Holiday Gifts from clients--why must they all be food???

Just a few thoughts...

 

Perhaps we wouldn't have such weight issues in the American society if around holidays especially, people would not assume that chocolate, toffee, cookies, cakes (shall I go on :) are appropriate ways to say "thank you" for your business, friendship etc.

In the past 48 hours I have had the following gifts dropped by my office

4 dozen mint chocolate cookies

3 boxes of holiday candy

A box of fancy chocolates

A box of toffee

12 scones/muffins

Various other sugary treats

 

AHHH! I am going crazy. I think in 2008, those of us on CC should lead a trend: no more candy or cookies as gifts to people! It perpetuates the food=reward problem that leads to obesity!!!

 

Ok I am done.

 Anyone else have this going on?

I have, in my cubicle, a BOX of caramel chocolate whirls, a little chocolate covered nut cluster, and I'm sure there's going to be more as it's not even Christmas week yet.

In the kitchen, there's rolls, cheese, nuts, pecan stuffed with walnuts drizzeld in chocoalte, three types of hershey's kisses, see's chocolate, and left over turkey.

The veggie platter is almsot gone -tears- It was the only good thing!!!

Hang in there! Bring fruit in! I'm clinging to my clementines!

Where I used to work it was a problem.  Where I work now... not so much.

But you know, there are only a few things that EVERYBODY does.  And eating is about the only one of them that figures into a polite, socially acceptable gift.

If you indulge just a leetle bit and get an extra walk in... it will all work out fine.

***hugs***

I just had an apple and pretended it was covered in carmel w/ nuts

It's the thought that counts, right? Drop it all off at a food bank/homeless shelter on your way home.  Someone will appreciate it and it won't tempt you!

Original Post by amiright:

I just had an apple and pretended it was covered in carmel w/ nuts

lmao. I have an orange, and one tiny little piece of chocolate. I eat two slices of orange, then nibble on the chocolate. Makes it last longer :D

the place where i work gives boxes of clementines for christmas!  yummy, festive, AND healthy!

but other companies still give us the usual chocolates, etc.  *sigh*

OMG I want your place of work to give me clementines Itry!!!

Original Post by vegetariangeek:

It's the thought that counts, right?

I agree it's thoughtful but I am simple. People could give me a card and I'd be a-ok!! :)

Good - that's what I'm giving everybody for Christmas!!!

we have so much crap in the break room. comes in daily. tomorrow we have a christmas party and the boss told us to make cookies and bring them in. i'm bringing in little turkey sandwiches instead.

REGIFT!!!!!!!!

Drumsareforgirls, stole my thunder... RECYCLE... put one of those little yellow posties on it as to who it is from... take it home, re-wrap and make sure you address it to someone OTHER than what the yellow sticky says.  You might have a paperboy, mailperson, green grocer, waterdelivery person (hmmm.. when I was a kid it was the milkman)

Save yourself a bundle.

OK look everyone, I have a solution. You all drop off your unwanted food at my house. I'll be happy, you'll be happy.

Seriously though, I don't worry about it. I have something every so often, but I limit my portions and I don't have it everyday. I think it's fine to indulge sometimes.

OR you can mail all that stuff to those lucky people on this site that are TRYING to gain weight!  I've seen them on here, always wishing for their problem.  Just think, YOU could be part of their solution!

 

 Lauren

Oh my yes- I have the same issue. Well last week was the Christmas party- healthy eating disaster, it was horrible. Everday this week it was someone new bringing something by the office.

A basket filled with:

• chocolate covered fruit
• preztels with fancy mustard dip
• chocolate covered pretzels (at a whopping 180 calories per stick...)
• vanilla finger cookies

Then, on top of that, the rest of the stuff:

• a popcorn tin, with white and yellow cheddar flavors
• iced sugar cookies
• a platter of variety cookies
• a tin of sugared almonds
• a tin of peanut brittle.....

It was hard but I didn't have one of everything. Honest. I just reminded myself (on Tuesday after I ate 2 huge cookies that prolly were half my days calories...) that for every time I indulged = 20 minutes more working out. I dunno about you- but I do NOT have that kind of extra time. The "feel good" munch on a cookie just isn't worth it!

I agree! I also agree that food is a bad gift anyway, because it only lasts untill you eat it. I think candles or lotion is a MUCH better gift. :)

Though I'm not working(I'm still in school), I notice the same problem with gifts from friends, "secret santas", etc.

I'm planning on taking all the non-perishable, or semi-non-perishable gifts, like lollipops, unopened chocolate, peppermints, caramels, etc, portioning it out into manageable portions(epsecially the chocolate bars), putting it all away and out of sight in a box or a jar or something, and having a piece whenever I need a treat in the new year.

If it's not all out of sight, I'll go bonkers and eat it all(I'm crazy for sweets), but if it's all nicely wrapped up and portioned, I'll be content to just take one and savor it.