What to tell people when you don't want to eat it!

SkierElle

So I know all of us have had this issue. You go to a dinner party, or someone's house, and you need to politely decline some of the food. As I believe each of us individually has the RIGHT to decide what we put in our mouths, I don't think it should be considered rude if we don't try something. However... others think differently.

My question for anyone who reads this is what do you tell people if they give you crap for not eating their food... if you don't want to start the huge "I'm undergoing a lifestyle change" and then someone says, "oh you're on a diet... you don't need to be... cut yourself some slack, one bite won't hurt.. blah de blah"

I have a few ideas. the most obvious is to say "I don't care for that" or "I'm allergic to that". A lot of the stuff I don't want to eat has flour and sugar, so I am thinking about saying I think I may have a gluten allergy (although I hate lying, but it seems like a good escape route!). But I want to get creative with this. What are some things you can say to people to excuse yourself from eating unhealthy food?!

edorice

You know, "I will have some in a little bit". And a little bit never happens.

ChuckgM3

I simply say "I'm on a diet" and if they say "aww one wont kill you" I usually say "actually believe me, it might, with my personality one taste and I'm on the road to ruin... it's a very slippery slope, today I have that cupcake, tomorrow I have a whole cake, by Thursday I've lost my job, and by next weekend I'm doing lines of coke off of a hookers *kitten* in the restroom at the bus station... do you want to be responsible for that?"

Usually that shuts 'em up

amy_p

You know, "I will have some in a little bit". And a little bit never happens.

^^ This works like a charm!

Egger29

I simply say "I'm on a diet" and if they say "aww one wont kill you" I usually say "actually believe me, it might, with my personality one taste and I'm on the road to ruin... it's a very slippery slope, today I have that cupcake, tomorrow I have a whole cake, by Thursday I've lost my job, and by next weekend I'm doing lines of coke off of a hookers *kitten* in the restroom at the bus station... do you want to be responsible for that?"

Usually that shuts 'em up

LOL! Awesome!

Egger29

I work with athletes so the "I'm training for XXXXX" works well for anything.

In sport nutrition...if it doesn't serve a functional purpose...it doesn't go in your mouth...simple as that.

Erindipitous

I simply say "I'm on a diet" and if they say "aww one wont kill you" I usually say "actually believe me, it might, with my personality one taste and I'm on the road to ruin... it's a very slippery slope, today I have that cupcake, tomorrow I have a whole cake, by Thursday I've lost my job, and by next weekend I'm doing lines of coke off of a hookers *kitten* in the restroom at the bus station... do you want to be responsible for that?"

Usually that shuts 'em up

Hahaha.. Totally something I'd say. :laugh:

1CALIJIBARO2

I'm full already...............

Mkserpa

I simply say "I'm on a diet" and if they say "aww one wont kill you" I usually say "actually believe me, it might, with my personality one taste and I'm on the road to ruin... it's a very slippery slope, today I have that cupcake, tomorrow I have a whole cake, by Thursday I've lost my job, and by next weekend I'm doing lines of coke off of a hookers *kitten* in the restroom at the bus station... do you want to be responsible for that?"

Usually that shuts 'em up

hahahaha!! i love this! im sooo using this :P

RayDarSpi

How about, "no thank you, I've had enough" with a smile and then just say it again when they insist and again, if they are rude and pushy. Eventually, they will get the hint!!

juliebrc1

I simply say "I'm on a diet" and if they say "aww one wont kill you" I usually say "actually believe me, it might, with my personality one taste and I'm on the road to ruin... it's a very slippery slope, today I have that cupcake, tomorrow I have a whole cake, by Thursday I've lost my job, and by next weekend I'm doing lines of coke off of a hookers *kitten* in the restroom at the bus station... do you want to be responsible for that?"

Usually that shuts 'em up

That is freakin AWESOME!!!

solrak1969

I don't think saying no is a bad thing. No thank you works for me, and if they ask if your on a diet, just say no. You don't have to get into the lifestyle change angle either. Its your body, you don't have to answer to anyone about what you eat or decide not to eat.

Suzy12

This is a great thread. I'm anxious to check back later and see if there are any other suggestions. I use the "maybe later" excuse myself, but it often doesn't work. LOVE the slippery slope response!!!

Disciplined74

No, Thank you.

Thank you. But I just ate and I'm stuffed.

This is a hard one for me too. I've just decided that I have to speak up. Eventually everyone has gotten the message and don't really press the issue anymore. It was SO hard to break my mom from bringing me breakfast when she was in my neighborhood (and it was always Hardee's stuff like Biscuit and Gravy and sasauge biscuits). When she brought it in, at first I was offended because she knew I was working on this but I realized that she's doing it because she loves me and this is one way she expresses it. So she would hand it to me when she walked in and would stay to visit for a minute. I would take it, tell her thank you but I just ate maybe I'll eat it in a minute. Then I would offer it back to her when she left saying, "it doesn't look like I'm going to get around to eating this do you want to take it with you so you can eat it while it is still fresh". Sometimes she would. Other times she tell me to put it in the fridge until later. After about 2 months (5-6 times) and seeing them setting in my fridge when she came back the next time, I think she got the hint because now she calls first and tells me she's goign through the drive thru and asks me if I want anything. Again, "thanks but I've already eaten" is my response.

Unfortunately, there just may be times you have to or will offend someone. You have to love yourself more than you are afraid of offending them.

This is tough. I hope you find some answers that help.

- Eva

BlessedMystique

I use "wow, I filled up on water...it looks good though."
Or "everything was soo good. i'm stuffed. absolutely no space!"

Cristy_AZ

I have run into this already, especially this time of year in the office. I found I get better reaction and less "oh, one bite won't hurt" if I say something like "I'm not allowed to eat that" or "Sorry, that's on the list the Doctor said to avoid" Which, for me, is not a lie, the doctor said my cholesteral is slightly high and I should be able to bring it down with diet and exercise. People always seem to want to sabatoge a "diet" but are less likely to for Dr.s orders.

On the other hand I've also had to just convince myself that it OK to say NO THANK YOU, and it does not make me a rude person!!

fitzie63

Very well said! :happy:

fromaquasar

oooooo I am kind of loving this game at the moment - my friends are the WORST for "one won't hurt"

SO here are some of my favourites
- "Ah I've had a work function all arvo and had so many canapés I just want to lie down so I don't pop"

(this one works best if you say it BEFORE food is even offered more as a conversation thing and then it becomes your defence all night and stops people pushing you if they think you've already eaten lots)

- For anything involving alcohol I say "I wish but I had a killer headache an took some codeine earlier so better not!"

- "I am detoxing" Some how ppl accept this more than I'm on a diet

- "I have been finding (insert major food group, wheat, sugar, gluten, dairy) has been making me feel really ill recently - I'm going to the dr. next week to get tested" - I find this works better than out and out I'm allergic to... because people who know you know you are not and others have a tendency not to believe it - also normally when I say this it becomes a conversation like o I have a friend who is celiac and they blah blah blah which changes the subject

OR I say "yum yes please" put it on my plate cut it up move it round and then ignore it

x

edorice

I simply say "I'm on a diet" and if they say "aww one wont kill you" I usually say "actually believe me, it might, with my personality one taste and I'm on the road to ruin... it's a very slippery slope, today I have that cupcake, tomorrow I have a whole cake, by Thursday I've lost my job, and by next weekend I'm doing lines of coke off of a hookers *kitten* in the restroom at the bus station... do you want to be responsible for that?"

Usually that shuts 'em up

too funny.

NoAdditives

I actually do think it's rude to go to someone's house for the sole reason of attending a dinner party only to decline their food. If you don't like their cooking or the kinds of foods they serve, don't go.

Also, I advise against lying. If it's friends or family they will either know that you don't have an allergy or intolerance, or they will be with you at some point when you will forget about your lie and they will catch you eating food you said you couldn't have.

kendradl

I simply say "I'm on a diet" and if they say "aww one wont kill you" I usually say "actually believe me, it might, with my personality one taste and I'm on the road to ruin... it's a very slippery slope, today I have that cupcake, tomorrow I have a whole cake, by Thursday I've lost my job, and by next weekend I'm doing lines of coke off of a hookers *kitten* in the restroom at the bus station... do you want to be responsible for that?"

Usually that shuts 'em up

This is awesome, love it!!!

stinago

"oh my gosh, I'm so full! Maybe I'll just take some home with me when I leave, it looks great!"...and then take it home and throw it out. They'll never know and they feel good about giving it to you. You feel good because you didn't eat it.

fromaquasar

Also people want to make themselves feel better by having everyone be the same as them - if you want to be honest say "no thanks - it's really important for me to be in control of what I'm eating at the mo"

mccorml

i was taking a trip with my grandparents and they went to whataburger and i just got a small burger cuz i had eaten a little before that and i knew it was a jillion calories and my grandpa actually got mad at me and made me get atleast a small fry also and then got mad when i said i didnt wanna get anything to drink haha he doesnt understand its a waste of money to buy me a drink when im gonna get water but hes ex military you eat what you eat type and i thought it was hilarious i told him i had eaten before that luckily my grandma understood lol

lloydrt

this works for me

" aww, so sorry, Im fasting for tomorrow, Im having a stress test that was pushed up one day sooner, so that means I cant eat today for 24 hours"
"It was scheduled for Sunday, but they moved it up one day sooner, which means I had to push my 24 hour fast up, one day sooner........so sorry, it looks so good"

Ive used this on family members who love to instigate drama, and they cant stir the pot on this one, lol


Trust me, theyll wish you the best on your stress test and go around the rest of the crowd pushing their goodies

Ive used this before and it works, BOTH for them and myself................Lloyd

lilRicki

you know it's weird, I'm VERY allergic to dairy...but I still hear "come on a little on the lips won't kill you"...One of my friends even shoved an Ice cream cone into my face so I'd have to lick it off...I've never been so angry...I don't understand why people don't get that YES DAIRY CAN KILL ME! I like the "little bit" idea...just tell them you have to rest your belly for a second...and then change the subject or get up and make some tea or something.

Troublelette

yeah this one works really well. just tell them that you already ate.

AdamATGATT

I used this one recently at the office, as someone brought in a baked good:

"If I don't know what's in it, it doesn't go in me."

Otherwise, I just politely decline and become a broken record if they continue asking.

ChuckgM3

You could always quote Jack LaLanne too, although they might think you're crazy:

"there are two rules I live by, 1. If man made it, don't eat it. 2. If it tastes good, spit it out!"

cragmor

I think that people are becoming too sensitive anymore. If you decline, no one should be offended, unless you specifically requested it, and they then went to the trouble to provide it. The same thing goes for invites to about anything. When I got married, I sent invites to people that I would like to have had there. If they did not come, for whatever reason, no big deal. I invited you, I did not subpoena you.
Personally, if I decline something, I just say, "No thank you, I have reached my limit for the day." If they ask, I will explain that I limit my calories, and have no more available to ingest. If they get pissy, too bad for them.

laughingdani

You could always quote Jack LaLanne too, although they might think you're crazy:

"there are two rules I live by, 1. If man made it, don't eat it. 2. If it tastes good, spit it out!"

That's not a bad idea actually.....



Usually I just say "no thanks" and deal with the dirty looks.
Ahhh well I can give a pretty affective dirty look right back!