[Lindzy67]

Well I just started a new job at Olive Garden and as a requirement we have to sample the food so we can sell it to the guest. I was doing sooooo good on my diet but eating their food for six days is making me not want to try. The days I don't have to work I have been eating healthy but I just can't wait till I am done training so I don't have to eat the food. Oh and I am sitting there for 6 hours a day and we are not allowed to bring in any outside food or drinks so I can't even say no cause I am STARVING by the 6th hour (thats when we eat) Just need some encouragement and what you would do in my situation

[rosekeet]

Have you discussed this with your manager? Hopefully they'd make arrangements. Like, maybe you only have to try a bite of each dish?

Seems like an awfully tyrannical restaurant to me that won't let you bring your own food to eat on your own breaks!

[mkyice]

Can you pack some food in a cooler and leave it in your car? It suck having to quickly eat in your car on break, but then you wouldn't be starving at tasting time. I'd def initely find out if you can just have small portions for tasting rather than full size meals. Good luck.

[astrophe]

Talk to your manager and ask if it is necessary to get a doc note.

I be your GP would let you pick the reason you want -- obesity, blood sugar, prediabetic, cholesterol, heart (low sodium) whatever.

Or will the manager just let you "taste and spit?" without the bother of a doc note. Why swallow? Then just eat your own food.

Too weird to be forced to eat restaurant food. That doesn't seem ethical.

Would they make you sample the wine if you were a recovering alcoholic? What if you were a celiac gluten person? Allergic to dairy or seafood?

That doesn't seem right.

A.

[midwife]

Well, I can see how they might want you to know how it tastes to tell the customer about it, but it could totally backfire:

"Yah, the ravioli is edible, but so not worth 2400 calories!"

[jigglefree]

I'm with mkyice. Pack your food in a cooler and take lunch in your car. Tell them you need some regroup time so you go to the car. Then for snack time sample the food. It's understandable that they would want you to know how the food taste but you shouldn't have to eat a whole serving. Just enough to know if it's too much wine in it to serve a child.

[LandonsBaby]

I would tell them to kiss my behind but I assume that isn't an option. No way would I let someone tell me I was going to eat their nasty junk food (yeah, it tastes good but it's all pure junk). I'm actually shocked they have this policy. My SIL worked there for a year or so and never mentioned it. I wonder if they all do that?

[8675309]

I'd get a doctors note stating a reason that would make it so you CAN'T eat the entire dish due to a level of something, sodium for example. I'm sure the doctor would be more then willing to help out and then if you NEED to eat their foods, maybe try a salad + soup. Like Garden-Fresh Salad (One serving with dressing) is 350 calories and a serving of the Minestrone (One serving) soup is 100 calories so 450 calories or maybe a lunch size of something on their garden fare menu (like the Venetian Apricot Chicken is only 280 for the lunch and 380 for the dinner). I think that if you browse their lighter and app menu items you'll find something you can eat from the kitchen