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Food Criticism

I go to lunch once or twice a week with several co-workers, and one always criticizes what I order and says I eat too much fat, sugar, salt, and greasy foods. He says he is giving me friendly advice, but I don't want it and I have mentioned this to him several times. That does not stop him. Any suggestions?



When you go to a business lunch, your eating habits are nobody's business. Regardless of your fellow employee's intentions, he has no right to tell you what or how to eat, especially since you have repeatedly told him that his culinary comments are not appreciated.

The fact that he has repeatedly ignored your requests raises real questions about his motivation. If he truly regards his comments as "friendly advice," he would have stopped as soon as you told him they are upsetting you. Rather than acting as a friend, it actually sounds like he has some underlying jealously or insecurity, or perhaps he is dealing with his own dietary issues.

Either way, his comments have to stop, but you need to do more than mention this to him. Be firm and direct and tell him that these comments are hurtful and must end immediately.

When you go to these regular lunches, there are probably others at the table who do not appreciate his carb-counting. If such is the case, that would be worth mentioning, too. And if he continues his dietary diatribe, you should think about eating less frequentlyÖwith him.




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