To not offer lunch?

[amidsummernightsdream]

I'm self employed in a consulting type role. I usually hold meetings at clients' offices.
Tomorrow, due to logistics, im holding a 3 hour meeting at my house, starting at 10.30.
(However could potentially run a little longer)

Would I be unressonable to not offer lunch?
I feel like I would be but I've left it last min and I cant think what!

If I did, it would need minimal to no prep and something that we could eat while working.

Can I get away with just tea and cake?

Does the meeting really need to be three hours would be my first thought.

I’d just pop to Lidl and buy cheese , continental meats some pickles and salad and a big bag of assorted rolls and let people make their own sandwich

FEED ME.

Who is the meeting for?

If colleagues you could just invite everyone to bring a packed lunch.

If it's someone you're trying to impress such as clients then I'd provide something.

I find it hard to decide as the idea of having a work meeting at someone's house is alien to me.

Yeah, maybe read the thread.. 😂

Just read it's only one person!

Yes provide lunch in that case

Definitely feeling my nhs years - jug of water and some digestive biscuits would be a treat 😂

One person. Gosh thats super easy

I'd maybe provide something small biscuits, fruit, maybe croissants or something if you're trying to secure a client but 1.30pm isn't super late. I would be prepared to go into this meeting expecting to grab a slightly later lunch. Plus allergies, dietary requirements etc might be a minefield.

How exactly? Maybe it’s because I’m Greek and would have some of this in?! But this is a 15 minute no trouble thing. I’d bet I could make this in less time than open packets and cut sandwiches that others are saying!

@LlynTegid I'm guessing you don't work for yourself?

If you're not within reasonable walking distance of a couple cafes/pubs/takeaways then I guess just buying in a few bits.
Literally a couple baguettes, some bagged salad, coleslaw, potato salad and some packaged chicken, cheese and salami, hummus, Quorn 'ham'?
Or just politely say tea/coffee and biscuits supplied but pls bring own lunch.

@DryBiscuit i know you'd think so but after the longest day, I honestly really did need mumsnet to tell me to go to the shop and buy some sandwiches

Fair enough

Just get a couple of options of sandwiches
Cheese, and a ham maybe
Buy 2 bottles of water and a bottle of juice
Throw some packets of crisps on the table
Job done

OP, if it’s only one person you don’t need to go to any trouble. Just offer them a home-made sandwich.
They might prefer to buy their own lunch after the meeting.
”I’ve got ham & cheese in the fridge. Would you like to break for a quick lunch during the meeting “ is all you need to say.
Dont overthink things.

Omg no not soup, the thought of people slurping away on soup during a meeting makes me feel ick!

I would go for the sandwich option, or as PP suggested you could just say bring a packed lunch then you don’t have to worry about dietary requirements.

I think if you don’t already know about any dietary requirements then the just eat / subway or similar idea is a great one so they can choose their own food.

If it's only one person, message them and say, 'Thought I'd grab some M&S sandwiches for lunch. Any preference?'

If it’s just one person you need to set expectations. In this scenario if I was the client/guest I would not expect anything unless I’d been told in advance and would have a muesli bar before the meeting and then bug my lunch on the run afterwards.

Thing is, most people (adults) eat lunch about 1/1.30 so if you are almost done the meeting it might be super annoying to stop everyone to get the lunch out! It will make the meeting DRAG on. Whereas, hiya coffee and biscuits/fruit, you can get the meeting out the way and people can go elsewhere for lunch

This just really made me chuckle!
Hope the meeting goes well. I want crisps now.

Not lunch, no. But you’ll all benefit from a short loo/ coffee break half way through and I’d let them know at the beginning that that’s what you’re going to do. Coffee, tea, bananas, good quality biscuits, some cheese squares, a few protein bars. Dairy and non dairy milk. Get stuff you’ll enjoy finishing up yourself, afterwards

This. Awful suggestion.

I thought this was the new normal … or Tesco or Lidl or whichever is closest

You could get the sandwiches tonight as they can have a reasonable expiry. It’ll save you time tomorrow.