Coworker is upset that I don't share food with her

[Anonymous]

I work in an open office and there are about 20 of us. I work 10 hour days, so I tend to pack a lot of food in my lunch box. Normally leftovers with a variety of snacks (fruit, yogurt, chips, etc). My coworker mention yesterday that she doesn't like that I don't share snacks with her and the fact that I'm always hungry isn't an excuse. I'm rather slim and have a fast metabolism, as a result I eat frequently. She said she thought I was an only child, not sure what that has to do with anything. And she doesn't like the fact that I'm not happy and chipper and don't talk enough at work. As a a result I officially am not too fond of her. She says it's a way to build camaderie at work. I've been at my workplace for 5 years and she about one or two. I was not in a good mood at all yesterday. How can I handle this situation?

[Anonymous]

Ignore it. She looks like the weirdo here.

[Anonymous]

Tell her you bring the food you intend to eat for the day and you don't have enough to share. If you are feeling pissed off, you can also mention this isn't kindergarten and since she presumably makes a salary, she afford her own food.

Agree with PP -- she is weird or has some kind of issue. Just do your work and talk to her as little as possible.

[Anonymous]

Why is she picking on your particularly, because of the quantity of food? Do others share their food where your work? Does *she* share hers?

Regardless, you should act professionally and tactfully change the subject.

[Anonymous]

Uh I'm one of three kids and screeeeeeeeeeew sharing food. You can have my pretzels when you pry them from my cold dead hands. No way in hell do I share food unless it's an office potluck. You're not her mommy, you don't need to pack her lunch for her.

[Anonymous]

She sounds like a weirdo but....I would be annoyed by you in an open office if you were constantly eating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh I'm one of three kids and screeeeeeeeeeew sharing food. You can have my pretzels when you pry them from my cold dead hands. No way in hell do I share food unless it's an office potluck. You're not her mommy, you don't need to pack her lunch for her.

+10000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She sounds like a weirdo but....I would be annoyed by you in an open office if you were constantly eating.

Everyone does because we're confined to our desks until lunch which is mid afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She sounds like a weirdo but....I would be annoyed by you in an open office if you were constantly eating.

Everyone does because we're confined to our desks until lunch which is mid afternoon.

So there are 20 people that don't eat breakfast at home? 20 of you that are all munching away on breakfast and snacks until your mid afternoon lunch? Strange place. Why is lunch not at noon?

[Anonymous]

this is crazy like seinfeld. just bring a little extra, offer it to her. or ignore her but she might stay mad.

[Anonymous]

i should add i offer snacks to people next to me, but not every day.

[Anonymous]

She sounds immature. Unless you work in a prison where there is no snack machine, she needs to tough it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She sounds like a weirdo but....I would be annoyed by you in an open office if you were constantly eating.

Everyone does because we're confined to our desks until lunch which is mid afternoon.

So there are 20 people that don't eat breakfast at home? 20 of you that are all munching away on breakfast and snacks until your mid afternoon lunch? Strange place. Why is lunch not at noon?

Some of us begin working at 8am (such as said coworker). I start work 2 hours later, thus my lunch is after normal lunch hours. Sometimes I eat breakfast when I get in. Depending upon whether or not I have adequate time to do so before leaving home.

[Anonymous]

Tell her that you will share when she shares! You do not owe her any food. I can't believe an adult would be complaining about something like this. Tell her that she needs to bring in food for herself and not mooch off you. Or you share when people give you money for the food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i should add i offer snacks to people next to me, but not every day.

This does make it a bit of a different story. Are you smiley to some people and not others? Do you offer to some but not her? It might not be the food, !75 the fact that she thinks you don't like her and doesn't know how to expresss it.

She's crazy weird for even bringing it up, but maybe just have a no offer policy?