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Member Comments for the Article:
11 Nice Ways to Say 'No' to Food Pushers
Politely Turn Down Food at Parties and Gatherings
146 Comments
ELISFR
10/21/2012 2:20:49 PM
Hi! My name is Elisāngela and I'm brasilian. I live in Rio de Janeiro. I loved this article. I'm a person that take care with my health. I lose 5 k and I need lose more 5, but I want to have health. I love to eat good foods and don't like whwm a person das that I'm very fat. This is impolite!!! No one need hear bad words. i refuse and wait the better the others people.
My favorite is, Sorry, but I'm "allergic" to that. Seems to be the win/win excuse that satisfies everybody. They did offer which feels good to them; and I did decline in a kindly what that also feels good to them. And I got out of even having to "just taste" it. ReeGee
RANDOM83
10/21/2012 12:39:33 PM
I use this line a lot, "You know me; I eat like a bird!" Anyone who has met me knows how true this is. I get full easily, but have no problem taking home left-overs or getting something that is smaller in portions. Nobody argues with me because it's the truth and the humor keeps others from feeling like I'm criticizing them for their food choices.
I never lie, eventually you will get caught in it. I just say no thank you, I prefer not to eat it. If they push, I repeat no thank you. They will learn eventually and others around will tell you it was the right thing to do. It's my body and my tastebuds and there is no place in my vocabulary as a little white lie. LIES are always BLACK in my book. I was raised that way and very grateful to be honest .
DANYSEDAI
10/21/2012 12:25:30 PM
I have this situation right now! A friend (sometimes a "frenemy" but that's another issue" made plans to see me tomorrow because we both have a day off. She suggested Red Lobster and I declined, because I'm following WW and I'm not going out to eat as much as before and trying to cook dinners myself until I get a better understanding of portions, ways of cooking, calories, etc. My willpower is not very good so I know what to stay away from. I suggested she come to my apartment and I'll make lunch(I'm a good cook) and then we can go for coffee somewhere and talk. She kept pushing Red Lobster, saying "it's only 1 day", "what's diet!", etc. She's slim and has never had a weight problem. I finally got angry and cancelled our plans because she wouldn't budge. Oh well.
I frequently refuse food, not because of my weight problem, but because I eat no meat, fish, dairy products or eggs, on principle. I simply say that I'm a vegan and don't eat animal products. People rarely ask me why. I'm longing for someone to do so, as I'd love to be totally honest with them and say that exploiting animals in any way is immoral, barbaric, disgusting and obscene. But I'm usually too much of a wimp!
A year and a half ago I was diagnosed as a type II diabetic. Recently, at a friend's 60th birthday celebration I was asked several times to have a piece of cake. I politely declined each time. At one point I was told "go ahead, nobody will know". My response was "nobody will know, except my glucose meter in two hours". That seems to have finally got the message across. I think most people have good intentions, but forget that others may have some medical or weight issues. I am proud of the fact that I have lost 56 pounds!
What happened to a simple NO thank you and leave it at that? Maybe it's just me but it's not me that would be considered rude if I don't want to eat, it's others that try and push things on me. My friends know I just lost a ton of weight and as such they make jokes that I am getting too skinny (I can't afford to lose anymore) but they would never ever ever be so rude as to put food on my plate or push me past the point I have said no. Guess my friends and I are all too busy actually socializing rather than nosing into what others are and aren't eating.
I went to an early Halloween party last nite and it was a potluck of yummy foods. I had two meatballs, a teaspoon of a cheesy taco dip with 4 small scoop chips, a hot dog "finger" and 1/4th of a piece of cake. No biggie and I surely didn't gain 10 pounds due to eating a little of food that's not my norm. I didn't lose weight to totally deny myself of "forbidden foods" til the day I die but I also am ever conscious of stuffing myself and eating bad foods every day.
JASSUZ8
10/21/2012 9:16:37 AM
I've had friends come to my home with their own food, because they have to lose weight for health reasons. They tell people that they cannot eat "x, y or z" because of doctors orders. I know that some "food pushers" feel offended when guests don't/won't eat and they are wrong to do what they do. It seems to me that the best message to send the food pusher - as politely as possible - is that your physical health must be a priority even in a social setting. And, for me personally...I try a bit of everything on the table and then I'm usually not able to eat any more. If I didn't allow myself the luxury of sampling foods (all foods), I would never stay on track...but I respect the discipline and choices of others.
I do not like the suggestions that are lies, "white" or not. The others are interesting.
I like the food dodge, "Sorry, I don't like the side effects." while patting hips. Or, I could very truthfully substitue concern for my weight and my knees, if the firstt seemed vain instead of humorous..
I'm not a fan of the lying responses. Unless it's someone you will probably never meet again. But the one suggest saying you can't stand a certain food and elaborating about how much you dislike it, what happens if that person ever does see you eating that food? You might not remember lying to that person and saying how much you hate that food, but that person will most likely remember. I think any of the honest reasons should be good enough and if someone still doesn't listen and continues to push, then you just need to get harsh with them.
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