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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:
NoMoreLifts · 14/05/2025 09:09

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.

How is salad junk?

ObelixtheGaul · 14/05/2025 09:07

Caerulea · 14/05/2025 08:53

Awww MNHQ you big, meany, sausage roll munching grumpy pants! Sometimes it's fun to play with the trolls

At least the thread still stayed up, so we can all still see a pp"s wonderful comment about her dog's turd being able to come up with a solution to the 'problem'.

Caerulea · 14/05/2025 08:53

Awww MNHQ you big, meany, sausage roll munching grumpy pants! Sometimes it's fun to play with the trolls

Hotbathcoldknees · 14/05/2025 08:39

We do these working lunch things once a month - lunch and learn - softens the blow of having to work over lunch. We ask and get feedback on the lunch provided, we have all endured too much of the free slimy sandwiches and beige finger foods to feedback that we'd rather not have it again. When we order pizza it comes from a local well rated pizzeria, I can't imagine the response we'd get if we provided Greggs for lunch. It's not so much health or calories it's just wanting to eat good food and there's lot of good lunch spots around our offices in London, so really no excuse for beige.
Why don't you have a breezy chat with the person who arranges the room etc for the meeting, have an idea in mind a few good places to order in from - no harm in making a positive suggestion, you could create something better for everyone.
But I wouldn't ask for extra time for your lunch - that's too much, too soon.

millymollymoomoo · 14/05/2025 07:54

You sound like hard work

Springhassprungxx · 14/05/2025 07:49

The more of this thread l read, the more l am glad l don't wirk with you op - you sound like very hard work.

jeaux90 · 14/05/2025 06:56

OP I’m very senior in the tech industry on 6 figures and believe me, no one is slagging you off for being successful. We all just think you are being a PITA with a sprinkle of judgemental.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 14/05/2025 05:31

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+!

Your comment wasn't respectfully , it was totally fucking irrelevant.

If you can't find an alternative lunch once a month then there's no helping you

Tbrh · 14/05/2025 03:43

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 19:25

As I said, I’m barely in the role having been head hunted late last year and no one likes someone who has just come in and starts dictating things, regardless of their salary.

Well not when it's something dumb like having to extend the break because they can't figure out how to have lunch, I'd judge you harshly and assume you're a bit thick (or entitled)

Glitchymn1 · 14/05/2025 03:29

ToKittyornottoKitty · 13/05/2025 19:33

Hold on, you said those who didn’t agree with you were ‘resident porkers’. No way are you smart enough to have that 6 figure job. No wonder you can’t work out how to bring your own cold lunch into work

^ I concur.

Hankunamatata · 14/05/2025 01:00

Microwave your meal before. Shove it into a food flask and eat during meeting

ApricotFlan · 14/05/2025 00:15

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

What a load of absolute shit!

People are reacting to you behaving like a spoilt little princess who thinks the world will wait for her special healthy lunch. Newsflash - no fucker cares!

MasterBeth · 13/05/2025 23:46

PeloMom · 13/05/2025 18:37

Pre defined amount of carbs, fat protein to achieve a goal.

The goal of being absurdly disordered about food?

ReginaPhalange01 · 13/05/2025 23:45

echt · 13/05/2025 22:07

You lost me at "cheat meal". WTF.

“cheat meal” is a very common term for people into fitness and tracking food and calories

Fizbosshoes · 13/05/2025 23:40

Can you let us know when the next meeting is scheduled and maybe one of us could go and eat pizza on your behalf? 😃

surreygirl1987 · 13/05/2025 23:37

Changingnameagain · 13/05/2025 21:46

Employees in UK are legally entitled to 20 mins break for every 6 hours worked. I will never understand why workers put up with shit like this. Working through your lunch break as a directed and regular thing? Nah. Unionise and tell your employer to f**k off.

Yeh but maybe she has 20 mins before and after the meeting. The meeting is 4 hours....

liveforsummer · 13/05/2025 22:35

Surely if you really can’t cope with a cold lunch salad or sandwich you just heat your normal prepped meal up pre meeting and pop it in a food flask. Problem solved!

whoisit1234 · 13/05/2025 22:10

What a weird thread! I'd like to think someone in a senior professional role isn't so stuck in their ways that they can't take a salad one day a month...let alone see that it would be completely inappropriate to ask for lunchtime to be extended so they could warm up their macros...

echt · 13/05/2025 22:07

AliceSeal · 13/05/2025 19:01

I have a cheat meal weekly, but would rather that was one of my choice and usually on a weekend, rather than whatever junk someone has decided on bringing in to the office.

You lost me at "cheat meal". WTF.

Megifer · 13/05/2025 22:03

Did anyone else think macro meant really big food?

wordler · 13/05/2025 21:56

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.

Just pop to the microwave before the meeting when there won't be a queue and take your meal to the meeting. Or get one of those bento boxes which keeps the food warm till lunchtime.

Don't be banging on about your macros though while everyone else is trying to enjoy their steak pasty.

Hulabalu · 13/05/2025 21:55

AthWat · 13/05/2025 21:50

Fine, I'll assume you don't want to respond in any meaningful way. You can have the last word just saying "no, you" as that seems to be all you want out of this.

Edited

“ “

Cucy · 13/05/2025 21:53

This is such a non event and I’m surprised you are so successful considering you can’t work out that no one is force-feeding you.

Pop your food in the microwave, nip to the toilet, grab your food from the microwave, attend the meeting.

Hardly difficult.

AlphaApple · 13/05/2025 21:53

Just unclench and take in a pre-prepared salad box. I would also hate a beige lunch but I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

bigfacthunter · 13/05/2025 21:53

AthWat · 13/05/2025 21:17

Did you read the thread where they started insulting their fat colleagues and got banned for it? Did that not give you a clue what the pile on was about?

Ah I see. No I just read the first couple and skimmed the rest. Makes more sense now!