Trying to bypass the office candy dish

One of the advantages of not working in a big office is being able to avoid that bowl on the receptionist's desk that's loaded with chocolate bars or cookies or some other sweet that's not good for you. Eating just two pieces of candy each workday without cutting calories elsewhere (unlikely) or exercising more (very unlikely) will cost you almost 25,000 calories over the course of a year - or 7.13 pounds. WSJ says that some employees could do without the temptation:

The office candy dish was sabotaging Melanie Meek's efforts to slim down. Then, she declared war. Bowls filled with chocolates were swept off co-workers' desks and into drawers. Pastries, doughnuts and other snacks were stashed in a separate room. Her rule, she told co-workers in their Canton, Ohio, real-estate office: "If I have to smell it, I will move it."

But...

Some people believe that setting out little bowls of chocolates and mints builds esprit de corps in the office. It creates an opportunity to chat with co-workers who drop by. Then there are the folks who haul in cookies, birthday cakes, leftover holiday desserts and goodies from their kids' school fund-raisers. Bosses, too, often keep the office candy dish stocked to pump up the staff.

By the way it costs $546 a year to stock an office with one, 55-piece bag of mini-candy bars each week.