New job - already fed up with unhealthy ‘working lunches‘

[AliceSeal]

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.

it is one lunch once a month. Take a salad and a green smoothie.

Can't you just bring in a cold packed lunch on those days?

Could you say you'll bring your own packed lunch to the meeting?

Just bring your own packed lunch. I wouldn’t ask for more time. You don’t have to bring something that needs heating.

Can you not just bring a packed lunch that doesn't need refrigerated?

Take a picked lunch or once a month eat some shite. It’s not hard to pick either of those options.

For events like this in the past I've taken in my own it's been for religious reasons, and whilst the team have been considerate I don't want their food order to be dictated by my needs. So just make up an excuse of allergies or dietary requirements and take ur own in, or even say " I had some leftovers from yesterday so brought them in" people will be glad it's more pizza for them.

1 lunch a month isn't going to hurt. You can have 1 sausage roll or 1 slice of pizza or just take a snack to eat before or after at your desk.

I repeat what others have said: bring your own cold lunch. Salad... couscous Salad with plenty of veg is a current favourite.

I'd be taking in a box of salad. This isn't rocket science.

Bring a salad/wrap/sandwich in a cool bag and eat it while the others are eating. If you don't want to appear like the provided food isn't good enough say it's gluten free as you feel gluten may not be agreeing with you.

Take a salad in a cool bag. It’s not really that difficult

It's once a month.

Bring a sandwich 🤷‍♂️

Are your Colleagues all teenaged boys? I thought people grew out of this sort of diet by 20.

You have many options other than requesting a longer break (I don’t even understand why you would do that if it was a working lunch)

1. eat at 11am
2. eat at 3pm
3. take a packed lunch
4. take a shake or smoothie
5. eat a big breakfast
6. don’t eat anything

why can’t you just take a pack up and eat it instead of the pizza.

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.

I was just about to say exactly this

Rocket, cherry tomatoes, some tuna...

OP, I do think I'd want more than 5-10 minutes though. Days like this tend to be quite full on and you need a change of scene

Most people are quite happy to be provided the terrible junk food that MN hates so much

Take your own food, claim it's for dietary needs and shut up.

No, mostly middle aged and a mixed of genders believe it or not. Respectfully, the average size is probably 14/16+!

Just bring your own salad/lunch on those days. Your colleagues won’t thank you for prolonging the meeting by going to warm your food up😂

More and more this is definitely a "you" problem...

Fucking hell, how do they fit through the meeting room door? 🙄

No, I would not ask for a longer break - I would just bring lunch from home.

You don't like any cold lunches? 🤨

It you're that devoted to your macros, then suck it up for one day and take a cold lunch.