Advice about social situation needed

[Ricekrispie22]

I have food-orientated OCD which means that I can't eat at a home-cooked buffet. I am embarrassed by my disorder (it's quite severe), and try to hide it from my work colleagues. The trouble is, I've been invited to a buffet lunch 12:30 - 3:00 hosted by one of my colleagues at her house for all of our department at work. I'd like to go, or at least put in an appearance to give some Christmas cards and presents to certain people, but don't know how to avoid the food bit.
Do I ...
a) arrive early, stay for a drink and to drop my cards and presents off and leave before everyone starts eating saying that I've got to be somewhere else?
b) text to say that I've been held up somewhere and call in at about 2:00 for the very last bit?
c) don't go at all? But what excuse do I give?

I don't want it to appear that I'm deliberately avoiding the food. Please try to imagine you have my illness and suggest what you'd do in this situation that would raise the least number of eyebrows!
Thanks

I would say I'm doing the 5:2 diet and it's a fast day

Can’t you go but stick to wrapped things so as not to stand out but eat before you go? If anyone mentions, say you had a prior lunch engagement but wanted to pop along anyway. I’m sure there will be chocolates etc to pick at!

I think go, because you want to. And then just have a drink and don't eat. A buffet takes the focus off whether you are eating or not. People aren't really all that interested in what others eat, but perhaps have a response prepared if you are asked 'had a big breakfast' 'going out tonight' 'just finished a big plateful before you got here'.

Hope you have a nice time

Maybe turn up around 1/1.30.

Perhaps you could get there for about 1pm but say you've already eaten?

A. Say you've had a lunch planned with friends for ages so don't need to eat.

Tell your colleague you'd love to come, but you have a brunch date at 11 so you'll be a little late. Turn up at 1.30 and just drink.

Tell your colleague you'd love to come, but you have a brunch date at 11 so you'll be a little late. Turn up at 1.30 and just drink

Do this!

Just don't make a big deal out of it. Hover about with a drink in your hand being sociable. I doubt anyone will even notice that you aren't eating. If they do say something vague about going out to dinner later but you wouldn't miss this meet up for the world.

If telling the truth is not an option, then simply do not eat but be sociable and show that you enjoy the company.

Nobody will notice and if they do, just say you've already eaten. I rarely eat at a Buffett, just because I don't usually like them and it can be a bit of a faff being type 1 diabetic, a) remembering what I've had or b) predicting what I'm going to have.

No one will notice in a buffet setting.

Bring a bottle and couple of buffet contributions you've made or bought. Nobody will bat an eyelid and you can eat what you've brought.

Use then phrases 'I had brunch I'll have something in a bit' and 'oh I had something a while ago and I'm full'