Work birthday - I'm a jerk for not eating pizza and cake

I sometimes find that being ultra private about something means people get nosey, and they think you're trying to be secretive so they keep asking questions. Maybe if people get really pushy you could explain it a bit, then perhaps they will stop pushing?

My work birthday party for me is next Wednesday. My boss says he is buying me pizza and we always have cake and ice cream. Last year I puked after eating (not on purpose) because I was not used to eating crappy food. This year I am not sure I want to even eat it if its going to make me sick.

Talk about "re-gifting"!

I'm really fortunate. Where I work, dietary stuff is not an issue. If someone doesn't want to eat something, no one makes an issue about it.

Holiday celebrations are pot-luck style, so there's something for everyone.

I wish it could be that way for everyone.

Good luck, everyone.

Makes me glad i work at home! The only food offered here is in my garden.

Boy, that escalated quickly

I get the impression there are a lot of unemployable people hanging out here.

Thirty seconds to type one-liners means we're all on welfare! You caught us!

Please send us cake and/or pizza, OP. We need jobs!

You have to take care of #1. Plain & simple.

If you can't eat dairy, it's not really a matter of choice. One good overshare about that would shut them up: "if I ate the cheese and ice cream my butt would violently paint the bathroom brown. So no thank you."

Perhaps you're being too sensitive. It was kind of the co-worker who said he would have purchased something dairy-free for you. And, it's doubtful people saw you as a jerk for eating healthy. It might have simply been a compliment.

I've had people call me a jerk for eating healthy...it does happen

I'm sorry you have rude coworkers. My husband faces the same thing at work sometimes (he has a dairy allergy and a gluten intolerance)....he often can't eat ANY of the food others bring in, so he makes a brief appearance at parties/events but then leaves. Others also think he's weird for eating chicken and veggies for lunch every day...but my husband is an athlete and has always eaten like that - he is very aware of nutrition and eating healthy. Then again, the guy sitting next to my husband apparently eats a Milky Way and a large Mt. Dew for lunch....everyday. So my husband isn't surrounded by anyone else who eats well at work and he ends up looking more 'out of the ordinary' there.

Don't let your coworkers get to you - you are doing what is good for you and healthy for you. That's the most important thing.

It is our culture to celebrate with food. Think about it - every holiday, every special occasion, every memorable event - the first thing we plan is the menu. The wedding cake...the cookout...the holiday meal...the birthday cake. If they look at you funny, its because you are bucking tradition, stepping outside of the comfort zone, making it ok to say no, making them think perhaps they should have been strong enough to do that to.

You are not a jerk, so ignore it and walk away. Do what you have to do and don't worry about it. Don't take things so personally. Get over yourself.

It sounds to me as though the person it bothers the most is YOU. Everyone else has already forgotten. I guarantee that they won't remember it again...until next time.

I disagree. They are not looking at her funny because they feel bad about what they are eating. I've seen that statement a bunch of times in this thread and judging people for their food choices is just wrong, whether they are eating healthy or not. They are looking at her funny because she is breaking the social contract by not participating, and in essence feel like she is rejecting them. It's not like holidays, birthdays, and celebrations come of out nowhere and you're completely blindsided. If eating healthy is important to you, bring something healthy to contribute to the celebration for everyone to share. That way people feel like you are actually participating in the group and not just showing up out of obligation. It's really not difficult.

It is our culture to celebrate with food. Think about it - every holiday, every special occasion, every memorable event - the first thing we plan is the menu. The wedding cake...the cookout...the holiday meal...the birthday cake. If they look at you funny, its because you are bucking tradition, stepping outside of the comfort zone, making it ok to say no, making them think perhaps they should have been strong enough to do that to.

You are not a jerk, so ignore it and walk away. Do what you have to do and don't worry about it. Don't take things so personally. Get over yourself.

It sounds to me as though the person it bothers the most is YOU. Everyone else has already forgotten. I guarantee that they won't remember it again...until next time.

I disagree. They are not looking at her funny because they feel bad about what they are eating. I've seen that statement a bunch of times in this thread and judging people for their food choices is just wrong, whether they are eating healthy or not. They are looking at her funny because she is breaking the social contract by not participating, and in essence feel like she is rejecting them. It's not like holidays, birthdays, and celebrations come of out nowhere and you're completely blindsided. If eating healthy is important to you, bring something healthy to contribute to the celebration for everyone to share. That way people feel like you are actually participating in the group and not just showing up out of obligation. It's really not difficult.

^ the elephant in the middle of the thread.

i don't understand why people feel the need to make a scene about not eating cake or pizza or whatever at work. just take a bite. show your appreciation. stop being a martyr. it's not hard to figure out... one bite never hurt anybody. unless you are risking going into anaphalactic shock (such as with a severe peanut allergy), it's only one bite to show your appreciation and participation.