Advice on saying "No Thanks" for office snacks

If the food was brought in for my birthday, of course I'll eat (a token amount of) it - I'm sure your fitness regime can survive this sort of indulgence once a a year! Otherwise, I politely decline without making an excuse. If I continue to get pushed, I'll bring the plate back to my desk and discretely throw it away. People that try to impose these things on others have issues, and I don't have the time or inclination to try and counsel them back to normalcy.

^^This

One of my previous jobs, the facility manager was very health conscious and always brought in a giant fruit platter for occasions. That was awesome.

I go to the 'birthday cake event' with my water and an apple in tow (although, I'm celiac and can't have cake anyhow). Just bring a healthy snack and when offered - say 'no thanks - i'm good' :happy:

I work in an office that has a fully stocked kitchen for us - candy, snacks, cereal, ice pops, soda, pop tarts, pop corn. I just avoid it. No one is forcing me. If someone offers cupcakes on birthday days, I just don't take one. easy as that!

I work with people that are similar, polite but slightly pushy. When "No, thank you" doesn't work, I just say that I had a big breakfast or lunch. I don't like sharing that I'm on a diet either. That excuse seems to placate most.

I, too, have to deal with what I call "food bullies". They continually ask and push as to why I'm not eating this cake they just made, or the fried chicken that's in the kitchen. A "No, thank you," or "I have food allergies" {nuts + lactose - ugh!} doesn't always work which makes it awkward. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings... just trying to make this lifestyle change permanent!

The last time we had a pitch-in and I didn't eat, one of the girls said "yeah, this is why you're getting skinny and I'm getting fat". I think that people (especially women?) want others to partake so that they don't feel guilty for indulging, but that's about them and how they feel, not about what is best for me.

I had this same experience the other day... it was so incredibly awkward because what do you say? Other than, "yes, that's true."...

I, too, have to deal with what I call "food bullies". They continually ask and push as to why I'm not eating this cake they just made, or the fried chicken that's in the kitchen. A "No, thank you," or "I have food allergies" {nuts + lactose - ugh!} doesn't always work which makes it awkward. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings... just trying to make this lifestyle change permanent!

Tell them what happens when you eat something you're allergic to, and make sure you exaggerate. My brother-in-law has no problem telling people how eating an almond could actually kill him, then following that up with, "I'd rather not do that to my wife". I have gotten very good at describing the food-poison symptoms ingesting lactose would give me. And I do it with snark, sarcasm, and venom, and a healthy dose of "and that will be YOUR fault!"

People who don't respect allergies bother me. A lot. Do they not realize the damage they can do?

"No thanks and if you ask me again I'm going to smack that smirk off of your face!" - no?

Then simply "No, I've changed my dietary habits for health reason, thanks though."

Hi Guys,
ADVICE PLEASE!! Today is the first day my office had birthday snacks that I politely said no thanks too......since starting back up using MFP I really wanted to make sure that I didn't add any extra calories from all the office snacking. Two people asked why I wasn't having any....the first one I just said I wasn't having any today....the second I just said Im not in the mood for that snack today. So my question is, has anyone else had to deal with this and how do you tell them with out saying IM ON A DIET? It was a little annoying when the second person asked since all eyes seemed to be on me at that time, I really didn't know what to say, I didn't feel like I needed to share with the whole office that I am counting calories. Thanks for any advice in advance.

I think you handled it just fine.

I just say no thanks and if they ask me I just tell them I cut back on eating sweets but if its something I know my husband will eat I will take it home to him lol

This too! My husband loves when I bring stuff home.

I let everyone pretty much know that I am changing my lifestyle. I don't say I am on a diet. They know I watch my calories and sugar intake. I also come prepared. I always have some healthier choices in my drawer at work, so if I am tempted I have an option to eat something that is better for me.

I have people parade food in front of me all the time. And they get pushy, leave it on my desk, etc.

I just don't eat it. I have food allergies, and unless I know EXACTLY what is in it, I don't eat it.

You could use that as your no thank you - no, I have food allergies, does this have ____ in it?

It sucks, but if they get really pushy it may work. Some employees have stopped asking me now because they've seen how sick I get. It's not worth it to me.

But before that, I would just say no thanks. And if they asked again I would ignore them.

The last time we had a pitch-in and I didn't eat, one of the girls said "yeah, this is why you're getting skinny and I'm getting fat". I think that people (especially women?) want others to partake so that they don't feel guilty for indulging, but that's about them and how they feel, not about what is best for me.

I had this same experience the other day... it was so incredibly awkward because what do you say? Other than, "yes, that's true."...

I smile, and very sincerely say, But you don't have to! and then I usually plug MFP.

I have a co-worker who was formerly the guy in charge of the yearly cookie competition, and was famous for his deep love of pepsi.

I had an opportunity like that to tell him about MFP.

He started using the site, and he has now lost about 50lbs.

I try to make sure whenever I plug MFP to folks that I am coming off as "I did this, it isn't hard, it's doable, you can, too". I deliberately avoid anything that sounds smug or holier-than-thou, because that won't help anyone, and makes me look bad. A lot of my co-workers have never laid eyes on me "before" and so I show them the picture, again, not to be "look at me" but to demonstrate that my "before" was similar to theirs, and to show that this weight loss thing CAN be done, without having to suffer.

I've run into this problem a few times when I didn't have room for (insert yummy food lacking in protein here). If someone is being particularly difficult I'll take the food, hold it for a minute, and then throw it away.

When they ask later how it tasted I tell them I threw it away. They eventully stop asking me to eat when I'm not interested.