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.

Says the woman who is commenting on the size of her colleagues…

Surely you just take one of your meal prep dishes and heat it up in the microwave while everyone is tucking into their Dominos?

Fucking hell, aren't you a delight. We get it - you're skinny, been head hunted, 6 figure salary. Righto 😂

This can't be a serious post.

Can’t you just do an extra hour in the gym on the dreaded Greggs day? Or whatever successful skinny woman do to offset the calories?

Thank you for this thread, it’s genuinely made me chuckle.

Maybe giving into the temptation of beige food occasionally would be good for you?

Says you calling your colleagues 'podgy' because they're a size 14-16 😆

I underestimated the pure vitriol being slim and successful would result in.

OP you have been very rude about the size of your colleagues and that is what most posters are pushing back against. You do you. But you sound awfully judgemental. As others have said…just bring your own food! It is so simple.

”Are you going to eat the Greggs lunch?”
”No I’m on a special diet so have brought my own food”

🙄

Ball's in your court I'm afraid.

Could you possibly use an insulated food flask. You could heat up your lunch before leaving in the morning and they will keep it warm for up to 10 hours

Have your hot lunch at 11or 3. You are being a drama queen.

Employees in UK are legally entitled to 20 mins break for every 6 hours worked. I will never understand why workers put up with shit like this. Working through your lunch break as a directed and regular thing? Nah. Unionise and tell your employer to f**k off.

Well that’s good then! I suppose it’s better than being on the sanctimonious side

Ditto

Fine, I'll assume you don't want to respond in any meaningful way. You can have the last word just saying "no, you" as that seems to be all you want out of this.

You’re on six figures and you call folk ‘hun’ and sign off with kisses. You’re having a laugh.

Ah I see. No I just read the first couple and skimmed the rest. Makes more sense now!

Just unclench and take in a pre-prepared salad box. I would also hate a beige lunch but I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

This is such a non event and I’m surprised you are so successful considering you can’t work out that no one is force-feeding you.

Pop your food in the microwave, nip to the toilet, grab your food from the microwave, attend the meeting.

Hardly difficult.

“ “

Just pop to the microwave before the meeting when there won't be a queue and take your meal to the meeting. Or get one of those bento boxes which keeps the food warm till lunchtime.

Don't be banging on about your macros though while everyone else is trying to enjoy their steak pasty.

Did anyone else think macro meant really big food?

You lost me at "cheat meal". WTF.

What a weird thread! I'd like to think someone in a senior professional role isn't so stuck in their ways that they can't take a salad one day a month...let alone see that it would be completely inappropriate to ask for lunchtime to be extended so they could warm up their macros...

Surely if you really can’t cope with a cold lunch salad or sandwich you just heat your normal prepped meal up pre meeting and pop it in a food flask. Problem solved!

Yeh but maybe she has 20 mins before and after the meeting. The meeting is 4 hours....

Can you let us know when the next meeting is scheduled and maybe one of us could go and eat pizza on your behalf? 😃

“cheat meal” is a very common term for people into fitness and tracking food and calories