Dealing with a coworker who always offers food!

kacollins1970

I have a co-worker who is always offering me tastes, bites, etc. of the food she brings in. I have told her repeatedly "no", and just recenlty, to please stop b/c I'm struggling and have my foods planned. She agreed not to ask anymore, then again this morning asks again! It almost a daily occurrence. I finally blew up a bit today. I don't know how else to tell this person "I don't want to try your food" without yelling, screaming and hurting feelings. Any suggestions?!

BeeElMarvin

Maybe "No Thanks."

You forgot the magic word!

AllonsYtotheTardis

I suspect this person isn't doing it to be mean, but rather it's her habit. Some people are brought up with "always share when you bring food". That's not a bad attitude - it's actually a nice, polite thing to do. It's just really hard for people who are watching their food intake.

Sorry that the temptation is ever-present. I hope it gets easier for you.

goonas

Take the food, and just throw it straight in the bin - they won't ask you again, especially if they are not listening to your constant saying "no".

forestrose910

This is your decision and your journey. Just accept the fact that she will continue to bring things in. Be prepared to politely say no. You do not need to explain yourself to her. Just say no thank you and let it go. You cannot control what others do but you can control how you react. Food at work and cooworkers offering food is a difficult situation and it will always be there no matter what. so you need to have your plan of how you will respond, resist and react. good luck, you can do this.

Athijade

I think they are just attempting to be polite. Some people feel like they can not eat in front of another person without offering them a bit. Nothing wrong with that. This is a lifestyle change and this sort of situation is one you will have to deal with... without blowing up at people no matter how many times they offer. Just smile, shake your head, and say "No thank you." when she offers.

dfborders

Unfortunately no. For some reason some people just don't get it. I had a co-worker who was very thin and ate a take-out breakfast (including fried hash browns), a huge lunch and would eat ice cream in the afternoon then go home and eat dinner. This woman never worked out...she always asked me if I wanted ice cream, etc. I always said no. I finally decided it just wasn't worth being upset over and told her no. She had been skinny her whole life and was around 50 and still skinny. She literally had no clue what it is like to struggle with your weight and have to be very meticulous in what you eat if you want to lose weight. She really didn't mean any harm and I would just hold up my raw carrots or fruit and ask her if she wanted some which she would reply "no":laugh:

ScatteredThoughts

Take the food, and just throw it straight in the bin - they won't ask you again, especially if they are not listening to your constant saying "no".

My thoughts exactly.

niftyafterfifty

I'm sure it's annoying, but I think the best response is a simple, "no thank you". Saying anything more could jeopardize your working relationship; I don't think it's worth it.

kacollins1970

I have said "no thank you", "no thanks", etc. Just doesn't get it..

Kirkajuice

Make up a sign saying "No" or a picture of a fairy cake with a giant cross over it and then hold it up if she offers you food? Depends on her personality, my colleagues would find that funny and not have any hard feelings :laugh:

RGO51

Apologize and explain that you have developed a paranoia about eating food if you don't see it being prepared. You haven't been in her kitchen, and therefore you can't be absolutely certain the food was prepared in a sanitary environment. Say all this with kind of an apologetic smile. It implies that you think she's not clean, and should keep her away for quite a while.

renamarie77

Take em and enjoy em. A few tastes won't hurt anything. Maybe. lol

bodiva88

If you ask nicely repeatedly and are ignored, you need to get nasty. Don't apologize for taking care of yourself. I think I'd get mad enough after a while to ask when she was going to start bringing a loaded gun into work. Because if she wants to kill me, she might as well do it quickly.

AliciaStaton

Its not nice, but you need to more strong and tell her no, even if you have to tell them every single day. We have that all the time in our office and I always say no, because at the end of the day its all about my health and not anyone elses. I have my own snacks and the people who I work with are aware, they do ask me, but I alway say no.

Sounds like you are doing ok, but the only person who could undo it all, is you.

Ke22yB

Last resort tell them it is a health issue without specifics you cant eat any sugars carbs etc whatever the offering if they bring in a grilled chicken breast you can gladly accept it do this a time or two maybe mention if I eat this and go into sugar shock please call 911

mzape85

No thanks but i have a snack already!!!! and bring healthy snack and offer them yours.
:laugh:

cajungirltx

I know exactly how you feel. We have a kitchen in our office and there is always food. Co-workers bring in food and we are fed by vendors often. We also have a candy drawer(always full of different bite size chocolates from Sam's), cookies, chips, nuts, etc at all times. Its so hard because none of our co-workers diet and I've gained 25 lbs. Its a daily challenge for me Monday thru Friday.

Even though no one asks me to eat unhealthy, its a challenge just having the temptaion.

LauritaS767

This is always a tough one, I just say no and stick to my guns. The reality is that these people don't have the same health and fitness goals as i do, so I try not to take frustrations out on them. They don't seem to understand how hard it is to maintain any kind of weight loss, or even to lose the weight. If the same coworker continually asks me to try their food, I explain to them that I while I appreciate the offer, I am trying to not eat sugar, too many simple carbs... whatever it takes for them to understand.

I can say it's not always easy to get them to understand, but I'm doing it for me and my health...

drmryder

Put a sign on your desk that says 'Please don't feed the animal". :laugh: :flowerforyou:

Perhaps this woman is your will power check and your NSV each day. You win each morning when you tell her, 'that looks good, but I will pass, thank you'.

mrstravisjones

Don't get too angry with her. I highly doubt she is trying to be inconsiderate. In fact, I bet she is just trying to be friendly and social. She probably didn't even give it a second thought when she offered... again.

I think this should just be a lesson in willpower for you. There will always be food obstacles, and part of a healthy lifestyle is being able to say no to things you don't need.

Don't take it to heart.

I have to say no to food all the time without people even offering. Every food commercial, every restaurant I drive by, every time I go to the kitchen for a glass of water. It's part of the journey to not letting food control you.

Bossit

scream NO MEANS NO!

and then run away

paulywoo

I'm sure it's annoying, but I think the best response is a simple, "no thank you". Saying anything more could jeopardize your working relationship; I don't think it's worth it.

This

angiemartin78

Take the food, and just throw it straight in the bin - they won't ask you again, especially if they are not listening to your constant saying "no".

LOL

drmerc

grab the food and THROW IT ON THE GROUND

Cathcandoo

Here's the thing....everyone LOVES sticky notes!!! So, just write, "Does not accept any food hand outs, due to religious reasons, thank you for respecting my wishes"...on a sticky and stick it on your computer, wall, door...whatever.

The decline will be respected on many levels...for one - it is on a STICKY! Two....she wouldn't want to offend your "Health Religion" beliefs...and three....did I mention the STICKY NOTE????

lallaloolly

just say "no thank you." every day. short, sweet, and polite. and it takes nothing out of you to just say "no, thank you," but it takes a lot to get all worked up and direct so much anger at this person. try to remember that this person isn't asking to be cruel or mean; it is likely how he/she was raised, to share. your irritation stems from your own situation (if you weren't trying to watch your food intake, you probably wouldn't mind being offered food)...

my stepdad drinks coffee only once in a blue moon, but my mom still offers it to him every morning. she isn't offering to be rude, she's offering because 1 time out of 100, he might say yes. and those other 99 times, he says, "no, thank you," and goes back to reading his paper.

Christine1110

Yep...just a no thanks. I have a hubby that eats, cake, cookies, & my favorite ice cream every night. I want to be thin to much to have it. Losing the weight makes me strong...and keeps me strong. There is no junk foods that make me feel as good as seeing the fat come off of me!! I just remember that when someone try to get me to eat their junk foods. I pack good tasty foods for me to eat. Being perpard is key to weightloss...and not using excuses allowing yourself to have to eat fast food junk!!

Good luck

tanyaslosingit

Instead of expecting your co-worker to change, perhaps you need to challenge yourself to saying "No, thank you" as an automatic response and moving on. There's nothing to be gained by blowing up at or insulting this person, whose life/behavior happens to not revolve around your lifestyle change. Just a thought :-)

redhousecat

If she is spoon feeding you bites, obviously, try saying no "thank you".
or
if you like the food and worried about calories, take the bite, swish it in your mouth and fake swallow. :shrug:

if it is plates of food, offer a no "thank you"
or
take the plate of food and eat it later in moderation
or
take the food and offer it to a homeless person on the way home
or
take the food and offer it to hubby
or
take the food and offer it to your rugrat


There are so many other options that you don't have to get bent over it.

secretlobster

"No thanks" every time.

Hopefully you realize that she has her own problems with food insecurity.