How do you respond to people who offer you food, you decline, and they continue to offer it? I admit this is a button-pushing event for me. I find it incredibly rude and disrespectful, and I hate it in any situation in which I've declined an offer, be it food or otherwise. No means no! My usual response is to politely decline a couple of times, and on the third occasion, I say loudly, "I said NO!!!!" Wow, I sound *exactly* like my mother when I was a kid and kept pushing for something.

There must be a better way to handle this. How about some snappy/smart/stops them dead in their tracks responses?

How about, "I'm sorry, but my doctor put me on a real restrictive diet and it's something I can't eat". This way it's not like you are declining because you don't "want it", but instead "can't have it". Maybe the food pushers will be more apt not to push if a doctor is involved. What do you think?

BTW, I am around these types too, but my willpower is not as strong as yours. I applaude your determination.

Heidi

Heidi, you stole my response! That's exactly what I would say. You can even add something like "Maybe next time we're eating dinner together I'll be finished with my program and I can have a bite."

The second time they ask:

"You are so sweet for making sure that I am taken care of! But, I really don't care for any. If I change my mind, I will be sure to let you know. Thank you for respecting my decision. I have been places where people just PUSH food on me. Thank heaven's you aren't one of those folk." (smile coyly)

They don't come back

What I do, by the third or fourth time, is turn it around into a question for the person pushing the food. For example, "Why is it so important to you that I eat that XX?" or, "Why are you insisting that I have that food when I've told you No already?" or, "I guess you didn't hear me when I said No all those other times." or, "You must really want to get rid of that XX because this is the fourth time you've tried to get me to eat it."

In other words, put the spotlight where it belongs, on THEIR behavior, instead of having it focused on you because you keep saying No. You don't have to say any of those responses in a loud or belligerent way--in fact, you can smile and be pleasant about it.

I'd practically guarantee that if you say one of these, you won't get asked a fourth or fifth time for that food.

Jay

I always say I've just finished eating.My in-laws try to push food on people,once they went as far a fixing my husband a plate and TELLING him to eat.They put a plate in front of me once and I just acted like it wasn't there(I'd said "no" 3times already).It urks me too...I don't force my kids to eat either;only YOU know if you're hungry and only YOU should be deciding what goes in your body and when...

I am downright rude. I don't believe anyone has any right to push their food on me. They don't know where I'm coming from. I also can't stand it when someone says,"She doesn't eat that, she's on a diet." I quickly respond."No I'm not on a diet I choose not to put that garbage in my body."
"Thank you"

I don't feel the need to tell anyone I'm on a special "diet" or anything like that. It's no one's business what or why I'm eating or not eating something.

I just say "no thank you" as many times as I need to.

Although I have had people, many, MANY people respond to me, that "Oh, you're probably not ALLOWED to eat XXX." And Then I get a little nuts and say something like, "What do you mean not ALLOWED to, I CHOOSE not to eat XXX." Not allowed to? What kind of nonsense is that? I'm an adult for goodness sakes, I CHOOSE what I want to eat and not eat. See, there I am getting all nuts.

In this day and age, with the focus on health, I don't think anyone should feel insulted if someone doesn't want to eat a particular item. And if they are that's their problem. They need to get over themselves.

I do like Jay's line of thinking though, I must say.

I need to try some of these. V~day I was at See's getting chocolate for my dh and they offered me a sample, I said no. By the second time the same guy offered me a sample without thinking I took it and ate it! Arrrghhh!!! I didn't even like that particular piece!

A client took me to breakfast a few weeks ago. I had oatmeal and fruit, and I kept getting questioned. I went on and on about I have a birthday coming up, I'm on a diet, and truth is it's NOBODY'S BUSINESS. Why is it NOT OK to skip the skillets that made me fat to begin with? What's wrong with oatmeal. Next time I'm not going to explain myself.

NO ONE has to explain their food choices to ANYONE. Period.

A 3FC member also once suggested, "Tell you what--you look at your plate and I'll look at mine."

This wouldn't be the thing to say at a business breakfast, but if necessary one can always say, "Oh, I'm never very hungry in the morning, and I've found that this is the best thing for me to eat." No one can argue with that!

Jay

"I'm not very hungry." PERIOD.

I hate it when this happens too. The other day I was at the mall with one of my friends and we walked past the Japanese restaurant where an employee is always handing free samples to passerby. My friend stopped and took one, and I politely declined the offer. But the guy kept pushing it- "Here! Here! Try one!" I started to walk away and MY FRIEND joined him by saying "Oh come on, try one!" No means no. I just kept walking away and I hear my friend say to the guy, "She's a baby."
What a friend. I felt like slapping her. :P

But all I can ever do is just say, "No thanks," and leave that situation if I can. (Like walking away or turning to talk to someone else.)

How about 'NO THANKS, I'M NOT HUNGRY RIGHT NOW', then just turn and walk away. I also have used the 'NO THANKS, I JUST ATE' comment many times; and I really like COUNTING'S clever answer ...

Someone once suggested to say 'WHAT PART OF THE WORD 'NO' DIDN'T YOU UNDERSTAND? THE 'N' OR THE 'O'? Then leave. LOL! But, that may sound too harsh in some circumstances (ie you wouldn't want to offend your boss).

ROSEBUD

I just answer: "I REALLY am STUFFED, couldn't eat another bite."