So chances are you’ve got a job to pay da bills innit? You might work in an office, a shop, a restaurant, a brothel, you might be a butcher, a baker or indeed, a candlestick maker…does anyone work as a candlestick maker these days? If you do can you drop me a line? Cheers!
Anyway, unless you work with animals or candlesticks the chances are you work in some way or another with PEOPLE and we all know that when PEOPLE are involved then generally PEOPLE’S (that word is starting to look weird now) thoughts, opinions, experiences, bullshit and curiosity tend to get thrown in to the mix.
So you’re at work doing your raw thang and all of a sudden Bob from Accounts wants to know what the hell you’re drinking. Sheila from checkout 6 thinks that you’re looking too skinny these days and need a good steak down your neck. Henry from IT has a best friend whose next door neighbour’s, auntie’s handy man went vegan and 2 weeks later he was DEAD, Louise the chief candlestick maker wonders where you’re getting your protein from and generally every man and his dog is in about your raw food business.
Whaddayado?
Should you hide it?
Should you be shouting it from the rooftops?
Will it create problems at work functions?
Will your work colleagues think you’ve lost the actual plot?
Will you get fired for not eating a sandwich at lunchtime like the normal people and have to start selling your body to pay the bills?
Relax already. Here are my top tips for coping with raw food issues at work.
Expect and be open to questions. People will be genuinely curious if they’ve never heard about raw food before. Remember how curious you were when you first heard about it? If anyone asks you about what you are doing and why, it really is up to you how much you choose to share. You can say you’re doing a detox or that your doctor has advised you to change your diet. Or that you’re wanting to kickstart a healthy eating programme. You can tell people ANYTHING YOU LIKE. Tell them the lizard people told you to eat this way, that ought to shut them up pretty quick. You might get a call from Human Resources pretty soon…
Be informed. As with your parents, it pays to have some information to be able to respond to the multitude of questions you might receive.
Expect people to feel uncomfortable about what you’re eating. Yes, expect it! No matter where you are on the planet the chances are pretty much 100% that somebody will judge you for what you are eating and also see what you are eating as a judgement on them. Fucked up isn’t it? Welcome to the real world. The good news is you don’t have to be pulled in to the drama. Remember that if you do receive negative comments, are subject to gossip or judgementalism (is that a word? I don’t think it is…) then it’s not about you it’s about them. And that’s just the way it is.
Have the courage to keep doing what you’re doing. The even better news is that if you stick to your raw food path all of a sudden you have the energy and happy vibe that can cut through all the bullshit. You become clear that you’re doing this for yourself, you’re reaping the rewards and to hell with what anyone else thinks or has to say. Furthermore, you’re going to be looking and feeling spanking and this is the best example to set others. All of a sudden Sheila from checkout 6 wants to know where she can get her hands on a raw food book and can you help?
You don’t need to make a big song and a dance about it. When I worked in an office environment I genuinely didn’t give a shit about pouring out my smoothie or my pile of raw goo in front of others but I know some people feel uncomfortable. Maybes I just like the attention eh? Moving on. If you feel uncomfortable pouring out a blob of green stuff you can take your smoothie in a flask avoiding all the pointing and staring at the Monday morning meeting. Be aware you might have a green moustache!
Be prepared. Work functions can be a killer, not only because there’s nothing you can eat (usually) but also because you’re tempted to fit in and eat the naughty stuff. Also if you have to travel with work and are staying at hotels where their idea of a vegan option is some fish then you’re likely to be caught out. Think ahead. Find out what’s available and if you can order something suitable. If not, make your own and take it with you. The number of times I travelled around hotels with work with more tupperware and foodstuff in my suitcase than clothes I tell you…
The truth is that your work and work colleagues really shouldn’t have too much of an impact on the success of your raw food lifestyle. If you make sure you are receiving support from people following a similar lifestyle on forums, meetup groups, potlucks etc. If you have the right attitude it can be good fun being the one walking around the office with banana smoothie on your nose and nobody telling you ALLLLL DAY!
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