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.

I’ve missed this! What’s happened, am I wasting my tk
d and wit?

Lovely attitude.

@AliceSeal

tough. Sometimes we just need to suck it up and have something that falls outside of our first choice. That’s life 🤷‍♀️

Buy a decent thermos and hot food will stay hot until lunch (& even longer). Pour boiling water inside said thermos first

good grief get a grip, this from a thin fit successful woman. I bet some of your colleagues can’t afford Dominos so suck it up and don’t be so dim

Mean old MNHQ, I was hoping to get some career advice from the OP. 😂

Anyone else hope her colleagues find this post?

Like little George Washington's cherry tree, OP is no more.

She is an ex-parrot.

They might say something like "Whatever happened to women supporting women? Xx"

Have they changed the definition of respectfully while I was away?

If you like hot food, use a large hot food flask and heat it up at home. Add boiling water to the flask while you heat it then empty the water and add the food. It’ll be hot enough until lunch. Might mean you can skip queuing for the microwave the rest of the week too!

You are correct to want more than 10 minutes, but, my sympathy ran out when you started being critical of other peoples size! You’ve made yourself sound like a self entitled charmer with those comments

I'd think hard for something I can carry that day and do that. You gave a slightly rigid eating plan which may be fine for you but there must be SOMETHING you can carry and eat cold one day a month that won't wreck the rest of the day's eating plan. I don't know the ins and outs of your diet so won't bother suggesting anything but I think you can come up with one lunch a month.

Of course if the opportunity ever arises you'd want to suggest they try food that's healthier, or even adding salads to the pizza order, would that help? That wouldn't be out of line to request imho.

I had a job once that would take us all to a shitty buffet quarterly for lunch, I'd get sick and be shitting all afternoon so decided to fib and say I wanted to do some quick shopping over the lunch break and carried a sandwich. The idiots I worked with decided for whatever batshit reason, that meant I was pregnant. I laughed and laughed and told the moron ringleader, well I didn't want to complain that the crap food gives me the runs but here we are. They'd all be so excited for that terrible food, I hated to pop their balloon.

Well aren’t you a delight - what a nasty comment.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable OP. I don’t like to eat that kind of food either , not even as a treat!
Doesnt sound like much you can do other than take in a cold packed lunch or , ask if you can have extra time to heat your lunch downstairs.
If they ask why you don’t eat the lunch provided you can just say “ sorry I don’t really like pizza / sausage rolls ”
I’m not a fan of Working lunches , I want to get outside and be active on my break, rather than be sedentary and cooped up.
Also, no idea why you’ve had some weird comments as replies 🤔

If any of her colleagues see this they should email her tomorrow and sign it "Resident Porker".

Like how you supported the "larger ladies"?

I look back fondly on the days I had a job where there were free lunches at times....

Whatever happened to women supporting women?

This, from the woman who referred to her colleagues as “podgy” and “porkers”.

You’re rightly getting a hard time for being awful.

Maybe they'll treat you all to MacDonalds next month 😁

exactly

🤣 once a month!! Take a salad or a bag of nuts and veggies. Glad it’s a first world problem you’ve got 🤣

Why would you think that ?

You're funny. I'm all for supporting women but not when they are unreasonable. You are clearly orthorexic (which is an eating disorder) or you wouldn't mind eating less healthy once a month. Even so, pp have told you to bring a cold lunch in but Madame doesn't like cold lunches 🙄. You're just hard work and I'm sure you're slim but I highly doubt you're succesful in life being so entitled and hard work.

I guess it’s intended as a kind of cost effective ‘treat’ but I get what you mean. But as it’s only once a month I think there needs to be a little flexibility on your part if others are ok with it. Eat before or after and/or bring healthy snacks. It’s one meal in a whole month. I understand you have a clear eating plan but it does seem a little rigid if you can’t be flexible on one day. Best wishes.