What is 'reasonable' in terms of food expenses when travelling on business?

[irambo44]

I'm working for a start up company, there is an element of government funding involved.

Have to travel on the odd occasion, need lunch as it's a full day out and hours from home and on my feet so can't really be carrying stuff. Have only ever worked at big corporates before with proper expense policies.

Was told here to just be 'reasonable' as there is no policy yet. Is £12 for a bowl of noodles reasonable? I just got tap water as a not to be cheeky. But previous jobs have had everything from £15-20 a meal to just whatever you fancy.

What's 'reasonable' to you, and what's not?

God my work allow £5 for lunch and £20 for dinner. I can do the dinner (outside of London), but a fiver for lunch is really tight!

Obviously depends where you work, but a meal deal (sandwich/pasta/suchi plus fruit and a drink) more than covers lunchtime, and a bit extra for a coffee/tea/ juice as an extra drink, so max you really need is £8. If you're in work, you'd be normally taking those sort of things with you/paying for them.

I'd expect £4 for lunch and £25 for dinner if it's just subsistence for one. I'd expect breakfast to be included in a room rate if staying overnight.

I'd expect a more generous allowance if staff or client entertainment.

Local government rates here are:

£5 for 1 meal 5 hours away
£10 for 2 meals £10 hours away
£12 for 3 meals £12 hours away
£20 for 24 hours.

By away it is away from your usual arrangements.

(That's subsistence accomodation etc dealt with separately. )