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Original poster

New job - already fed up with unhealthy ‘working lunches‘

613 replies

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:25

I’ve been in my new job since February and in the main really enjoy it. However, we have monthly ‘planning meetings’ which so far are always scheduled to run through lunch (usually 11-3) and the bosses arrange for a lunch to be provided. Last month, it was a job lot of Greggs ‘beige’ - sausage rolls etc, and today it was stacks of dominoes which everyone could pile in to.

I haven’t said anything so far as I don’t want to appear ungrateful, and the majority of my colleagues seemed ecstatic with these choices, but as someone who is quite big on health and fitness, this is really irritating. We get a 5-10
minute break from this at most which isn’t enough time for me to do much more than go to the loo (big office with microwave facilities downstairs and always a queue over lunch).

Would you ask to get a longer break so I can have my own lunch? I’m just conscious this will delay the meeting for everyone else so very wary of asking.

OP posts:
Jom222 · 13/05/2025 20:23

I'd think hard for something I can carry that day and do that. You gave a slightly rigid eating plan which may be fine for you but there must be SOMETHING you can carry and eat cold one day a month that won't wreck the rest of the day's eating plan. I don't know the ins and outs of your diet so won't bother suggesting anything but I think you can come up with one lunch a month.

Of course if the opportunity ever arises you'd want to suggest they try food that's healthier, or even adding salads to the pizza order, would that help? That wouldn't be out of line to request imho.

I had a job once that would take us all to a shitty buffet quarterly for lunch, I'd get sick and be shitting all afternoon so decided to fib and say I wanted to do some quick shopping over the lunch break and carried a sandwich. The idiots I worked with decided for whatever batshit reason, that meant I was pregnant. I laughed and laughed and told the moron ringleader, well I didn't want to complain that the crap food gives me the runs but here we are. They'd all be so excited for that terrible food, I hated to pop their balloon.

Goodgriefisitginfizzoclock · 13/05/2025 20:23

You are correct to want more than 10 minutes, but, my sympathy ran out when you started being critical of other peoples size! You’ve made yourself sound like a self entitled charmer with those comments

firstfamhol · 13/05/2025 20:22

If you like hot food, use a large hot food flask and heat it up at home. Add boiling water to the flask while you heat it then empty the water and add the food. It’ll be hot enough until lunch. Might mean you can skip queuing for the microwave the rest of the week too!

CorbyTrouserPress · 13/05/2025 20:21

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:33

No, mostly middle aged and a mixed of genders believe it or not. Respectfully, the average size is probably 14/16+!

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Have they changed the definition of respectfully while I was away?

bignosebignose · 13/05/2025 20:19

Lost20211 · 13/05/2025 20:17

Anyone else hope her colleagues find this post?

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They might say something like "Whatever happened to women supporting women? Xx"

Butchyrestingface · 13/05/2025 20:18

TooGoodToGoto · 13/05/2025 20:11

I’ve missed this! What’s happened, am I wasting my tk
d and wit?

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Like little George Washington's cherry tree, OP is no more.

She is an ex-parrot.

Lost20211 · 13/05/2025 20:17

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:57

Not at all, I like my colleagues, regardless of whether some are a bit on the podgier side!

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Anyone else hope her colleagues find this post?

SauvignonBlanche · 13/05/2025 20:16

Mean old MNHQ, I was hoping to get some career advice from the OP. 😂

Catofthesouth · 13/05/2025 20:16

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 19:31

Blimey, I knew MN’ers disliked successful women, but I underestimated the pure vitriol being slim and successful would result in!

Whatever happened to women supporting women? Xx

good grief get a grip, this from a thin fit successful woman. I bet some of your colleagues can’t afford Dominos so suck it up and don’t be so dim

SillyNavySnail · 13/05/2025 20:15

Buy a decent thermos and hot food will stay hot until lunch (& even longer). Pour boiling water inside said thermos first

Cherrytree86 · 13/05/2025 20:13

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:32

I don’t really like cold lunches, I meal prep and have something which fits my macros for tracking too so eating junk isn’t really an option.

@AliceSeal

tough. Sometimes we just need to suck it up and have something that falls outside of our first choice. That’s life 🤷‍♀️

Lost20211 · 13/05/2025 20:11

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:33

No, mostly middle aged and a mixed of genders believe it or not. Respectfully, the average size is probably 14/16+!

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Lovely attitude.

TooGoodToGoto · 13/05/2025 20:11

Butchyrestingface · 13/05/2025 20:02

I'm a bit surprised by some of the mean comments.

Wait until you see what MNHQ did to her.

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I’ve missed this! What’s happened, am I wasting my tk
d and wit?

aylis · 13/05/2025 20:10

Cook your lunch in the morning and take it in a food flask. Nobody cares tbh. You've got a lot of options in between 'eat Greggs' and 'eat nothing'.

TooGoodToGoto · 13/05/2025 20:09

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:57

Not at all, I like my colleagues, regardless of whether some are a bit on the podgier side!

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How kind of you! They must be very grateful for that.

MayaPinion · 13/05/2025 20:08

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 19:13

I’m in a six figure management role for a very recognisable company, thanks for your concern though hun x

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Is it Greggs? 😂😂😂

FOJN · 13/05/2025 20:08

MovingBird123 · 13/05/2025 20:01

I'm a bit surprised by some of the mean comments.

Anyway, clearly it's a choice between eating junk food or cold food. You choose.

I agree that (when I'm concerned about what I'm eating, which isn't at the moment) I prefer to choose when to eat unhealthily. I want to make an evening of it, family pizzas or something.

OP was a troll and has now been shown the door by MNHQ.

Those of us who knew it wasn't real are just having some fun.

DefinitelyMaybe92 · 13/05/2025 20:07

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:57

Not at all, I like my colleagues, regardless of whether some are a bit on the podgier side!

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It’s almost like… people are more than what’s on the outside?!! Who’d have thought size 14 - gasp - people could be… likeable?!!

I honestly don’t know how you get through life. It must restrict your social opportunities, at least to some extent, having all these requirements. Anyway, don’t eat the lunch if you don’t want it (gosh, people have this exact conversation with five-year-olds…). Eat either earlier or later if it must be both macro-calculated AND hot. However, do just know that you will come off extremely uptight and/or judgemental to your colleagues if you can’t at least attempt to partake and eat one sausage roll or a slice of pizza.

Butchyrestingface · 13/05/2025 20:07

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 13/05/2025 20:06

Just take in a pack lunch, it's really not rocket science.

Don't say 'rocket'. You'll trigger her - OP didn't like salad.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 13/05/2025 20:06

Just take in a pack lunch, it's really not rocket science.

YiayiaP · 13/05/2025 20:05

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 18:33

No, mostly middle aged and a mixed of genders believe it or not. Respectfully, the average size is probably 14/16+!

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Respectfully, I’m a 50-something size 14 granny - I run 3 times a week (sub 25 5k), do yoga and weights most days and eat pizza more than once a month (ok, weekly!).

I’ll race you to Gregg’s 🤣

NotEnoughtGin · 13/05/2025 20:05

My lunch is an un-paid 30 minutes each day. I'd be really annoyed if I had to attend a meeting every month during my lunch, regardless of what food is provided.

Why are so many people OK with doing free work?

CarefulN0w · 13/05/2025 20:03

TimeForABreak4 · 13/05/2025 18:40

You're in to healthy eating but don't like a salad? And your comment about your colleagues sizes was bitchy.

And is into macros but can’t think of a suitable lunch to take.

Butchyrestingface · 13/05/2025 20:02

MovingBird123 · 13/05/2025 20:01

I'm a bit surprised by some of the mean comments.

Anyway, clearly it's a choice between eating junk food or cold food. You choose.

I agree that (when I'm concerned about what I'm eating, which isn't at the moment) I prefer to choose when to eat unhealthily. I want to make an evening of it, family pizzas or something.

I'm a bit surprised by some of the mean comments.

Wait until you see what MNHQ did to her.

ResidentPorker · 13/05/2025 20:02

On the off-chance that this is real: if you can't relax your regime for one meal a month, you have an eating disorder.