Last week I brought a salad to work. It was a delicious salad with red and green lettuce, artichoke hearts, carrots, pink lady apple, orange bell pepper and raw almonds topped with my homemade apple cider vinegarette dressing.

Of the 2 people I was sitting with, one said, "THAT is a HUGE salad!!" and the other said, "do you ever take some of it home?"

Argh!! It was a SALAD!! Anyone ever comment how much you eat and how do you respond??

rad gal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Argh!! It was a SALAD!! Anyone ever comment how
> much you eat and how do you respond??
I would have said something like "It's amazing how
small a Salad becomes after it is eaten".....making no
mention of the Cow they're eating.....WY

yeah, people comment, but I just try to nicely explain that fruits and vegetables digest quickly and have plenty of fiber. And that I'm an athlete and need my calories/carbs.

Utopian Life Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ........I just try to nicely
> explain that fruits and vegetables digest quickly
> and have plenty of fiber.
So....you're trying to educate the Public. I've
been down that Road. It doesn't lead anywhere.....WY

Not educate, just explain why I do what I do. They are free to ask questions if they want. It's just sharing/conversation. Which does lead somewhere, I enjoy interacting with people.

Utopian Life Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> .....I enjoy interacting with people.
I don't!! I've never met anyone yet who felt
that I was right and they were wrong. Like right now
for instance.....WY

Why would you make your communication such that one person is "right" and one is "wrong"? That's different.....could you talk to someone and just listen to what they think without feeling that you must agree on all points. I don't really like the terms "right" and "wrong."

Yeah wheatgrass yogi, you are WRONG!

All joking aside, you might be harboring some bitterness towards those with different beliefs. The more you know you're right about something, the more you should downplay the fact that the other person is wrong, and that you're even different in any way.

Trust comes out of togetherness, and togetherness comes out of our similarities, so when you make the first impression "Hey this is how we're different, and this is why i'm healthier than you", people will be very unlikely to be open minded.

If someone commented on the size of my salad, I'd probably smile and chomp another bite. I'd rather avoid explaining myself until someone cares enough to ask specific questions. Its kind of a fun game, see how long it takes a new person to pry for more info.

Sigh. First they freak out about where you're getting your calories, calcium, protein etc from and then they can't get over the size of your salad. Which is all you're eating for your entire meal. You just can't please some people no matter what you do. Might as well stop trying and just focus on pleasing yourself.

but also some people might be saying it out of amazement but also might be secretly rather impressed. At that point it is very imortant to be light about it, say yeah well i'm not eating anything else and it doesn't go that far or what ever you want to say. I've noticed that some people are starting to take a leaf (ha ha ) out of my book. One person says they can't eat a salad without some cheese or prawns on it BUT they are now bringing a huge salad to work. Small steps in the right direction and everyone happy.

Here are some possible replies:

Oh! You can never have enough salad!

As you can see - I just LOVE healthy food!

I'm a bottomless pit when it comes to lettuce!

No way I'd taking any home. I like it fresh, fresh, fresh.

Salad is the best. I wish I had more!

I'm so glad I made a big one; this dressing is the bomb!

Crunch, crunch, crunch. Mmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmm. Non, nom, nom.

*******************************************
If you're in a melodious mood, try this song
(to the tune of "Garden Party":

The Standard Chorus:

But it's alright now.
I learned my lesson well:
You can't please everyone.
So you have to please yourself.

Adapted verses:

I made me a garden salad -
A recipe for four.
Ate it all myself though.
Wish I had some more!

Lettuce, cress and Swiss chard
Lots of leafy greens
Carrots, beets and radish
and some sprouted beans,

Sprinkled spirulina
Chopped some celery
Added sunflower seeds then
Threw in fresh parsley

Topped it with tomato,
Now it's looking great.
Squeezed on lemon juice, but
Need a larger plate.

I just watch the faces
as people gawk and stare
when I'm done with salad
And then eat a pear!




My favorite raw vegan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2010 07:14AM by Trive.

I usually do not care other's words

Maybe I should say next time, "yeah and THIS is just my APPETIZER salad, wait until you see my ENTREE salad!!"

People that know me don't, 'cos they know what I'm doing. Strangers deserve a smile accompanied by, "Why, yes, my salad IS huge--and it's soooooo yummy I won't have any left over to take home!"

TRIVE! Awesome song! Impromptu? You are so inspired by that salad, wow. Who knew greens were so good for your creativity? I'll have to add that to my book of knowledge. Love it.

Tamukha Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ........"Why, yes, my salad IS huge--
It's probably best not to eat with people who
are going to comment, in a negative way, about the size
of your Salads.
I still find it amazing how many Greens can be
blended in a Green Smoothie. I feel better blending my
salads rather than eating them.....WY

No one ever comments on how much I eat,and I dont comment on how much they eat.

Vinny

WY,

Well, maybe they aren't commenting in a negative way; just making a loud observation You can't just shrink away from the company of everyone unlike you, especially at work. Anyhow, though I love green smoothies, it's much easier to explain a salad, big though it may be, than mystery green liquid in a huge Mason jar

Maybe they can't imagine having so much salad at one time. Think of it--most meals have salad as a minor player or after thought. The salad plate is pretty tiny compared to the main dish plate. And maybe you read too much into it because you were thinking that the implication was that you were a hog by eating so much. Sounds innocent to me...

all the time! I think it's funny most of the time. I've never had someone be rude about it. It's also great because when people notice what you are eating you influence them. I've had many people tell me that I inspire them, it makes me want to a better person. Also alot of people have no idea what they are eating and what nutritional value fruits and veggies hold. It's nice to be able to share that information with people. I think most people at my job have told me "i ate an avocado for you last night" or "i'm addicted to cherries to now because of you" stuff like that. It's great to share health and be a positive example.

well, i would just say

"yes" to the first comment

and

"no" to the second comment

and just go right on eating

better yet, just say nothing

Everytime I eat I have to listen that my "diet" is wrong! That I spoil my stomach. That I must stop with experiments and that I'm starving. I even don't try to explain anything to them any more, 'cause it's useless(((