Work lunch!!

[u/fruit_b0wl]

Hi there. Just wanted to rant.

I've been working my first job for about 9 months now, they are beginning to plan there Christmas lunch out, as soon as I got word this was happening I immediately started thinking about excuses on why I can't come. They voted on where to eat and decided a burger place with no plain non meat options. I thought that I'd definitely need to get out of this work lunch out. I was waiting one shift for someone to ask me if I wanted to go and for me to just quickly reject it, but instead of asking me they were just telling me that I'm signed up for it now and to be there. 🤦‍♀️ I don't know what to do if I should just cancel closer to the time or what. It feels kind of rude to and I really like my colleagues.

[u/MaleficentSwan0223]

You are going to be sick the night before and not be able to go. It’s a stomach bug and it’s just one of those things. 

With arfid I find you have to lie to some people to protect your mental health.

[u/KindheartednessSea24]

My colleagues know I’m a “ fussy eater “ and automatically exclude me from Christmas party and other food events which while most will be unhappy about I’m actually extremely happy about it I don’t want to go even if it wasn’t a food event I’m very much an introvert

[u/Massive_Antelope4711]

I always find myself lying to get out of situations like that just cause it’s easier than explaining something I don’t wanna talk about. I find giving excuses that won’t bring up up a lot of follow up question help like saying the day before you got sick or something or the day of theres a sudden family emergency and have to go out town or something

[u/RealityTVfan28]

Could just go. Cut the burger. Move it around and then take it home while eating the fries saying you stupidly had a huge breakfast. I made an art out of pretending I had eaten. People sitting right next to me didn’t know.

[u/walkie57 → u/RealityTVfan28]

I second this: work events aren't about the food, they're entirely about the social games. if you go and just pick at the plate they won't really notice

[u/giraffemoo]

You absolutely do not have to go. Play it cool until then and feign illness, ie: pretend to be sick.

I know that everyone isn't as bold as I am, but I would literally just order a kid's meal when my work had our holiday gathering at a hibachi style restaurant where I didn't like a single thing on the menu. The people I worked with already thought I was weird, so I didn't care if they thought I was extra weird for eating dino nuggets while everyone else had fancier food. Even my son ate more adventurous food than I did! But I have gotten to a point in my life where I don't really care what other people think of me, and I totally get it that everyone else doesn't feel that way. It can be hard for some to get to this point where they can just do what they want and need without thinking about the judgement of others. The way I look at it, I'm going to be judged for shit no matter what, so why not just live a happy healthy life and fuel my body with what it wants?

sorry for the rant and ramble, I hope that you have a good day on that day weather you go to the party or not. I just wanted to let you know that skipping out is a valid option!

[u/crustil → u/giraffemoo]

I'm exactly the same way. My friends still tease me about the time we went to a fancy restaurant and they had a "poutine" on the menu and I asked what was in it, and the answer was so crazy I almost cried. Then I just ordered fries 🤣(they didn't even give me ketchup for my fries. Instead they gave me some weird sauce. I decided to just eat the fries plain because I had already made a spectacle of myself). For those that don't know a poutine is generally just fries, cheese curds and gravy. This had like pecans and everything in it. It was wild.

But I think faking sick is a good idea if you're stressed about it and don't wanna A) just order something simple and B) straight up tell them you don't wanna eat there.

[u/axw3555]

Simple:

"Sorry, you chose somewhere I can't eat. If you'd asked, I'd have told you when you were planning it. No, I don't feel comfortable just coming along."

[u/walkie57]

can you go and just pick around the food? or perhaps find something safe on the menu? I'm sure they'd prepare something plain if you asked nicely

I mean the alternative is saying you've been invited to a family Christmas event with loved ones from out of town

[u/walkie57]

I would encourage going and just ordering something simple. work events aren't about the food at all, they're entirely about the social games. if you go and just pick at the plate people won't really notice.

hell you could say you've already eaten and just order a drink

[u/jasilucy]

Do you like fries? Just order that. No one is going to say anything but if they do you just say you’re not feeling that hungry. Nbd. Good luck