Here's an interesting article on how to handle office and other potlucks if you are on a tight budget and/or food restrictions. No one wants to be a party pooper or have a reputation as an outsider, so here are some great ideas. For example: "I need to know that there will be food for me to eat. I turn the table from not feeling like I am part of the group to making sure the group includes me." and "Develop a short list of delicious recipes and rotate them. Anything made from scratch is a real treat these days, and it is almost always considerably less expensive."