My dilemma: employee luncheon
By KATRINKA
@KATRINKA (1624)
United States
June 28, 2007 9:23pm CST
I need suggestions! Today my supervisor passed around a sign-up sheet for our employee pot-luck luncheon for next week. I've only been an employee for the company 3 months, so I don't know everyone on my team well. I'm leary about eating other people's foods unless I know the person and their kitchen hygeine habits. I have so many food allergies, so I do have to be careful of what I eat. I was at a complete loss as to what to dish to take. I don't know anyone's preferences. My cube mate did tell my supervisor I am diabetic, so I'm still up in the air about participating. (I was on the phone with a client, so I couldn't respond.) I don't want to seem anti social and not participate, though it's unlikely I'll taste anyone else's dishes. So...do I not offer to bring anything and risk looking like I'm not part of a team, even with my "health problems" (as my cube mate stated) or do I take something in? The easy things like chips and pretzels is already taken. Any suggestions? What would you do? Or if you have a dish suggestion, I'm all ears! Thanks!
4 people like this
20 responses
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
29 Jun 07
my suggestion to you is to bring on something you KNOW you can eat that is vegetarian. That way you are participating, you know you will have something to eat, and you are pretty sure almost anyone else can eat it. There are some great diabetic and vegetaian recipes on the net, all you have to do is search. They are generally fairly easy to make, though some are time-consuming. i just think you need to show your face at this party and show you are a team-player. You don't have to go against your dietery needs to do so. i am a diabetic vegetarian, so i know what you are going through as far as not knowing what to do. Your best bet is to bring a diabetic and vegetarian dish. Any vegetarians or diabetics at your office will greatly appreciate it.
2 people like this
@tuscon (48)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I would suggest a simple dish like sausage balls. Then simply tell them that you are on a diet or fasting for some reason. Maybe tell them you have had a bellyache and not up to food just yet but didn't want to miss the luncheon.
That way you are participating and not hurting anyone's feelings. You can always make up a small plate and tell them you will eat it later when your belly feels more stable(wink) then throw it all out when you get home.
1 person likes this
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
29 Jun 07
You should make and take something that you can eat! You never know, someone else may absolutely adore your dish and ask for the recipe. How about vegetarian lasagna or spaghetti? I have no idea what your dietary restrictions are, so it is hard. What is your favorite dish to make? I absolutely love my grandma's chicken and dumplings with sour cream gravy, but it is too much work to make enough for a pot luck!
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Take something you know you can eat without jeopardizing your health.
Fill your plate with your own food.
Then be sure to take a little of whatever you think will be ok for you to try.
Like sliced tomatoes, salad, meats and vegies.
If anyone ask why you aren't trying a dish then explain that you are a diabetic and can not risk eating all that is offered. Most people will understand and not feel insulted. Just be truthful and they will soon become friends.
1 person likes this
@fizzytom (752)
• Maribor, Slovenia
29 Jun 07
Take in a dish that YOU can eat - but make it a vegetarian one - that way it can be enjoyed by veggies or meat eaters. I always say that its best to take veggie dishes because it wont hurt a meat eater to eat meat free whereas a veggie won't compromise.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
29 Jun 07
You are from the US, and I am from the other side of the world. So I really can't advise you on a particular dish that suit the palates of Americans, so I'll just be general.
Pot-luck lunches mean everybody bring a dish or some dishes. Ideally, there should be some co-ordination so that there won't be duplicate dishes, but if no co-ordination was done, then I guess it is safe to just bring something common enough that most people will eat. If you can cook well, then perhaps you may want to bring something like a signature dish that you might want others to try, and perhaps to compliment.
Since you are quite particular about other people's food due to your allergies, a safe thing to do is to bring along something that you yourself can eat, so that in case the other dishes are not suitable to you, you'd still have something to eat at the luncheon.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I use to have this problem, but now work for myself. My allergies made it hard to eat at the luncheons, but I solved that problem. My suggestion bring a healthy dish you can eat and eat it. This way you can tell anyone that asks you why your not eating more is because your on a diet and all the women will understand why your not eating very much. The men would never ask me when I ate just a little bit of food.
@ElicBxn (63593)
• United States
30 Jun 07
Because of my food allergies, I always take something I know *I* can eat. I take a lot so I can make a meal off it if there is nothing else I can eat & still have some to share.
You don't want to hear about the time I got my arm twisted to bring something I couldn't eat & then they had NOTHING I could eat. The good thing was that the party was close to my mom's & I could run over there & eat something....
Good Luck!
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Definitely go to the luncheon even if you have diet restrictions. It's a great way to bond with the other employees and since you have only been there for a short time, it's important that they get to know you. If you avoid it, it may seem like you are snubbing them and that wouldn't be good for you in the long run. As to what to bring, definitely bring something you can eat, but make enough to share with the others. There must be a dish that you can bring that others will also eat. If you can make a nice salad, bring that. Since I have no idea what exactly you can't eat, it's hard for me to determine what specifically you should bring, but the point of the luncheon isn't to eat, it's to bond. If people ask you why you aren't eating certain foods, be honest with them and tell them that you have a number of food allergies. You will be surprised to learn that you are probably not alone.
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I suggest that you bring something that you would enjoy eating that isn't against your diet. My fiancee is a diabetic so she just explains to people that she doesn't eat anything that she doesn't make herself so that she is able to figure out how many carbs and things are in the dish. I would suggest bringing a vegetable tray or maybe even a salad of some sort.
A good salad for a gathering is a Broccoli Cauliflower Salad. Mix together two an a fourth cups of chopped broccoli, one an a fourth cups chopped cauliflower, half cup chopped onion, three tablespoons bacon bits, and three fourth cup of shredded low fat cheddar cheese in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, mix half a cup of low fat mayonnaise, two tablespoons of artificial sweetener, and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Add this mixture to the vegetable mixture. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes, and stir once more before serving.
1 person likes this
@amyann16 (414)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I would definitely take something in. I wouldn't risk not being a team member when you are so new to the job. Since you have dietary concerns, I would bring in something that you like, that way if you don't have anything else you want to eat, at least you can eat what you brought!
Maybe some sort of salad would be a good thing to bring in. I'm not sure what your allergies are, but a pasta salad (pasta, italian dressing, canned pineapple, red onion, cucumber and green pepper) or a fruit salad (strawberries, bananas, grapes and peach pie filling ) are two salads that I tend to bring pretty often to pot lucks and they both go over pretty well.
1 person likes this
@bambi_doe (566)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I must add to my former post. I was very shy in telling others of my diabetes but now we all talk about it at lunch and we seem to get along with each other because we shared our selves with the staff. If you look up diabetic recipes in the web searches you will find all kinds of easy recipes in there from entrees to desserts. hugs
@bambi_doe (566)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I had that same problem over Christmas with a potluck and was only employed there for 2 monthes. I went to the store and got a suger free apple pie and taped a note in front of it that read " do to the over welming temptations vs health concerns I have brought in a suger free apple pie for those of us that would like a healthy choice" and in 15 minutes of the dinner the pie was gone. We all learned something that day. There are 5 diabetics and 4 diet watchers in our office. Hugs and good luck
@tuscon (48)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I am the same way! I hate to eat from other peoples kitchens when I have no idea how many cockraches maybe be crawling through their pantry!
I would suggest making something simple like sausage balls and just tell them that you are on a diet or maybe fasting for some reason. Tell them you have had a bellyache or something and not ready to try food just yet. That way you are participating and not hurting anyones feelings.
Good luck!
@coferbox (298)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Take a simple dish that you know you can/will eat. There should also be someone from your team who's food you wouldn't mind eating. I mean after three months you should know if they have good office hygiene habits and if they do then they probably have good habits at home also. If anyone asks why you are not eating more simply say I am diabetic and also have food allergies. That should cover it. I think if you don't take anything you will look anti-social and won't make for a good work relationship with your co-workers.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I would make something that I would eat myself, and if you have a health problem, you are a diabetic...make it something that you as a diabetic can eat.
After 3 months there must be someone who you feel comfortable with that you would try some of their food.
Have a little faith in people, I understand how you feel about eating out of other people's kitchens, but the people are alive and kicking so they have not killed themselves with their cooking.
Relax, enjoy.
@seagoddess28 (873)
• Canada
29 Jun 07
I'm diabetic myself and we always have potluck lunches at the real estate brokerage where I work. So I always bring a platter of cut-up veg and low cal dip! You can have it as simple or as elaborate as you want--baby carrots or regular carrots maybe cut as sticks or as coins, broccoli and cauliflower florets, beet slices, baby dills, cucumber sticks or slices, button mushroom, whole red radishes, celery sticks, zucchini sticks--colourful and healthy! It is important for you to blend in and be considered part of the group, and this is a very pleasant way to do it. Have fun and let us know how it turns out. :-}
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
29 Jun 07
I would definitely take something in so that you are not seen as a non-participant. But, make sure that they know of your allergies and you being diabetic, so that you can let them know that you can only eat certain things. Fruit trays, meat trays from the deli, or a salad would be the things that I would suggest. That way you will know that you can eat some of those things. I worked for my company for 7 years, and we had luncheons quite frequently, but it was nice to know everyone and we have been to each others houses and stuff. So, I knew the way their kitchens looked and their hygeine habits. Plus, I worked in the pharmacy and we kept things clean in there, too. I hope it turns out ok for you! I read that someone said that you could always explain that you don't feel well that day, or you have to fast for some reason, you can always use those as back up! Good luck!
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
29 Jun 07
Yes, you need to go with the flow, and join your fellow employees at the luncheon. Don't worry about their hygeine. Your friends are not sick. If they are well dressed, and clean, their food habits will usually be ok too. You must participate and become a team player. Bring something that you think is a Treat. Chances are they will also think its a treat. Just eat a small amount at the luncheon. You can tell by looking, which foods may contain sugar. Don't worry about anything. Get out there and have Fun.
