Coworker constantly comments on employees' snack and beverage choices in the break room, cries when she tells her to knock it off: 'Commenting on what others eat isn’t appropriate.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Dec 15, 2025 8:00 PM EST

Her coworker's snack choices don't affect her in the slightest.

We all have coworkers with wacky behaviors we don't quite understand, and that's okay! As long as they aren't hurting anybody, there's no reason not to accept their quirks as just a part of their personality. However, everyone has a different definition of "hurting anybody." If your coworker is constantly burping and it's grossing you out so much that you are getting distracted from your work, it can be argued that it falls under the jurisdiction of harming you. It's also really gross and annoying, which is another valid reason to complain about it.

If your complaint is severe enough that you can go to HR about it without getting laughed out of the room, then you should do precisely that. A human resources employee will care if Jared is whistling all day on the clock, and it's driving the other employees crazy, so they can't get anything done. That way, the HR person can talk to Jared about it so he doesn't know which employee complained. It's difficult that triangulation is often the only way you can communicate in the workplace, but it can be better than the alternative.

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  • The woman in this story tried to be direct with her coworker, telling her that she didn't appreciate her endless comments about her snack choices. That honesty upset her coworker, so she tattled on her to HR, and now everyone's upset.

  • A woman sits with a coke bottle
    via amin naderloei

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Am I the bad guy for telling a coworker to stop commenting on my snack choices?

    Some backstory: my work provides snacks for employees regularly and keeps our break room well stocked. There is not a supply issue in play here. I also regularly drink a particular soda and don't stray from that, unless
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • I'm drinking water. I tend to bring my own since I drink it at home as well and me partaking in the company-provided snacks and drinks isn't keeping anyone else from getting something.
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • Snacks in a plastic pack
    via Gaining Visuals

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • On more than one occasion, coworkers have commented on my soda consumption, asking things like "What number is that?" etc. I usually brush it off, even though I hate it and actually find it quite rude. Granted, I have a
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • long-standing issue with questions like that because my dad is notorious of it, but I know of course others don't know that and I can't expect anyone to automatically know it's a trigger of sorts. Prior to this, I did finally
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • mention that I didn't find humor in the comments and don't like it. Short, sweet, and to the point. A few weeks ago, I was at work in a common area eating a fruit roll up. A coworker kind of laughed
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • then said to me, "How many of those have you eaten today?" Maybe I was already in a bad mood or something, but it was irritating and I was tired of it. I turned to this coworker and said something along the lines of, "I
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • don't understand why it is any of your business. To me, commenting on what others eat is similar to commenting on their body and it isn't appropriate. I would never do that to you and I would appreciate if you would
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • stop doing it to me." She didn't respond, she honestly looked pissed off or offended but I didn't care. I moved on and mostly forgot about it.
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • Fast forward to last week, my manager pulled me aside and said I made the previously mentioned coworker cry. I explained the situation, and she said "they just care about you," and "you could've said it nicer." I
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • explained that I have said it nicer previously and the comments continued. I'm not in "trouble" or anything, but ultimately got pulled into my managers office. for being a "mean girl" even though someone else was being insulting.
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • Liverpudlian9 People who don't drink soda can be very judgy. I can't tell you how many times I've had comments like "it's too early to drink (Diet Coke)" or "anyone who drinks soda in the morning is addicted." Why is coffee ok in the AM., but soda isn't? It's just a caffeine fix in a different beverage
    via u/Liverpudlian9
  • OP goodbyeartist This. I never comment on anyone's coffee or energy drink consumption (or anything else) and I haven't heard anyone else do that either... why is it different?
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • Consistent Strike_48 NTA Tell your manager that their comments on your food intake make you feel extremely uncomfortable in your work environment and that it feels hostile. Shit like this pisses me off. When I was first in the workplace I let my coworkers talk to me like that. Once they commented on the fact I was drinking a diet soda instead of a regular. Saying it wasn't going to help me. They are being the mean girls.
    via u/Consistent_Strike_48
  • OP goodbyeartist Jesus Christ That's incredibly mean and cannot be taken any other way, like. How tf
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • Donutsmell NTA. do they do this to everyone or just you?
    via u/Donutsmell
  • OP goodbyeartist I don't hear comments like this being made to anyone else, but I can't say for 100% certainty they haven't said something similar to someone else
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • trippedonatater INFO: how much soda are we talking about? A can? A 2 liter? | had a former coworker who gave himself diabetes by drinking a daily 2 liter of Mt Dew while at work.
    via u/trippedonatater
  • OP goodbyeartist It varies and it's sugar free, but I bring it myself, so I don't understand how that's anyone else's problem.
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • kokoromelody INFO: Was the coworker you spoke to one whom you'd previously told you didn't want comments from on what you ate/drank? If not, then I do think you were a little harsh but if she'd previously been told, then I think your response was understandable. Your boss is in the wrong though and should have taken responsibility to enforce to other team members to refrain from making comments about what you eat/drink.
    via u/kokoromelody
  • OP goodbyeartist Yes
    via u/goodbyeartist
  • Cats Mom4Ever NTA. Tell your manager that your coworker is creating a hostile work environment by constantly criticizing your food consumption and trying to hide it by claiming it was good intentions. She is not yoyr mommy or your personal trainer. And if she does it again, you will file a complaint with HR. Then she really will have something to cry about.
    via u/CatsMom4Ever
  • Three women sitting beside table
    via Tim Gouw

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • maccrogenoff NTA Only women are told, "you could have said it nicer.".
    via u/maccrogenoff
  • NTA. CrazyOldBag "Wow, Emily, you have time to monitor my snack intake? Do you need some more productive work to do?"
    via u/CrazyOldBag
  • NTA t3hnospoon > I cried therefore I'm the victim. This is the logic of my 2 year old nephew. No adult should entertain this... maybe next time someone says something you should break out in big crocodile tears and run straight to HR. They want to play games? Two can play. Just to make it absolutely clear - you are well within your right to not have to listen to snide comments about your food choices in the workplace. The only exception is microwaving fish. Eating a fruit roll up does not affect
    via u/t3hnospoon
  • No_Construction_9178 NTA. I am the type I would go to HR quick fast and in a hurry. It's is super inappropriate to comment on anyone's food consumption or body in any way. Super weird.
    via u/No_Construction_9178

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management workplace-stories job soda coworkers employees snacks eating break room crying
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