Idiot checkout people

I went to fresh and easy today for a short shopping trip. I go to the self checkout and one of the free employees comes over and starts bagging my stuff. My groceries were pretty much super healthy stuff. In the middle of bagging, he looks at me and asks why I have a large DARK chocolate bar, commenting that 'Everything else is super healthy, and then you have a huge chocolate bar'
1.Fresh & Easy DARK chocolate only comes in one size, HUGE. I break it up and have a tiny bit every morning. Its 72% and I'm very strict about the portioning. I read the whole nutritional label before I bought it.
I stumbled over my words saying 'there's a reason for all the things I buy/I eat it over a period of weeks' or something like that. I thanked him and went along my way but realized at my car that I was deeply offended by his remark.
It made me feel like he was judging the food I was eating, like the chocolate bar was such a huge mistake and that I was making the wrong choice. In fact, was it any of his business??
I came home and talked to my aunt about it, and realized that I'm sensitive to remarks regarding my diet and food. This is extremely true. I have a lot of valid reasons why the topic of food is incredibly sensitive for me. I could make a list of the reasons why. And it would be LONG. Oh and yeah I think I hit a plateau, that made it sting all the more.
I'm so angry at myself for not barking back at the guy with something, like 'Um, none of your business/my groceries and food related things are super sensitive topics for me, and you just crossed the line.' but I've noticed through my life that if someone catches me off guard with a rude comment like that, I never have a good comeback, I stutter then I just go home and cry my eyes out. In fact the reason for this post is to get this out of my system so I don't cry. Can I get some support or 'omfg that happened to me too!'?

Hell if someone noticed that my groceries were so healthy that one item stood out I'd feel pretty good about it. I wasn't there for context...but it sounds like more of a clumsy compliment to me. At any rate...way to go on the healthy shopping trip!

ohhh thanks for giving me a new way to see it. An extremely clumsy complement, but I guess he could have said it better. Focused on the good not the one barely questionable thing in my cart. doesn't everyone know dark is good for you?
I'm probably overreacting(which is why I don't want to bite his head off, he didn't know its a SUPER SENSITIVE topic for me), and I know it, but I have valid reasons for being so sensitive to food topics. I've cried over food before.

I have stood in the check out line behind people who have nothing but processed, quick, canned or frozen foods. All of it high calorie and aboslutely no nutrient value. And I think how can they eat like that? I call it being a food snob. But one bar of chocolate! Really! Why would you even care when some random person comments on the way you eat? What you do is your business and no one elses. Don't let people who don't even know you affect the way you feel....about anything.

Maybe next time if a similar situation comes up you could say "Well I do eat really healthy, but if I'm going to indulge a little, this 72% Dark chocolate is about as far as I'll let myself go!"

Don't say anything defensive. You don't have to defend yourself, and if you try to defend yourself you'll just reinforce any negativity of it in both your mind and his.

How about something perky and cheerful that completely ignores any negative message that he may be trying to send. "Oh! Thank you for noticing!"

"Oh, that's not for me. That's for my dog. He loves it." (Yes, yes, I know that chocolate is toxic to dogs.)

You could look shocked. "What? You mean chocolate isn't a vegetable?!"

Or, if you can pull it off, make him blush. "Oh, that? I melt that and use it as body paint for my (boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/squeeze)."

Love this, Hoser!

I always feel pretty good when I compare the contents of my cart to everyone else in the store But no, I'm not perfect and I'm not apologetic for the other stuff that I choose to put in my cart. A healthy lifestyle is more about 80/20 than 100%.

I work in the grocery industry and one thing we are encouraged to do is engage in conversation during check out. The checkers and baggers are suggested to comment on what you purchase...like saying, "That looks good, what are you making?" or "Those shrimp are a great buy today." It can get tiring coming up with things to comment on.

I agree it sounds like a clumsy compliment. It also sounds like it came from the mouth of someone who doesn't know the antioxidant benefits of dark chocolate! Don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy every bite.

I do not think it was meant to be rude or deserved an angry response to be honest.

Thanks for this info - I get super annoyed when people ask me what I am going to make. I just feel it is personal and not their business!!! I will try to remember that they are supposed to ask and be friendly!

I think he was just trying to make conversation. Part of being overly "sensitive" is that you overanalyze every comment someone makes and internalize statements as personal attacks when they aren't.

Never apologize or explain your choices. I think I too would be sensitive about the comment and I would have stuttered an answer. Hold you head high and congrats on your healthy lifestyle.

It's not really worth getting yourself worked up about, it was an off-the-cuff remark by a checkout worker, who was probably just trying to make conversation. Just let it go....

So with all the replies (which I am totally appreciative about) I've realized some things
1. I should have had a witty comment to say back (I use it to sacrifice to the Gods of Dieting, they demand the worst foods =D)
2. I am REALLY sensitive about food. I know I'm taking his comment way too personally.
However, I'm starting to wonder about myself because this isn't the first thing I've taken super personally recently. I'm currently being treated by my Gyno for 'adrenal' issues, and at first he thought I had PCOS. Some of my hormone levels were low enough to be menopause, and I'm 25. He put me on a bunch of herbs and such, and one prescription. I lost 16 pounds, even though I'm a broke busy college student with non-dieting friends. While losing weight, I was hoping to lose some breast size, but even after losing 16 pounds I am currently wearing 34DDDD. my gyno had no advice or anything to say about my unusual breast growth, and since that appointment its taken all of my sanity to not cry about it everyday. Maybe I'm taking out my frustration on this innocent guy? Its like I wanted to scream 'I know I have dark chocolate and you don't think its healthy, but I'm trying my hardest but I can't seem to lose any breast fat, and in fact its growing and not one can help me and I feel like a failure.'
oh yeah, I'm calling my doctors office in the morning, get my butt to a specialist. i need help if i'm taking it out on the general public/affecting my relationships.
Had a big realization just now. Thanks guys, You were all the best therapists! I'll bill you all next week. =D

I am a 36G size and I agree, large breasts can be pretty annoying! But a weird thing is that as my ribcage size (the 36 part) went down, the cup size went up. So I went from a 38F to a 36G - even though my boobs got smaller - bra sizing is just weird! Anyway, hope the doc helps you out.

And think about it like this - if someone says something to you that strikes a nerve, just ask yourself this - "In a month, am I still going to be upset about this, or even remember it?". If the answer is no - then you know you don't need to stress about, or even pay attention to, whatever they've said

I kinda want to chime in and say "Argh! Boobs Suck!" =) Take care. xx

Ditto ferlengheti! "=) Boobs suck and ya, go find a specialist. You need a doctor that gets agressive!!! Good to have an update. Keep us posted!

well my breast size went from 32D to 32DD to 34DDD to 34DDDD. its not like my band size went down, it stayed the same. also the 34DDD and the 34DDDD were the same brand bra, and happened during my diet.my diet started in July, and i purchased the 34DDDD sometime in november-december area. the 34DDD were purchased about 3 months before i started my diet.
I can't even explain in words how sad I am over it. I know there are women that pay to get what i have, but I did not PAY for them, and I dont want them. they don't fit my lifestyle, personality, life goals or hobbies. and i get chest and back pain. I've left a nordsdroms is full tears over it. Its really bad and I don't know what to do about it.

As far as the boobs part goes I can't help because I have NONE so I don't really understand how much of a pain in the butt it is. And I don't really want them because I can totally see where they would be heavy and in the way when you're trying to exercise. You have my sympathies for sure on that.
As far as the food goes, I agree with everyone else. It's not worth worrying about. We are all human. No matter how healthy we eat there will be times we will decide to eat something because we want to not because it is good for us. I personally don't think there is anything wrong with that no matter what your size. I think if you are eating healthy most of the time and you decide to eat chocolate or french fries or something that isn't so great for you, that's reality. It's life in the real world. We all need to be able to go to a restaurant once in a while and eat what ever we want and go back to healthy living the next day. Most days I eat well and am within my calorie range. I do not give up anything I just try and adjust. I don't like dark chocolate but I LOVE chocolate so I buy hershey kisses. They are small and sometimes I can eat just 2 and satisfy the craving. Other times I eat 10! I don't beat myself up about it. I am human. Tomorrow is a new day.

Oooooh. Maybe I need therapy because checkout people always annoy me. I try to be nice but when I'm not I say, "I'm sorry, I'm in a super big hurry," and they always quit their yapping. I've used that a few times and then I feel bad later but I really don't want to have a discussion about food. I'll talk to them about anything else though. I just find food conversations at checkouts so boring. But I love the painting my body with chocolate idea. I'm too shy to say that though. ha ha ha