Do you think we'll ever get to a point where employer supplied junk food is banned?

[RunBackwards]

Either by law or by company rules?

When I first started work, it was entirely usual for people to smoke at their desks, even in front of customers.

Gradually, that became frowned upon and designated smoking areas were provided, maybe the staffroom or a corner of the canteen.

Then that wasn't allowed and smoking areas went outside. Now, lots of businesses don't even allow smoking outside on their premises.

It's taken a while but it's quite a change in a couple of decades.

My current employer us all about wellbeing. We get lots of healthy eating advice and yet at every meeting the table is laden with sweets, biscuits and/or pastries.

Of course people have the choice not to partake but it would be so much easier if it wasn't there - like you can't smoke when it's not allowed.

DH's company have actually decreed that they will only supply fruit for meetings now. Do you think this will become widespread?

Should it?

Yes, I should think so. Doesn't seem like a bad idea.

People are far more alert on healthy food.

Yes, and we'll also look back on kids being encouraged to eat large volumes of sugary crap child abuse (similar to how we feel now about victorian babies getting brandy to keep them quiet).

It'll not be soon though, too much invested in sugar/junk food by big business who will have learnt lessons from big tobacco.

That's the best bit about meetings for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Can't beat a buffet lunch during a meeting.

God I hope not best part of the meeting!

But surely the smoking ban was to protect those who don’t smoke. If someone eats a chocolate bar near you it doesn’t cause you any ill effects.
I think more companies will probably move towards it, but I doubt junk food would ever be banned.

If I drink a Diet Coke pre 12pm at work I get funny looks

I've never worked anywhere that does this routinely, only if it's a working lunch eg training or hosting guests when it would be sandwiches, cake, fruit. Maybe twice a year.

If I worked somewhere as you describe then I would agree that it is time it was phased out.

Kind of is in my NHS organisation. We're supposed to avoid ordering cakes etc for buffet lunches. Not that we're allowed that very often.

In my old job (started new one in lockdown so never worked in the office), we'd only ever have fruit for working lunches. For external events we'd very occasionally have biscuits but not nearly often enough for my liking!

Actually thinking about it, we used to do cakes for birthdays but that stopped because we agreed there was too much cake as we grew.

I hope not, I hate fruit! Veg and salad is fine though.

Honestly I can understand the smoking ban and fully support it, but policing what I eat, no thanks.

We still do cake for birthdays and sweets from holidays but there are only about 12 of us so it's about once a month for each. Although even that has stopped since lockdown, the enjoyment was eating them together, now we can only use the kitchen two at a time and mostly eat and drink at desks there doesn't seem much point, plus the extra touching for the packaging etc so we agreed to stop.

A million years ago, in my first accounting job we all had morning & afternoon tea together. Cheese & crackers (& tons of it) in the morning & top quality biscuits in the afternoons with lashings of tea!!

It was brilliant, saved us buying lunch too!!

Oh to be able to eat like that now & stay slim.

I don't think think it will be banned, no, but I think it will gradually be some less & less socially acceptable to only provide cakes/biscuits etc.

@thedevilinablackdress

Kind of is in my NHS organisation. We're supposed to avoid ordering cakes etc for buffet lunches. Not that we're allowed that very often.

I hope not. I rarely bother, it’s not really my thing but I feel it would be a shame for it to go completely. I’m not talking everyday but I know it is a highlight for many and particularly those who’s role is very active and often involves enduring the elements. Crumpets by the fire after an afternoon on the rugby pitch ... it would be sad to see that go.

Bet your fun at parties

Sorry that was just a comment, not meant to be in response to thedevilinablackdress

Meh. Buy the donuts, folk come a running. Not the same if it's a floppy piece of watermelon.

Plus, how good is UK fruit?

Yes I think our overall societal attitude to sugar will be dramatically different in 15-20 years

I hope not. A shared tin of biscuits is the best part of those long, boring meetings. I can police my own diet; I don't need someone else to do that for me.

The very best part of being in my first job was the Tea lady pushing the trolley around with an urn of tea on it (no coffee) at 2.30pm

Free big plate of biscuits - or you could buy a Chelsea Bun (homemade!!!) for 20p

What is employer supplied food????

I hope not.
Eating crap only affects the consumer. Smoking affects all around the smoker so the two are imo incomparable.
I've always been in meeting where you have the health freak bringing in grapes and carrot batons and then me and my ilk bringing the biccies, chocolate, Desserts.
. Generally there's very little of the sweet option and the fruit goes out to the general staffroom afterwards if any.....

I did see a parent group advertised recently that offered “free biscuits and fruit”. Quite liked the idea of having both. Please don’t take biscuits away completely though.

What's with the constant need to police what other people eat?