AIBU to ask what you would like at a working lunch?

[Rushhomeroad]

I have offered to bring the food for an all day meeting - so a lunch eaten whilst we carry on working (office environment). There are only four of us, so not worth catering (and the catering is usually fairly dire!). Nearest supermarket is a Tesco Extra. Paid for on expenses, so cost not an issue. What would you want in this situation?

Do you have Deliveroo? Lots of companies do office catering on there - wraps, sandwiches, pastries etc

Vegetarian
No mayo
Not laden with calories
(Not really available at Tesco!)

If there are only four of you, why can't you just ask them what they want? It will give you a much better success rate than asking random people.

Any dietary restrictions? I'd get some quiche and salads.

Fruit platter and nice sandwiches/wraps

Just use deliveroo and order italian or something

M&S have nice sandwich platters. I'd probably get one of those and some wraps; some fruit, pastries, nuts and biscuits.

What kind of work needs to happen while eating? Do I need to type, so want 1-handed-food? Or have to talk, so nothing too chewy?

I have asked them and they've all said 'I don't mind, I like everything, whatever you get will be fine'! No allergies etc. Informal meeting, equal amounts of everyone talking, using laptops etc. Just wanted suggestions of what others might like it that situation.

I used to love Pret A Manger working lunches! It used to make my heart sing when I saw the bags.

Anyway, I would like a nice superfoodl salad as they tend to have less crap in them with a decent sandwich or wrap, a banana and a good quality brownie please.

Go higher end if you use Tesco- is it Finest? Or maybe you could do a picnic ( take cutlery and plates from home) quiche, salad, good bread, cheese etc.

Order a mezze platter from deliveroo

Are you just going to have to go into the Tesco and pick it up (rather than being able, say, to order a sandwich platter)? If so, I’d get a selection of sandwiches, a quiche, some sushi selections and some fruit?

My honest answer would be a lunch break.

I hate this kind of thing. I hope staff are being paid extra for the break they’re missing.

Our working lunch consist of someone nipping out to Joyce's Big Baps for a load of bacon and egg butties!!!

Since there are only 4 of you, it doesn't need to be too big. I would go for a nice selection of sandwiches, some crisps, hummus and crudites plus a fruit platter and a sweet pudding (e.g. brownie squares) for those who want something more 'treaty'.

I think something shop bought or ordered out is best as opposed to homemade which can create a weird dynamic to a work meeting. Keep it impersonal, not too messy and light- like work should be!

I have to go to one of these about once a month.

You can't eat and work. Those who are just listening can eat, anyone giving any input can't eat. You especially can't eat a sandwich with any decorum with one hand whilst trying to say anything.

FGS just have a 15 min break and let people eat.

I'd order pizza

@Hodgehog

My honest answer would be a lunch break.

I hate this kind of thing. I hope staff are being paid extra for the break they’re missing.

But this

Also if this meeting goes on all day you need a proper break. Nothing productive is going to happen in hours 3 4,5,6,7 of a meeting.

Deliveroo options seem to be Bella pasta, KFC, Papa John's and a load of smaller supermarkets....
We're doing a task that needs to be done and will get £250/day each plus expenses. We're a close team (usually work remotely) and there are limited places to go to in a lunch break due to location, so would probably lunch together anyway.
I may look at platters though, that I could pick up on the way there. M+S has been mentioned, any other recommendations?

Recent as a veteran of these things, the point is that you do have a break, but you need to be sure people don't wander off to their usual cafe, or to the kitchen to make a pot noodle, check their emails, get nobbled by an impatient colleague etc. Providing lunch is a bit of compensation for giving up your usual lunch break. And with any luck, they'll get away early at the end of the day

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst

Recent as a veteran of these things, the point is that you do have a break, but you need to be sure people don't wander off to their usual cafe, or to the kitchen to make a pot noodle, check their emails, get nobbled by an impatient colleague etc. Providing lunch is a bit of compensation for giving up your usual lunch break. And with any luck, they'll get away early at the end of the day

Oh I absolutely get putting on a lunch in the meeting room, but you still need to call a break to proceedings. OP is talking about working while they eat.

I agree that a lunch break is the best option. By all means provide free food but make sure there’s a 30 minute break for people to eat it.

Bacon and egg butties sound joyous, but I've just got a new laptop and am a bit precious about greasy fingers!
We can stop and break whenever we want, we aim to crack on though, as we may need to arrange more days to travel in if not finished, which is difficult with kids/families/other commitments to find another day we can all do.