Just be gracious and say "no thanks". Don't explain yourself or you open up the door for people to argue/urge. "No thanks" or even "wow, that foods looks terrific but I'm not hungry right now" and walk away. You have every right to choose to eat or not eat. If someone is extremely pushy about food (ideally just avoid the area where it is!) and you've said "no thanks' a number of times, calmly explain to them that it's unacceptable for someone to try to force another person to eat.

Please do not say "I don't eat carbs" because, yes, you do. Vegetables and fruits are carbs.

I tend to find that the more that I say "Oh, no thanks, I don't eat wheat/grains/rice/cupcakes/candy/etc", the more that people try to argue with me (why?!). If I leave it as "no thank you!", people don't seem to question nearly as much!

It's hard when people try to assuage their own guilt by pushing food onto you.

Absolutely agree ^

I have always been very open with my work colleagues about the food I'm trying to avoid if offered treats etc. Going back a few years, after politely refusing birthday cakes, donuts & sweets (on more than one occasion) 'certain' colleagues decided the best place to put the office treats for people to help themselves to, was on...MY desk.

Even though I was screaming inside "GET THESE THE F OFF MY DESK", I took no notice and pushed them to the side without saying a word :happy:

It's hard when people try to assuage their own guilt by pushing food onto you.

Absolutely agree ^

I have always been very open with my work colleagues about the food I'm trying to avoid if offered treats etc. Going back a few years, after politely refusing birthday cakes, donuts & sweets (on more than one occasion) 'certain' colleagues decided the best place to put the office treats for people to help themselves to, was on...MY desk.

Even though I was screaming inside "GET THESE THE F OFF MY DESK", I took no notice and pushed them to the side without saying a word :happy:

That's where I'd just move them to a different common area and politely ask that they keep them elsewhere. If they keep doing it, report it to their manager. What they're doing is bullying, plain and simple. It's a passive aggressive attempt at having some power over you and can lead to a hostile work environment.

Makes me glad I work from home. None of that office crap to deal with. :happy:

Say you're gluten intolerant. Chances are 99% of the stuff they bring in will have gluten in it, so you have a legitimate excuse.

"I don't want it" is a legitimate reason for not taking something that is offered. No other reason is necessary.

It's hard when people try to assuage their own guilt by pushing food onto you.

Absolutely agree ^

I have always been very open with my work colleagues about the food I'm trying to avoid if offered treats etc. Going back a few years, after politely refusing birthday cakes, donuts & sweets (on more than one occasion) 'certain' colleagues decided the best place to put the office treats for people to help themselves to, was on...MY desk.

Even though I was screaming inside "GET THESE THE F OFF MY DESK", I took no notice and pushed them to the side without saying a word :happy:

That's where I'd just move them to a different common area and politely ask that they keep them elsewhere. If they keep doing it, report it to their manager. What they're doing is bullying, plain and simple. It's a passive aggressive attempt at having some power over you and can lead to a hostile work environment.

Makes me glad I work from home. None of that office crap to deal with. :happy:

Say you're gluten intolerant. Chances are 99% of the stuff they bring in will have gluten in it, so you have a legitimate excuse.

"I don't want it" is a legitimate reason for not taking something that is offered. No other reason is necessary.

^this. Completely. I would NOT think it funny or innocent if people were putting unhealthy foods on my desk. Definitely bullying. Unacceptable. Yup, don't give any reason, "no thanks" is more than sufficient.

It wasn't the first time I've experienced this type of behavior from these two colleagues.

One would often shout at the top of his voice, “Every time I look at you, you’re eating! You want to be careful – it’s starting to show!” or “I think you better cut down, your clothes are getting tighter” and they’d both giggle. Along with plenty of other inappropriate comments that implied I was getting "fat"

I've also been humiliated in a crowded elevator on two separate occasions by another colleague. The first time, I had been going through a tough time in my life and had lost some weight through stress. This woman told me the weight-loss didn't suit me and it made me look ill. The second time, less than a month later, she announced, once again in the elevator! “So, you've put all your weight back on then!”

It isn't funny, it’s nasty & hurtful. The environment I was in (a male-orientated stockbroking desk) meant I had developed a thick-skin. I would often smile, laugh and shrug it off; I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of getting angry and upset. I would laugh because I pitied them. This middle aged man & woman were so insecure about themselves, they had to bully a 20-something year old about her weight and eating habits.

Yep, people can be mean. Especially in an office.

Edited to add: I weighed between 96-105lb during their "fat-shaming" phase.