An Effective but Impolite Technique for Dodging Meatloaf

One time, we had meatloaf in my dinner group.
When I arrived, I didn't know what it was. I went over to the stove and peered into the deep, mysterious pan with the sudden knowledge that I was doomed.
Oh no, I thought. I'm not sneaky enough for this.
"Take some!" the cook said happily, because this was a man who loved his meatloaf. I froze. I looked at the meatloaf. I looked at chef Jordan. He seemed to be planning on watching me until I served myself some hamburger-ketchup cake.
"I actually have to go," I told him, with what I hoped was an innocent, charming smile, "I just remembered."
Jordan seemed unfazed.
"Okay!" he said, "You can come over later and get some."

I left, I did some things, and I contemplated how rude it was to look at food someone had prepared for you and then tell them that you had to leave. My roommate and I returned to Jordan's apartment.

"Hello," he said, "Are you here for meatloaf?"
"No," I replied stoically, "I am here to confess."
Jordan was intrigued.
"I did not eat your meatloaf because I don't eat meat. Not because it looked gross. I felt bad for being so awkward about it."
Jordan processed this, bobbing his head slightly.
"Whoa," my roommate said, "Really?"
I gave her a serious look so she would know how deadly serious I was.
"Well, I knew something was up," Jordan said with the air of a detective revealing how the mystery had been solved, "But I wasn't offended. I just thought...she must not like meatloaf. More for me!"
Suddenly he stood up and headed into his kitchen.
"Do you want cereal?"
"What? Uh, no thanks."
"I have a lot of apples..."

For a moment I didn't understand what had filled him with the desire to start giving me all his food.

"Thanks but I'm good, I didn't come tell you this so you'd feel obligated to give me something else, I promise--"
"I could make you nachos. Like, just with cheese. Not with meat."
"Jordan you are the best but really, you don't need to feed me."
"Look, I have a whole bag of clementines."
"...Okay I will eat a clementine."


So everything went better than expected, and although I don't have hard evidence, I am almost positive that Jordan has since forgotten the whole thing, including my vegetarianism.