Don't want to be rude BUT

Boop1959

Yes. Just tell them you prefer to bring your own lunch. It's not being rude at all. It's being smart.

Zbigniew1

Be proud of being the first one to eat healthy at the meeting.
If your colleagues are commenting upon it, it is only because their own bad conscience is nagging them, because they know that they should be eating more healthy themselves :-)

Nekhet

Who are you worried about offending? The person who organizes it? Or the other people? I would simply say if asked, I need to watch my diet because of some health issues and the doctor has told me I cannot eat that. Then bring your own or get something healthy or more to your liking. Make them aware that those food choices are bad for you...

castadiva

There's no reason to eat something that makes you feel unwell. Why not just have some ham - lots of protein - and salad, and skip the Mac & Cheese this time around. Definitely try offering some constructive feedback to the person doing the ordering - "I really enjoy these meetings, but I'm allergic to dairy/wish I could enjoy more of the food/would love if there was more salad. Could you possibly order a bit more salad next time?" It may be too late to change what is ordered for the next meeting, but some of your colleagues might also be suffering from this - casually mention to a few of them that you enjoy having a chance to meet with them all at these lunches, but wish the food options were easier on your stomach. See what sort of feedback you get, and encourage them, if they agree with you, to pass it on to the order-er as well.

mariagabriella

Just bring your own food and politely decline theirs. I do this a lot. If they say something like "oh eat that for dinner" just make an excuse and say it will go off/gross by the time you eat it for dinner.

2bFitNTrim

I don't think it's rude if you want to bring your own lunch or salad instead of what they are serving up. It's your body after all.

If it were me, I'd probably go ahead and have some of that grub & just keep the portions small. :bigsmile: (Of course, if I didn't like it and/or it made me sick, I'd pass.)

I think pot lucks, office lunches, etc should be more than just about food. It should be a time for everyone to relax, get to know one another, socialize, etc. Be sure to be friendly & mingle & maybe that'll deter the food remarks. Maybe. Some folks are just stubborn & they are best ignored.

cmeade20

Yeah it's your health and waistline. If you don't want it don't eat it and bring your own. If anyone has anything to say about politely inform them that what you eat is your business and you'd appreciate it if they'd drop the subject.

grassette

The salad bar is not the best solution, because those industrial salad products are loaded with fat. Just check out salad bar carrot salad on MFP!

A better solution would be to ask the lady in charge for an alternative meal. There might be others who feel the way that you do and if there could be several of you that approach her at the same time, it might be best.

The other solution would be to eat before lunch, and when you get there, have only the ham and the side salad.

Zichu

I see all these people saying to bring a snack and eat it before lunch, or say you are allergic to certain foods, so basically lie to there face. They're only short term solutions to this problem. Something is going to seem odd that every time someone brings something in, she isn't going to eat it and only have a salad. Same with the allergies, you would have to avoid ham and cheese completely.

If you just say to them that you would prefer to bring your own lunch, pretty sure they would understand if they are mature enough and respect your feelings. What's the worse they can do? Were all adults here and making fun of someone or being rude to someone for making healthier choices is a silly thing to do and just goes to show how mature they really are.

janf15

In their it may be considered rude. But this is NOT about the group it is about you and you living with the decisions what you are eating and I think you should stick to your guns and eat what YOU want to eat. You should be proud of yourself!!!!

What might work better than the salad bar is to bring your own food (and you could suggest brown bag lunches for those who want). You may find there are others who want to do it as well ... who knows.

SafireBleu

I would just bring my own lunch and when they ask say the food doesn't agree with me and ask if they could order some extra salad in the future so you can have more of that with them. Not rude at all. I think what is rude is that they don't ask what people want to eat and accommodate their eating preferences. When I had a work lunch they came around with a menu and everyone chose what they wanted to eat. It was simple.

Nikstergirl

I have had situations similar to this lately (we're having another potluck tomorrow!). In the last 2 years my co-workers have seen a complete transformation in me and now they get it... she won't eat that!!!! If they get pizza... I go and get my own Subway. Sometimes I eat with them (if I have to, I like my space at lunch, but this issue is about work meetings, so you won't have that choice) but I bring what I want or go get it. If I had access to a healthy salad bar I would do that. For me it's not about the free meal, which is a nice perk, it's about the rest of my life.

No reason to lie, don't make up excuses... just do what's right for you! If that means packing a lunch or getting a salad, do it. No apologies. It's not rude, and maybe if you do it every time you'll have others who are sick of the fatty food and start to join you! You never know.. you could start a transformation in the workplace!!!!

jaxbeck

I was in this exact situation a few weeks ago, My office was having a pizza luncheon & the pizza they ordered was soooo greasy. I took one look at it, knew what trouble my tummy would be in & went & got my salad that I had brought that day and brought it back to the conference room where the event was being held. As they all chowed on their pizza I enjoyed my delicious healthy salad. Sure I got comments but I didn't care. I will not give in to peer pressure when it comes to eating something that I KNOW will put me in pain later.

rml_16

It's not rude and it's none of their business. No one should be forced to eat food he or she doesn't want to eat.

lovinbeinold

Just bring your own lunch and tell them the other food upsets your stomach. Then let it go. Just eat and don't care what they think. If you do that every week, they'll get used to it and finally accept it. You don't have to put a judgement on what they are eating, or even care. Just make sure you have what you need.

Last time I did that kind of thing, I wound up sick the next day and couldn't leave my house. So, take care of yourself!

TheWinman

I don't think it's rude at all. You're eating with the rest of them

shiseido_faerie

If I don't want to eat what we're having at our lunch and learns I just pack a lunch, no one really thinks anything of it!

Angela_Freeborn

The way i see it is, you are in it for yourself, if others dont feel the need to eat clean then they can deal with the concequenses. But you are. so I personally would deff go get what i want.. not what is put in front of me. and if she thinks it to be rude well thats life. you need to look out for yourself and your own well being

jaxbeck

Be proud of being the first one to eat healthy at the meeting.
If your colleagues are commenting upon it, it is only because their own bad conscience is nagging them, because they know that they should be eating more healthy themselves :-)

This! I work with mostly pigs & let me tell you, I get so many rude comments. I know it's only because they feel guilty for not being better about their health!

avafrisbee

I agree, don't eat what will make you sick.

Sadly, some people are completely blind when it comes to ordering food. There was a big push in our office to get some work items out the door. I myself pulled an 18 hour day and many of the others pulled 12-16 hour days to get this stuff done. The project lead thought he was being very nice by ordering a dozen pepperoni pizzas. The problem was that a solid 60% of our office is Indian and surprise, vegetarian. Even if you don't know them personally you can guess by their country of origin that at least some, if not most don't eat meat. I mean who orders a dozen pepperoni pizzas? There's bound to be someone that is vegetarian or doesn't like pepperoni or something. Props for the thought, but I wish there was a little more thinking involved.

gurganuss

It is not rude to be in control of your health. I think it is rude not to have a healthy option, what if someone has heart problems and is not allowed all that grease. Plus ham is very salty. They should order a very large salad for those people who may not be able to eat what everyone else is eating.

Eat what you want, when you want. It's not at all rude.

BurtHuttz

It's a cultural thing, and it's changing fast. For instance, we've gotten to the point in this society where smoking cigarettes is shunned and embarrassing. People used to turn a blind eye toward it for societal and cultural reasons. Society and culture have changed.

Eating garbage and being overweight is going to head the same way.

I've turned down gross mass-produced sheet cake at office birthdays, and been pressured by unhealthy coworkers - - "oh you can afford it!" I just say, "I afford it because I don't indulge. I can't have it both ways. Enjoy!"

What it WOULD be rude to say is that - - if I'm going to cut loose and indulge, it's going to be for something exquisite - - not some generic Food Lion yellow cake and chemical-tasting 3-tbsp buttercream frosting balloons for February Birthdays.

lorraine311

NOT rude!!!

elekelk

You could try to get involved in ordering the food. It might me extra work but its worth it otherwise you could at least talk to the person ordering and ask for more salad? Don't make too big of a deal of it

MelissR75

Listen girl, it's your life. there is no reason why you should put something in you mouth that is going to upset your insides.Go to the salad bar often enough and someone might follow your example. It is not rude to eat what your body needs. do not apologize. laugh and eat what YOU need. :flowerforyou: ::drinker:

^^this

daffodilsoup

I'd have a side salad or something at the meeting and then have a Clif Bar or a meal from home when I got back to my desk.

mcandyr

There's no reason you HAVE to eat what's there just because it's there, bring your own food - and then you'll eat what you want and have no complaints or stomach upsets.

christy_frank

Not rude. Not rude at all. You can still eat with them, but not what they're eating.

THIS!
The ones that take offense are the ones with the problem. Expect some office talk about you, expect some comments to your face. But next time someone tells you that you are too skinny, tell them they are too fat and ask what the differnce is? If you shouldnt be offended when they comment on your weight why should they get offended when you comment on theirs?

christy_frank

I'd have a side salad or something at the meeting and then have a Clif Bar or a meal from home when I got back to my desk.

Then they will say that she is starving herself. Let them see her eat, making healthier choices.

51powerski

Of course it's not rude. Simply explain to the person concerned that you don't want to eat it because you don't want to get fat.

Remember to maintain eye contact with them whilst saying this, and offer a slight smirk to reassure them.

I hope my adviced helps you.