can you guess who's cooking I will no longer touch with a ten-foot pole? She also does have a cat that she admits likes to help her cook.

    Ewwwwwww😖
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    I work in an office where sewers and junk took is always on hand and either breakfast or lunch is provided at least a few times a month but it is rarely healthy. How do I turn down these things that I am expected to eat without causing issues or hurting someone's feelings?

    A few that I've used:
    "I just ate - can't think about another bite right now. Looks delicious though, thank you!"
    "My stomach has been weird today, so I will pass this time. Thank you though!"
    "Looks great, but no thank you."
    Homemade items - tough call. If I am reasonably comfortable that you don't hate us all and want to poison us and that you don't prepare the food on the same surface where your cat walks after it uses its litter box, I will probably eat it.

    I work with someone who recently admitted (out loud) that she does not always wash her hands after using the restroom. Can you guess who's cooking I will no longer touch with a ten-foot pole? She also does have a cat that she admits likes to help her cook.

    I have seen countless people at work step out of the bathroom stall and walk right out the door without washing. I mean, even if that is what you always do, when you see a coworker standing there, don't you at least care enough to give the impression that you are not a disgusting person and go through the motions of washing? And no one can figure out why the stomach flu constantly sweeps through the office.
  • tirowow12385
    tirowow12385 Posts: 697 Member
    I pretend to eat, I also take my share and put it in a bag to take home and I'll eat it when I have calories available. I sometimes provide snacks.
  • Emberlain
    Emberlain Posts: 4 Member
    "No thanks" usually suffices. Remind yourself that if the other person keeps nagging you, they are the ones being rude. If it is someone I know well I will say I'm prepping for competition and need to make my weight class. If it's someone I don't know well I just say 'No thank you' until they get the message and go away. At the end of the day, no is a complete sentence and you don't owe anyone an explanation.

    Don't invent allergies. It perpetuates the myth that genuine allergy sufferers are embellishing or exaggerating and it will only bite you on the *kitten* when you forget you lied.

    Really, just saying no isn't as bad as it seems.
  • ellyseb1
    ellyseb1 Posts: 49 Member
    I've done this a few times: Show up late for the birthday cake gatherings, and usually there is nothing left to eat. I have a coffee, so at least I seem social and don't miss out on the conversation.
  • patches1975
    patches1975 Posts: 15 Member
    I just say no thanks, if I get and "c'mon just have some" I have been saying recently..."my winter jackets don't fit anymore but lets not talk about it" I laugh, they laugh and no one asks again!
  • mdreddie
    mdreddie Posts: 73 Member
    If they don't put the food literally in your hands or offer it directly to you, ignore it. But if it's given to you directly, just say "No, thank you! I've got something eating later. Enjoy!"
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,641 Member
    God it's terrible! People will bring in cupcakes, donuts, pizza, and just leave SO much in the break room. I pack my lunch every day. If I know there will be food I'll try to schedule maybe 1 item into my daily calorie limit. I also give away some of the food to my clients because I know staff are not going to eat all of that and it will just go to waste lol it's tough though I hear you. I tell people I'm on a diet too if they try to give me something.