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Dear Amy,

I recently joined my office’s “healthy living” initiative, which encourages everyone to bring healthier lunches. The problem? One coworker brings the stinkiest, most overpowering “healthy” meals you can imagine — think fish, boiled eggs and garlic soup. The smell fills the entire office and makes it impossible to concentrate. How do I tell them their food stinks without making it awkward?

Sincerely, Holding My Breath

Dear Holding My Breath,

Ah, the timeless office battle: air quality versus culinary freedom. To survive your coworker’s latest health food trend, start by investing in some industrial-strength air fresheners. Place them strategically near their desk and set them off every time they open their lunch container. Bonus points if you do this while wearing a hazmat suit — you’ll really drive the point home.

For an alternative approach, hold a daily “Office Lunch Awards” contest and create a special category for “Most Fragrant Dish.” Ensure your coworker wins every time. The ongoing attention to their meals will either encourage them to tone it down.

If subtlety isn’t your strong suit, you could also invent a completely fictional “odor sensitivity disorder” and announce you’ve just been diagnosed. Explain that your doctor has warned you to avoid strong smells at all costs, and oh, how unfortunate it is that this new “condition” flares up right around lunchtime.

But if you hope to keep the peace in your office, approach the situation gently. Your coworker may not realize how potent their meals smell or how it’s affecting the shared space. A polite, private conversation can go a long way — something like, “Hey, your lunches always look amazing, but the strong smells are a bit tough in the office environment. Would you mind saving some of the extra-pungent dishes for home?” Alternatively, you could suggest the whole office agree to eat in the breakroom to maintain a neutral and pleasant workspace.

Remember, food choices can be deeply personal, so handle the conversation with kindness. If they are reasonable, they’ll likely be willing to compromise. And hey, maybe this is your chance to bond over recipes — or at least ones that won’t make the office smell like a garlic factory.

Best of bad advice,

Amy