AITAH if I don’t bring food to our monthly staff meeting when everyone is asked to do so?

A Reddit user shared their frustration about monthly staff meetings where everyone is asked to bring food according to a themed potluck. As the only vegan in their workplace, the user feels out of place, especially since coworkers typically avoid vegan dishes.

This month’s theme is crock pot recipes, but the user doesn’t own a crock pot and feels stressed about what to contribute. They’re wondering if it would make them the bad guy to skip bringing food altogether, especially since they don’t eat the non-vegan dishes. Read the full story below…

‘ AITAH if I don’t bring food to our monthly staff meeting when everyone is asked to do so?’

At my work, we have monthly staff meetings and everyone is always asked to bring food, according to a “theme”. This month it’s crock pot recipes. There’s probably 10-12 people at my job (I work at a vet clinic), we almost always have way too much food. I’ve commented that we should just have a few people each time as to not waste food but have been shot down. I’m the only person that’s vegan or even vegetarian.

Most people also won’t eat things if they know they’re vegan (because all vegan food is gross, obviously). I don’t own a crock pot, so I’ll need to borrow one. I’m struggling on what to make because we already have someone making chili, multiple dips, multiple meat options, along with someone making a rice option.

I feel like if I make something, it needs to be a large enough portion to be in a crock pot… I’d have no issue if I was making a meal for myself for the week, but I don’t really want to have it sit in a crock pot all day, either have no one touch it or have everyone try a little (I’m weird with germs). AITAH if I just dont bring anything? Especially if I don’t eat anything?

Edit: this food is not supposed to be our lunch. We all take lunches at different times. This is supposed to be eaten at the staff meeting who h happens around 4:30-5pm. Most people aren’t super hungry, especially since some people have literally eaten lunch a little more than an hour before that. Work provides drinks/paper goods. I’ve brought fruit/veggie trays before and they mostly go untouched.

I found a recipe for easy crock pot (I’m going to borrow from a coworker (I was told the food HAS to be a crockpot food) and make cinnamon monkey bread I can easily make vegan.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Violet0825 −  I would take a nice salad and say you knew people wouldn’t eat a vegan crockpot meal and that you figured a salad would compliment their dishes. Who can get mad at a salad? 😂

AllCrankNoSpark −  Just bring a bag of tortilla chips to go with the chili.

YeeHawMiMaw −  Tell them you don’t have a crockpot and ask to bring a dessert.. Edit: Typo correction.

TurtleToast2 −  NTA I f**king hate this s**t. Can we just have the stupid meeting and get it over with instead of trying to disguise it as a party? I don’t want to party with you people. I don’t even want to meet with you people, but that’s at least part of an actual job description.

AdAccomplished6870 −  With crock pot stuff, there is usually a need to bring side dishes. Offer to make the cornbread. You can make vegan cornbread and it will still be plenty tasty

Altruistic-Staff-159 −  I don’t think you want the reputation of the person “who is not a team player” and “doesn’t want to be social.” It’s unfair, but that will be your reputation if you don’t participate. That can limit your career. As someone suggested, bring a big salad with enough to share. Or if you’re able, make a cake. People will be grateful for a thing that’s not in a crock pot.

GreenOnionCrusader −  Mulled cider works well in a crockpot and can be vegan without comment. They’ve got the food covered, so provide the drink and I’ll bet its gone quickly.

Fredredphooey −  Make a big batch of rice pilaf with vegetables as it’s inexpensive and you don’t have to call it vegan because people will see that there is no meat in the rice and vegetables, but no one cares as long as you don’t call it vegan. Calling out that it’s vegan makes some people assume that you used something fake to cook it with, not understanding how olive oil or other vegetable oils work.
If anyone asks if it’s vegan, say that it’s “accidentally vegan.” This tells people that you didn’t have to adapt it, like applesauce instead of eggs.
I know it’s ridiculous, but militant vegans have ruined the word for everyone else. 

ClevelandWomble −  Again, it pisses me off when business expect staff to do work things in their own time ‘to be a team player’. Honestly, unless their payscale was way above the competition, I’d be looking elsewhere. They seem exploitative.
NTA but you know there might be repercussions…

1re_endacted1 −  Buy cookies from Walmart Bakery. Just one box.