Getting picked on about what you eat at work?

I get it. It's annoying when people comment about what you are eating. No one made them the food police. It doesn't matter what you are eating, unsolicited comments are annoying. Once, ok - but again and again is NOT acceptable (not that one is really acceptable either).

The food police are everywhere. Do your best to calmly tell this co-worker that you really don't find his comments about food entertaining and you wish he would stop. Tell that to anyone who makes comments.

True story here, I have a friend who is quite overweight. Her office orders in ice cream once a month for the people who have birthdays that month. It becomes a sundae fest. She planned her day (her birthday month) where she could have a small scoop of ice cream as a treat and not be over her goal. Well as she was going for the ice cream someone oinked at her and then people started to snicker. These were adults. Not only adults but one of them was a partner in the firm. This was years ago and she's still traumatized by it.

I had someone (not overweight) post on Facebook today asking why do people need to comment that they don't drink soda just because she's drinking a soda? It's annoying.

I can tell you horrible food police and comments that were aimed at me too. The point is, they happen. Try to think of a nice and proper way to stop it as it happens - a comment that doesn't sound rude but makes the other person think about it and hopefully apologize.

I'm a vegetarian - I get "What's THAT?" comments about my lunch all the time, followed by, "Yuck, I hate tofu". So I've started going out for a power walk at lunch, and eating half my meal a little before lunch, and the other half a little after lunch.

Today, at a work luncheon, I was checking the calories of my restaurant lunch on my phone, and I got questions about what I was doing. I answered openly, and shared what I was learning about myself. Of *course*, the tall slender blonde woman on our team made a somewhat-condescending comment about never having to worry about what she ate.

Bottom line, for whatever reason, people always feel free to comment on other people's EVERYTHING. Rest assured, it is about THEM, not you. They are projecting their own fears and guilt out there. When people "critique" my diet or lifestyle - or anything else - I just say, "interesting...."

I eat tuna in oil and cottage cheese with pickles and onions for breakfast.... my coworkers call it alien food....

Typically in an 8 hour shift, I bring some kind of mixed fruit, cheese sticks, greek yogurt, chicken/fish and veggies, or some kind of sandwich wrap, and cucumber/tomatoes. My coworkers will make comments like "you're going to eat all that?" or "you eat like a rabbit" or "i forget you're on a diet."

I just ignore them. It's really none of their business what I do or don't eat. It's not my business to comment on what they eat. I wouldn't have seen a supervisor, because sometimes people really just don't get how what they're saying could hurt someone else's feelings or even be something problematic.

I think it's a little hypocritical that you're making judgment calls on his eating spaghetti, or a danish. It shouldn't be "surprising" that he's in good shape.

You are the kind of person that destroys work environments and makes people miserable at work. Just an fyi. Camaraderie should be the way.

I would understand if he was putting you down for your food choices, but the guy is just making conversation in a joking manner. I really think you're overreacting. Not to mention in another post you just critiqued all of his food choices..

I say: "don't yuck my yum, man".

People are ridiculous...and jealous. Seeing someone have the will power and strength to eat healthy when they can't makes them feel weak and inadequate...so they have to make themselves feel better by assuming there is something wrong with you for not wanting to stuff your face with ham loaf and french fries.

There's an easy answer....tell them to STFU

Every day someone comments on my snacks or the amount of food I am eating. It's silly because they go out and bring back large amounts of food and gobble it down like it's the thing to do. Some one is always saying things like oh go have a hamburger or trying to get me to eat some potato chips or other things that I do not and will not eat on a regular basis at least. I just tell them there is a time for that and it is not now and I do splurge every once in a while but can not do it everyday or every meal. I also inform them that I eat a normal portion size. That always gets them.

Maybe I'm just wired differently and I heard this conversation going down a certain way in my head, but really...

It sounded like was hitting on/flirting with you, in that sort of inept way guys sometimes have when we think we're being charming but aren't.

^ I agree with this.

I just tell them "you be mirin my body in sheddin season"

"How about a nice hot cup of shut the f*&^k up?"

Yes :bigsmile: :drinker:

You are the kind of person that destroys work environments and makes people miserable at work.

This is the kind of people our society is creating.... Everything is offensive, noone can take a joke or turn the other cheek.

From what I read this guy didnt even say anything wrong, if you didnt like his comments you should have said, "Do I have to listen to this every day because I dont think it is funny, and I would appreciate it if you would stop." Essentially, you are an adult and you just tattled. He was not "picking on you." And if you truly felt he was, where was the part of the conversation where you stood up for yourself? That should be your go-to, not running to a supervisor. besides, that makes you look really unprofessional, too, supervisors have bigger fish to fry...

Also, as someone else pointed out: you picking apart his eating habits is just as rude, and if he shouldnt pay attention to what you eat, why are you even looking at his plate? thats none of YOUR business, either...

Word

Just had a 2 hour bicker-fest with a couple coworkers who were getting all irritated that I didn't want a cupcake! I offered to give it to someone else, bring it home for my fiance, etc. and they wouldn't accept it. One even said, "I'm not eating one unless she [me] does, and you have to eat it here so I can make sure you eat it" Then they proceeded to make fun of me.

That's crazy. I'd just say, "well, I guess you don't get to eat one- what a shame". And where do they get off making fun of you?

I didn't realize how fortunate I am- I work in a department of very health-conscious people. One is vegetarian, one is gluten-free and won't eat any processed food or artificial ingredients, one has high cholesterol in her 20s (inherited) and is determined to stay off of statins- and the boss runs marathons. Nobody hassles anybody about what they eat or don't eat.

It must be harder for people who are overweight to put up with this- in my case, I'm close to my goal weight and my response would be, "this discipline is what got me to my goal weight and I'm not gonna mess with it now". I hope the rest of you get there soon- it's a pretty powerful argument!