'Do you work with seagulls and raccoons?': Mooching coworkers constantly ask for bites of coworker's homemade lunch, call them 'stingy' when she draws a boundary

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 20, 2025 1:00 PM EST

Everyone has differing opinions when it comes to sharing food. Some people love to order dishes for the table, doing everything family style where everyone gets a little bit of everything. I'm totally for this when the time is right. If we're at a dim sum restaurant with a Lazy Susan, there's no other way to do it. Sharing is caring (as long as you make sure to order enough food). If we're all getting soup, that might be a different story. Not many people love dipping their used spoon into liquid that has had many used spoons dipped into it. Each situation calls for a different level of sharing awareness.

If we're at work, and I brought in leftovers of my roommate's famous mac and cheese, which she only makes once a year, I don't especially feel like forking over a bite to one of my coworkers. Maybe I'll bring in extra cookies to the office from an especially large batch, but sharing lunch is pretty intimate.

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  • That's what happened in this situation, where a worker was constantly put in an awkward spot by the people she worked with. When she tried to set a boundary, though, she was met with unexpected backlash. Read on for the story and see what you think. 

  • 01

    AITAH for refusing share my food at work?

    So, I work in an office where everyone seems to think "What's mine is yours" applies to food. I bring home-cooked meals for lunch because I'm on a budget and trying to eat healthy. Meanwhile, some of my coworkers constantly order takeout or forget to bring lunch entirely. The issue? They keep asking for just a bite of my
    via u/Uni-cornGlow_21
  • 02
    food. At first, I didn't mind sharing a little here and there, but it's become a DAILY thing. Some don't even ask anymore, they just joke, "Oh, that looks good, you gonna share?" while reaching over with a fork. Last week, I finally snapped. When one coworker hovered over my desk eyeing my food, I bluntly said, "No, I don't share my lunch."
    via u/Uni-cornGlow_21
  • 03
    She got all huffy and said I was being r de. A few others agreed that I was being "stingy" and "it's just food." Now, there's tension, and I'm getting side-eye from people at lunch. My friend says I should just let it go, but I feel like it's basic respect not to expect someone to share their lunch every day. AITAH for drawing a hard boundary and refusing to share anymore?
    via u/Uni-cornGlow_21
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10456309248
    via Gardie Design & Social Media Marketing

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 05

    Other workers quickly came to their defense, calling out the strange behavior.

    Bad... 2h ago Edited 2h ago . Editing to add, NTA. Do you work with seagulls and raccoons? If not, this behaviour is totally weird.
    via u/BadKittyVortex
  • 06
    canjaw • 2h ago Absolutely NTA. Your coworkers need to learn the difference between a communal snack table and your personal lunch. You're not running a free buffet, and their entitlement to your food is both inappropriate and disrespectful.
    via u/canjaw
  • 07
    It's wild that you even have to explain this, your lunch isn't a group project. You're allowed to have boundaries without being labeled "stingy." The next time someone reaches for your food uninvited, a firm, "This is my lunch. Please stop," should shut it down. And if they keep giving you side-eye, let them, better that than being a doormat.
    via u/canjaw
  • 08
    cheyennemai • 2h ago You are NTA for refusing to share your food at work. It's your lunch that you brought for yourself and you are not obligated to share with anyone.
    via u/cheyennemai
  • 09
    Commercial-Leek-... Absolutely NTA. . 2h ago This is so weird to me. I can't even imagine having Lisa's mindset and thinking I'm entitled to someone else's lunch. That's bizarre.
    via u/Commercial-Leek-5705
  • 10
    Honestly, I think you should go to management or HR at this point. Someone needs to talk to Lisa about her inappropriate behavior. You shouldn't have to deal with her pestering you every time you have your lunch.
    via u/Commercial-Leek-5705
  • 11
    keesouth • 2h ago NTA. You never should have shared in the first place. I've never worked with people who expect a bite of your food. They may complement it, but they wouldn't ask. Its completely different if you offered them a mite.
    via u/keesouth
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10456309504
    via Unsplash+ (Ameer K i)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 13
    stullenandy1234 • 1h ago NTA- not only is this weird. and overstepping, but like it's also a huge liability for you if you did. If she got sick after eating your food she could make your life h_l. Imagine if she got an allergic reaction?
    via u/stullenandy1234
  • 14
    I would talk to HR and if she asked again I would tell her that "you are making me uncomfortable." And just leave it there. She is creating a hostile work environment. truly
    via u/stullenandy1234
  • 15
    E9159254 • 1h ago NTA...You are under absolutely no obligation to share your food with a colleague. You are not a personal chef. Your management or HR should be talking to Lisa about her antics. It's ridiculous that it went this far.
    via u/E9159254
  • 16
    Gay_andConfused. 2h ago NTA - Food costs money, and in today's economy it costs A LOT of money! You are not there to subsidize their grocery bill. Tell them, "When you pay for my groceries and my time making this meal, I'll be glad to share. But I cannot afford to feed you for free."
    via u/Gay_andConfused
  • 17
    FunProfessional 570 1h ago . NTA. I think you do need to say something to manager and HR. This is unacceptable behavior. Better to get it under control now than for coworkers to get nasty and make up stuff to paint you in a bad light.
    via u/FunProfessional570
  • 18
    Frame it as "I am on a strict budget and diet for my health. Co workers are constantly making me uncomfortable asking for some of my food. I don't think it's my responsibility to feed others and it's making things tense. How can we address this issue moving forward?"
    via u/FunProfessional570
  • 19
    If you've seen them ask others or there are particular folks that badger others for food, consider naming names. It might be a small group doing this to the rest of you and getting them under control will resolve issue.
    via u/FunProfessional570
  • 20
    theVampireTaco 57m ago • I would be petty/traumatize them route. "I am on a medical diet now, unless you want to deny me the full dose of the medication that has to be mixed into food and consume a medication you don't know. what it will do to you....". of course I do regularly have to take steroids and mix into soft foods.
    via u/theVampireTaco
  • 21
    Alarming_Paper_8... . 2h ago Ick! Stay away from my lunch! If I choose to share it, I'll let you know, but otherwise, assume it's off-limits. I'd look around, confused, and say "oh, did I forget that today was pot-luck? No? Then why do you want my lunch?"
    via u/Alarming_Paper_8357
  • 22
    bjr711 • 1h ago Could be a lucrative side gig. Tell them you'll make lunches and quote a price. Have them sign contracts.
    via u/bjr711
  • 23
    Angrabble 2h ago Naw f them. Tell them not to be lazy and cook their own food, you're cooking for yourself not the whole office
    via u/Angrabble
  • 24
    Velvet_Whispererz • 1h ago NTA. Maybe you can make and sell those food. Lol So instead they order, they will buy it to you.
    via u/Velvet_Whispererz

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terrible coworkers boss antiwork workplace-stories sharing toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace food reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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