Embarrassed

That sounds like you have some pretty crappy co-workers, but something tells me if they act this way about a smell in the microwave, they are probably pretty crappy in general and it is more about their personalities than it is the food you brought in.

Now, this, of course, is based on how you framed it. You also might want to look at whether or not you are simply embarrassed, (especially since the act is tied to something emotional like your goal of losing weight) and are reading too much into the things they are saying and giving their words too much power. Instead of shutting down and letting it effect you, you can try to embrace it with humor. "Yeah, yeah, I know...healthy food taste like crap and apparently smells like crap too. But at least I won't feel like crap after eating it".

That said, I think there are a ton of better options out there than lean cuisines that you can do that can be fun to make, taste better, and be better for you.


Its very cheap to pick up your own food containers.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I8AQYCQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can get multiple packages of Uncle Bens Brown and Wild rice. (Two servings per package)
https://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Bens-Ready-Whole-Medley/dp/B0053B7CT8/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1485540588&sr=1-1&keywords=Uncle+Bens+brown+wild+rice

And then you can grill/bake 5 servings of salmon or chicken spiced the way you like. Throw in either some peas, asparagus tips, or some green beans and you have a perfect meal for lunch that will taste good, be healthier for you and won't make a smell in the office.

You can switch it up from time to time to getting whole grain pasta with some chicken and a few sprinkles of cheese with some well-made tomato sauce. (Something with only a few ingredients or one that you make yourself)

The great thing about this is you spend one-day cooking, like a Sunday, and you fix meals for the whole week. (We do it as a family and use it as time to spend together with my wife and kids) You remove the decision-making process out of it and keep the convenience. Just grab your lunch and then bring a lot of water and some fruit to work with you to snack in between meals. Hope this helps, don't let them get you down and good luck!

I sometimes make and freeze breakfast sandwiches with turkey bacon and bring them to work to reheat in the communal microwave. There was a snarky coworker who made rude comments the first couple times I did this about the "foul smell" and wondering "who would eat something that smells that gross?" until I decided I had had enough. Even though I was embarrassed, I just loudly responded with "Yep! That was me!" After that she never had anything to say again. Instead of feeling embarrassed, try and own it. In my experience, your own reaction will often determine how others choose to react.