Ben Williams
Across Washington’s federal buildings, December has no doubt once again brought with it the familiar parade of sweet tins, shared buffets and the low-level thrill of discovering an unexpected tray of biscuits beside the printer.
Many teams will have already begun sketching out their annual gatherings, comparing potluck plans and debating who will break first in the face of the office’s ever-growing mountain of festive snacks.
We imagine the shift inevitable into full Christmas mode has been steady and predictable, with corridors filled with chatter about recipes, decorations and the unofficial competition over which department will put on the most impressive spread.
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At the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, however, this atmosphere has been punctuated by an unexpected message in the Administrator’s weekly bulletin.
The opening lines matched what people would usually expect, acknowledging the string of gatherings ahead and the cheerful chaos of the season. For a moment, the note read like the usual pre-holiday warm-up, offering the kind of camaraderie-laced commentary that tends to appear as the year winds down.
Before long, however, readers found the message steering in an unexpected direction, shifting focus from celebration to something far more controlled.
The bulletin, authored by Dr Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service, moved quickly into guidance for navigating the month’s indulgence, encouraging staff to ‘practice portion control’ during the festivities.
Reported by Wired, his email, shared under the title Crushing Cubicle Cravings, noted: “We all love a fun cookie swap and potluck this time of year. With several teams across CMS hosting holiday gatherings this month, I am sharing some strategies to help you make healthier choices—while still indulging in festive treats."
He advised employees to ‘set your intentions’, to ‘decide in advance how many treats’ they wanted and to ‘try to stick to that number’.
One line, soon repeated widely, stated: "You don’t have to try every cookie on the cookie table."
Other suggestions focused on the approach rather than appetite. Staff were urged to take ‘small portions’, opt for smaller plates and slow down their eating by putting utensils down between bites.
A further tip cautioned against ‘double fist’, recommending that workers keep a hand free for ‘shaking hands with colleagues and friends during this festive period’.
A CMS spokesperson later said Oz offered the advice because he ‘knows it's not easy balancing a healthy lifestyle and a demanding job’, describing the message as encouragement rather than a directive.
He added: “That's why he offers and welcomes tips and encouragement to help the hardworking CMS team stay healthy while they work hard to ensure millions of Americans access quality health care, which is entirely appropriate. So far, the feedback has been positive."