Deal with and get support from coworkers

If youʼve been able to successfully tackle your at-home raw life with your family, the next challenge is your workplace if you have one. While we do get to choose our nuclear family, unfortunately, we donʼt get too choose our coworkers!

You may find yourself having to talk about your commitment to raw food at the workplace, for example, in the lunchroom. In addition, you may have to say "no" to a slice of office birthday cake. This is important because in order to "retrain" your tastebuds you need to stay away from everything other than raw food as much as possible.

Envision yourself having a conversation with your coworkers and decide what youʼd like to share. It can be helpful to have a prepared “elevator speech” that you can use if you are questioned on your food choices. Keep it simple, and try not to pass judgment on other peopleʼs food choices!

Assignment:

  • Prepare a one-line statement that explains your food choices in the following three examples:

i. "Jeez, you've sure been eating a lot of salads and strange stuff for lunch. Are you on a diet or something?"

"________________________________________."

Ii. "Do you want a donut? I know you're doing that whole raw food thing, but I've seen you eat donuts dozens of times. Just go ahead, they're fresh and free. Here, have one - I bought it especially for you."

"________________________________________."

iii. "I am so glad we're having this work meeting at this restaurant. Shall we all share nachos?"

"________________________________________."

Psssst: Some ideas to help get you started!

  • I am doing a 30-day raw challenge.
  • I am cutting out processed foods for a month to see how I feel so I'll have to pass.
  • I don't sleep well, so I am doing an experiment in healthy eating to see if it will help.
  • I know, it's a bit weird to only eat raw food, but I am committed to this experiment so I don't want to fall off the wagon.
  • My husband and I agreed to do this raw vegan thing for 30 days. It's pretty rough! Wanna try a bite?
  • Wow, that looks delicious! Right now I am doing a 30-day challenge, but I'll take a rain-check!

B. Consistency when with others

Aah, the birthday cake at work and other scenarios! Food goes hand in hand with socializing, and it can be very awkward when someone offers you food, such as a slice of cake. What should you say? Should you reject the food? There can be a lot of pressure to just “have a piece!”

In the lesson above we practiced our responses.

In addition, this lesson drives home the point that consistency is important to help alleviate the pressure.

Adopt a stance and stick with it. Either you are going to cave in when pressured at work, or you are going to stand up and say that you are on a 30 day challenge where you only eat raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Make a decision and stick with it.

The worst thing you can do is have a piece of cake one day and refuse the next day. Send clear messages and stick with your decision. The first time you take a stand will be the hardest because people will be shocked. It will get easier every time as time goes on and they know what to expect from you. Eventually they will stop asking.

Assignment:

  • Adopt a stance and stick with it. Either you are going to cave in when pressured at work, or you are going to stand up and say that you are on a 30 day challenge where you only eat raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Make a decision and stick with it.

Stash raw snacks for unanticipated needs

Stock your purse, your car and your office with raw snacks, such as apples, a bag of almonds, a box of raisins and other easy to eat raw snacks that you can turn to when you are hungry on the run. Never leave home without raw snacks! Never, never, never!

Ideas for on-the-go raw snacks that are easy to eat and carry:

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Almonds
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Cashews
  • Raisins
  • Dried mangos
  • Dates
  • Dried figs
  • Carrot sticks in a plastic bag
  • Pears
  • Mandarin oranges

If you stash easy-to-eat raw snacks in easy to access places you will save time, money and energy and will increase the likelihood that you wonʼt be caught somewhere without any raw food to eat.

Assignment:

  • Stash healthy snacks in your car, purse/briefcase and office. Start now!

Assignment:

  • I've prepared one-line statements that explain my food choices in the three examples.
  • I have decided that I will/won't cave when offered free food or snacks at work/church/school/family functions.
  • I've stashed healthy snacks in my car, purse/briefcase and office.

Once you have completed the assignments in this module, please proceed to the next module right away by clicking "complete."