To bring proper meals into the office?

[tellingeveryonehowbadly]

I’m on a bit of a health kick. Usually I bring in stews, casseroles etc.

My meal prep went wrong this week and I’m planning on taking a mini roast into the office tomorrow. There’s a few of us in the office who are trying to eat healthy and we were discussing lunches, I said this and a colleague went “urgh, great. The smell of gravy again”.

AIBU to do this? Everyone in the office tends to bring hot meals, but they’re usually ready meals. I figured a homemade meal would be fine, but now I feel a little self conscious.

Take what you want to eat. Maybe draw the line at kippers but who could object to gravy!?

It’s just bisto as well!

I'd rather smell your meal than ready meals.

better than salmon or eggs

A fresh roast and decent gravy will smell a lot nicer than some processed rubbish in a plastic tray!

why would a ready meal be acceptable but a homemade meal not?

I have no idea. Some of them really smelly too!

lots of people in my office bring in homemade food/leftovers. it’s literally fine, most comments are things like “ooh that smells good, what have you got?!” - no rude or snotty comments.

The dinner I made tonight (leftovers for lunch tomorrow) is 347 calories for 42 grams of protein and loads of veg included 😋

Who the hell moans about the smell of gravy!

This reminds me of one time I brought my broccoli and turnip soup in to work and had to listen to everyone who walked past my office saying “urgh what is that fart smell?” Never again!

Oh god the boredom of office people obsessing about food. In my 20 years of office life no one got permanently slimmer or larger and yet it was such a constant source of opinions.

If the smell pervades an open plan space you shouldn’t inflict it on others. If you are being superior about your naice home cooking you should pipe down. Otherwise - crack on, eat whatever you like and good luck with the health kick.

I’ve lost ten stone and maintained a 9 stone loss for two years! (My mental health has wobbled in the last few months but I’m back on it!)

Don’t want derail the thread but what did you make for those calorie and protein totals? Sounds like my sort of meal! Thanks

I absolutely detest gravy and the smell of it but you aren’t doing anything wrong.

Literally just roasted chicken breast (no skin, I cut breast off a whole roast chicken but also sometimes roast a chicken breast in foil to keep it moist and shred it), cut up three baby potatoes and air fried them, and did some roasted cauliflower and broccoli alongside it!

I used to have a colleague who was in office once or twice a week, he used to bring cockles in for his lunch. I'd take the smell of gravy over that any day. Yanbu, they'll live.

Hats off to you- that is a serious accomplishment. Wishing you success, you can clearly do it!! You are a rarity and should feel very proud of your determination and commitment.

How long have you been there?

Honestly some people just like a moan, can’t see anything wrong with what you’re doing. And well done on the healthy eating, you’re giving me inspiration! X

Over a year at this point

Surely you can sit somewhere away from them?

and no issues with these colleagues, namely the one that made a comment? You haven’t been aware of anyone talking about food smells in the year you’ve been there?

There’s general chat, because some people do have strong smelling meals, but never really any issues.

No the only eating space we have is at our desks (which is great because it means our lunch break is to do stuff rather than eat!7