Colleagues commenting on how much food I eat

[Chapterstackss]

It has been happening for a while. I probably do eat more than a lot of people, but I eat more on my office days because people bring in snacks and we have cafe etc so I take advantage of it. I am very healthy at home and mostly have healthy dinners so I let myself have a treat at work as we are only in two days a week and I look forward to it.

However, some of my colleagues have been making comments that are starting to hurt my feelings and I’m not sure if I just need to get thicker skin and pull myself together as it’s just lighthearted, or whether I should say something?

some of the comments are:
”I can’t believe how much you eat”
“if I ate as much as you I’d be 20 stone”
”are you going for MORE food?”
“do you carry on eating when you get home?”
”I bet even your husband doesn’t eat as much as you”
“the calories that you’ve eaten in your lunch are more than I have all day”

Amongst other things. Today people brought in baked cakes for easter and there were LOADS left over. I asked if I could take an extra piece home for my husband and they said yes of course. But then a few people started laughing when they saw me wrapping it up saying “oh I knew YOU would be the one to leave with a goody bag”

I know they are just joking and not saying these things maliciously, but I think it’s rude. Why do they have to comment on it? I feel humiliated and like shit about myself. I do eat more than the rest of the people on my team but I still don’t think I eat an obscene amount. I don’t feel like the comments are warranted.

Is it reasonable of me to say something? Or am I just being overly sensitive? I’ve tried to just not eat as much while I’m in the office but then I feel like why should I? If I’m hungry and I want to eat, I should be able to.

Two options.

1. Say something "please stop commenting on my food intake - i dont want to discuss it"

1. Burst into tears next time someone says something about it

I'd laugh and say "oh, I eat twice as much as home"
"I got sacked from the pie shop 'cos I ate them all"

Or some such comments

People always say I eat like a horse at work but it's because I don't eat much at home as I train straight after work until 9pm.

It does not bother me- I have a very low fat percentage so it doesn't trigger me and I know they are implying I overeat.

The only thing that irks me is that if I were to comment of Yvonne having 3 slices of cake after her weight watchers salad she would be mortally offended and probably complain

You should pull them up on it. Tell them that it is humiliating and hurtful.

Are they bigger than you? Maybe they're jealous that they have to keep a closer eye.

I'd just say, I think that comment was slightly amusing the very first time I heard it.... Now, not so much.

I eat more at work than I do at home. The snacks call to me.
frankly it’s rude to comment on someone eating so you should tell them as such

Just say 'haha, if I ate what you did I'd lose about 20 stone! I'm surprised you don't faint. You must eat loads when you get home as you're not that petite are you? Are you sure you don't want some cake? Mmmm...cake.' then take a big exaggerated bite.

Is this everyone, or just a few. And are those few a bit obsessed with diets or weight or whatever?

I wouldnt have thought people are that interested in how much other people eat

Actually I have just typed that out and remembered what I read often on this bloody site. Your colleagues must be the embodiment of mumsnet!!!

Yes im the same. There’s vending machines, snacks people have brought in, a coffee van that comes every day with sandwiches and snacks, then the free cafe. I’m only in two days a week so I can’t resist when I’ve been so good at home!

really it shouldn’t bother me because I know that I don’t eat like this all the time, and I’m not overweight. But I have started to find it rude now as it’s all the time. The odd comment here and there, fine. But I feel judged and it just doesn’t feel nice

Unless you are eating so much it is cutting into the time you should be working (I have a colleague who is always sneaking off to eat, and is never at her desk when I need her) it is none of their business!

I am in a team of 8 including myself and my manager, and it’s 5 of them that make the comments. Two of those people don’t eat in the office at all. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve never seen them eat, they don’t take a lunch break. But the other three just eat their lunch and that’s it.. maybe the odd snack. So in comparison to them yes I eat a lot. But I feel like I should be able to eat what I want without judgment and comments

You should be able to eat what you want without judgement and comments, you’re completely correct.

Have you asked them to stop?

say 'i eat annoying twats too'

There's a thread running right now about not giving a fuck and how freeing that is.

If you complain you risk the group eye roll, which would make you feel worse.

Bon appetite OP 😋

Yes that’s what I think as well. That’s why I haven’t said anything. But I don’t know how to just not give a fuck when people are being rude. I guess I have to just suck it up, or start eating less in the office

Are you leaving some for everyone else? I have a colleague who will eat twice as many of the cakes that other people have brought in, and then take some home for her husband / kids. I don't take snacks to share with her family who I have never met!!

It’s really rude of them to comment, but I wonder if they have the perception that you are slacking off if you are going to the vending machine, coffee van and the cafe steadily throughout the day (not saying you are, just that they might think you are). People only usually comment on things when they feel personally affronted by it - are you eating a lot of crunchy food at your desk etc?

Yes of course hahah! I dont actually eat THAT much. It sounds like I’m constantly inhaling food at my desk but I’m actually not. It’s just that in comparison to them it’s a lot.

Today I had some toast, watermelon, grapes, a creme egg, vegan sushi and then one slice of cake and a few Pringles. I only ever take one of whatever is being passed around the office. But most people don’t eat any. And then it gets given to me because I now have a reputation of being the girl who eats a lot. So when there’s stuff left over at the end of the day they put it on my desk and say “she’ll eat it”

@Chapterstackss you're taking their comments far too seriously! I'm sure they're not saying it in a mean way... There's all kind of colleague types and you just happen to be the 'foodie' one! In my workplace we have the 'cold' one who's always freezing, the 'drama Queen' where even the simplest thing is very dramatic, the 'hot' one who always has a fan going, the 'fitness fanatic' who lives and breaths the gym, the 'glamorous' one who's never without a full face of makeup and designer clothes and of course the 'foodie' one who's always eating or talking about food! It makes life interesting to have variety as otherwise it would be boring!

If it's any comfort @Chapterstackss it's awkward from the other side too! My middle aged spread is trying very hard to spread further than I'm happy with so I mainly don't indulge in the office, some of my coworkers snack a lot and they can't deal with me not joining in. It's just as annoying being pestered to have a doughnut/biscuit/piece of cake all the time when you don't want it, I have a collections of sweets in my top draw I've accepted just to make them stop 😂

Its a really good point. Im actually 3 of those ones!!

But their comments are negative though in my opinion. They make me feel bad about myself. They’re saying i eat more than my 6ft 3 husband. Commenting on how many calories are in my lunch… it’s rude. Commenting on people’s food and eating habits isn’t the same as being the hot one in the office in my opinion. But then again, I’ll gladly take this on board because it is possible im just overly sensitive. I don’t know how not to be though

Me & xH were huge eaters. I've had comments for years. He had comments for years. Never bothered me.

It's factual for us.
It sounds factual observation for OP, so how can offence be taken.

Yea that's just plain rude of them! You aren't overweight so my bet is they're jealous that you can eat those things and not be overweight. I'd probably find it difficult to stand up to them but I think they should be told they're being rude and to leave it now. Maybe next time they start could you sigh and say yea you've said several times and repeat every time one of them says something?

Tell them they're rude and then if they don't stop spit cake in their face.