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.

The goal of being absurdly disordered about food?

What a load of absolute shit!

People are reacting to you behaving like a spoilt little princess who thinks the world will wait for her special healthy lunch. Newsflash - no fucker cares!

Microwave your meal before. Shove it into a food flask and eat during meeting

^ I concur.

Well not when it's something dumb like having to extend the break because they can't figure out how to have lunch, I'd judge you harshly and assume you're a bit thick (or entitled)

Your comment wasn't respectfully , it was totally fucking irrelevant.

If you can't find an alternative lunch once a month then there's no helping you

OP I’m very senior in the tech industry on 6 figures and believe me, no one is slagging you off for being successful. We all just think you are being a PITA with a sprinkle of judgemental.

The more of this thread l read, the more l am glad l don't wirk with you op - you sound like very hard work.

You sound like hard work

We do these working lunch things once a month - lunch and learn - softens the blow of having to work over lunch. We ask and get feedback on the lunch provided, we have all endured too much of the free slimy sandwiches and beige finger foods to feedback that we'd rather not have it again. When we order pizza it comes from a local well rated pizzeria, I can't imagine the response we'd get if we provided Greggs for lunch. It's not so much health or calories it's just wanting to eat good food and there's lot of good lunch spots around our offices in London, so really no excuse for beige.
Why don't you have a breezy chat with the person who arranges the room etc for the meeting, have an idea in mind a few good places to order in from - no harm in making a positive suggestion, you could create something better for everyone.
But I wouldn't ask for extra time for your lunch - that's too much, too soon.

Awww MNHQ you big, meany, sausage roll munching grumpy pants! Sometimes it's fun to play with the trolls

At least the thread still stayed up, so we can all still see a pp"s wonderful comment about her dog's turd being able to come up with a solution to the 'problem'.

How is salad junk?

I think they've been pretty sporting leaving the thread up having banned the OP.

Maybe they've already had a chat about it and people have voted for pizza and Greggs. In your office, you might all be horrified at the sight of a sausage roll, but there are people (believe it or not, intelligent, professional people) who like this sort of food.

It's really not necessary for OP to do anything other than bring her own lunch.

@AliceSeal

To account for the queue for the microwave, you could ask to pop out for 10 mins, heat up your lunch in the microwave, and bring it back to the meeting room? I'm with you OP, I wouldn't want to eat Greggs or pizzas. I'd bring a cold packed lunch (although also not my preference), but you can make your hot lunch work, I'm sure nobody would mind you popping out for a few mins to sort out your food.

I love a sausage roll but not a Greggs sausage roll - there's no harm in asking as long as it's done the right way, she of course should check whether a chat has recently taken place about the food. Things don't always have to be done the same way forever - change can be a good thing.

Just seen the MN message - very funny - nothing gets MNetters worked up more than someone trying to get rid of junk food in the office - easy pickings!😂

Fair point, though judging from the tone of the thread, OP's unlikely to have the tact required to do that.
I've not really come across performative eating outside of MN, but I can imagine OP would be the type to make a big production out of it.

I'd started reading this thread and was just dusting off my high horse when I saw MN's comment and OP been deleted. Damn it. Comments have been comedy gold!

free pizza once a month and you are complaining? Do you have any idea how expensive and tedious it would be to try to cater to everyone's specific needs in situations like this? The simple fact is that most people like that sort of food, rightly or wrongly, even if you don't. They are catering to the majority and going down the quickest and easiest route, which makes perfect sense in the circumstances.

It's not obligatory to eat any of it and you'd usually be providing your own lunch anyway, I assume. Your job doesn't come with lunch included, so just take your performative avocado, quinoa and undressed baby spinach leaves in a tupperware box.

I'm going to do an AV on your name in a minute and if this isn't a 'first time poster' I'll eat my Greggs puff pastry hat.

Well well well. There's a surprise.

More 'Bored Panda' type fodder on MN. Who'd have thought it?

Is this someone's full time job now? It's certainly starting to feel like it.

Have a cold lunch. Or skip lunch that day. Or eat a small portion of the Dominos etc. Those are your options. More than that is being deeply petty.

What did I miss??!