Workplace Pressure

I am continuing to notice benefits from a higher raw diet, from more energy and less intestinal problems which is a huge thing. I find I don’t miss breads or dairy near as much as I thought I would, zucchini pasta is great even cooked when I’m craving a hot, vegan meal. I have no cravings for cheese or dairy products, the nut-based cheese recipes are great and creamier than the non-fat dairy I would have bought in the past.

Anyway, I was wondering around another department today when a co-worker approached me with a large grocery-store bakery box full of ginormous, 400-calorie-each cookies. I politely declined by simply saying no thank you. She insisted again and again I politely declined. She responded with a dirty look and turned away, not sure why she seemed offended, she didn’t bake them and it was right after lunch time, I wasn’t hungry and didn’t feel like misbehaving after feeling energized from a raw salad and soup lunch. I was almost tempted to tell her I had deadly food allergies, but reminded myself I shouldn’t have to lie or worry about this at all. As I’ve posted about before, I have a thing with office junk food pressure, it’s awkward to deal with when I don’t want to offend anyone and not blow my good eating habits. Junk food tends to be an addictive drug, easy to turn it down after avoiding it for awhile, but one little taste and temptation rears it’s ugly head for more, it’s just easier to not get started at all. I don’t mind if someone brings food in, just don’t try to shove it down anyone’s throat.

Getting criticism at work for healthy eating habits can be hard to deal with also, I was at a lunch-catered day training event for work recently and it was Chinese food. Not having many healthy options (fried rice, egg rolls, noodles, etc.), I loaded my plate with a weak, ice burg salad mix (AKA white trash lettuce per Howard Stern) and a vegetable stir fry. A, um, not-so-healthy co-worker loading her plate behind me blurts out loudly, “Jeez Christine, you eat too healthy!” I just smiled and joked that it’s not the end of the world, it wasn’t exactly a good time to go over the benefits of a healthy diet and she’s the first to say, “ew!”, whenever anyone mentions vegetables.

My boss has a local pizza buffet he likes and tries to get everyone to go for lunch frequently, I never do because the salad bar is terrible, not worth the price for non-pizza eaters. Luckily, most co-workers in the department decline as well due to the lack of food selection. But the first time I declined, he tried to put me on a huge guilt trip and I just politely explained I’m not a pizza fan and would not get my money’s worth. Since I have fruit sitting on my desk and never indulge in junk food, most people have just stopped harassing me about it. I like to think by quietly eating healthy, I’m promoting a better diet. But in an environment packed with processed, cheap junk food, it’s can be difficult avoiding it while not hurting anyone’s feelings. My hope is whole foods gain more popularity and people are more inclined to bring produce into work rather than junk, I love grabbing and appreciating the little that is already brought in from people’s gardens, like tomatoes, squash, oranges, etc. It’s going to be fun heading into heavy junk-food-at-work season.