Called “greedy” at work

I'm not convinced by this tbh. Op, have you added the "kids" detail in to get people to agree with you? This seemed fabricated.
What was your contribution to the buffet? It also does sound like you were eating alot more than everybody else, for it to be so noticeable. There was a woman I used to work with that would bring in a cheap packet of biscuits that cost £1, if that, then eat loads. Meanwhile the rest of us supplied the rest, and not as well off as she was either. Some people put a lot of effort in, homemaking things, and bringing in a lot. I think it is understandable that when the buffet has finished, some may want to wrap the rest of a cake they've made ror example, and take that back. Husband might have said "Bring me a slice back, if there's any left over at the end."

If you're thinking there is loads of food left, is there really though? If there's say 20 staff and they all haven't back up yet, for instance. It sounds like you were eating a lot more than your share.

You weren't being greedy, there is always too much left over at this kind of work buffet. Presumably the parents only brought in the same amount as the non-parents, so why should they get extra for their kids?
The greedy ones are the people who don't bring anything, but still tuck in.
In my craft group, if anyone brought cakes in, one woman always said "can I take the rest for my kids?" despite most of us having kids or grandchildren/nieces/nephews.
I used to say no, I promised to take the leftovers home for DH and family.
Cheeky f***s.

People do tend to notice those that keep taking more from a buffet, biscuit tin, etc than most. There are obviously no rules but it can seem greedy to keep taking.

I know it’s harsh, but I would think someone is being greedy if they went up 4 times in one afternoon.

Usually on a buffet they’re cut into 4 though like little triangles, so it’d still take 4 ‘sandwiches’ to make up 2 slices of bread. Still sounds like a lot from OPs description though

People today seem to age. Forgotten the difference between things you can say and things you should just think.😆. they were bloody rude

This . 4 visits for sandwiches is a lot but I wouldn’t say anything. Personally I don’t want food that has sat about for hours. They were very rude though.

It probably has been earmarked by those with kids and you disturbed the invisible label.

I'm curious to how many Sandwiches you had altogether though but it my head a sandwich is 2 slices of bread

What did you bring OP, and how much of it?

Unless genuinely struggling and unable to feed their families, who gives their kids food that has been out for so long (and other people had potentially touched all afternoon)? I’d judge them more for being shit parents than you for having extra servings …

I’m sure I’ve read this exact thing before.

My first thought is that anyone who noticed how often you visited the buffet clearly hasn't got enough work to do - who has time to track this sort of thing at work?

My second thought is that I'm surprised there was so much competition over it - usually it's almost impossible to get rid of buffet leftovers at work!

As for leftovers being designated for those with children - what a load of nonsense - once everyone has had a chance to take their share, it's first come, first served.

I would never bring office leftovers home for my kids 🤢

They were rude to say what they did and decide only those with kids could take it home, that’s just silly on their part. But some people are greedy with buffets, hopefully you atleast brought in a decent amount of food too

It is not creedy to go back for seconds or thirds or fourths. It is there to he eaten.
As long as everyone has had the opportunity to do the same. In the afternoon the ones wanting to have a takeaway could have gotten some stuff to their containers. And no, those do not usually go for employees with kids.

'Those with kids'
Enough said.
I bet they expect the first choice of the annual leave times too.

Same here.

Wouldn’t it be easier if everyone just took home what they brought?

Also food left out from lunch and all afternoon..yuk! 🤢

Maybe take one of those shopping carts old people have next time. Just shove the food into it and say you're taking it for the needy.

OP the only reason you could possibly be accused of greed is if you don’t contribute to the buffet in the first place or bring something cheap and horrible that is a much lesser contribution than everyone else’s.

Agree that the buffet is there to be eaten and the taking stuff home/kid thing is weird.

they were unfair to decide what to do with the leftovers without communicating or consensus, however if I had been your colleague I’d have privately thought you were either hungover or eating your way through a bad period.

This reminds me of my old toxic workplace and an especially toxic, selfish colleague. We did a kind of informal bake-off once where about 8 out of say 12 of us signed up to bring in a homemade treat one week (a different person each week.) The 4 or so who didn’t sign up are those who rarely work on-site or have restricted diets. Everyone takes public transport to work and it was really just for fun so people would just being in 8-10 portions of what they had made so everyone could taste.

As soon as she arrived, cheeky toxic fucker would put at least 2 (usually 4) portions into her purposeful Tupperware for her teenage sons’ snack! I avoided interacting with her as she was just such an awful person (and the main reason I left working there) but a blunt, Australian colleague just called her out, just factually, without being rude or pass-agg, and it was glorious.

I think we are more affected by random comments from people if it reminds us of something or picks at a mental scab.

i am good at my job. I’ve also got a case of imposter syndrome so if someone suggests I’m not good then I can spiral if I don’t have a harsh wird with myself. Did she hit a nerve?

or could be that she’s been accused of being greedy, or she really watches her weight and would love to be like you enjoying food. we sometimes lash out at a behaviour that we have been told is wrong so it may all be about her.

id lean into it, get a mr men mr greedy t shirt!

Did you contribute a fair share to the buffet in the first place? That is the only way I can imagine you were being unreasonable, if you were tucking in, having contributed little or nothing?

I'll admit to me it sounds like you had a lot, an hour after lunch you went back for several more sandwiches, another hour and a couple of sandwiches, flapjacks and a muffin. That's all I'd normally eat for lunch and I wouldn't be constantly grazing all afternoon

You aren't greedy OP. I expect the people making the comment wanted free food for their kids. To be honest, who the actual fuck wants to take home buffet food that's been hanging around most of the day. And made in someone's kitchen that might be skanky anyway.

As a teenager I was reprimanded at a wake by the son-in-law of the deceased for trying to take a second piece of the only vegetarian offering because ‘everyone else likes it too’. I still feel a mix of shame and indignation three decades on!