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.

People are really funny about food smells for no reason whatsoever. They will be tucking into their fish pie or scrambled eggs at home but if you dare to bring it to the office, it's the crime of the century! How does the same smell suddenly become unbearable simply by changing the setting in which the food is consumed? I've never heard people complaining that the table next to them in a restaurant ordered fish or eggs or had gravy on their meal. Eat what you like, I always have. People coped.

I guess as bring a home made sandwich in, I maybe don't understand the need for a hot meal at lunch?

I've never worked in an office but in the school staffroom no smell offends as it's only the ones who heat up meals who have time to be there.

🤣

This really is barely legal.

Its not very sociable to eat hot food at desks. The smell will be overpowering. Has anyone spoken to HR about failure to comply with uk law?

It’s not decent gravy though, it’s Bisto.

Jesus Christ. No, because they comply. The smell really is not that bad

I don't like people eating at desks but doesn't sound like you have an option. Well done for the weight loss

Are you sure they're not commenting on the fact it's gravy made from cheap granules so doesn't smell very nice? It's not 'home made' at all.

Well the meal is homemade. I really don’t think the fact that I use gravy granules is a moral failure!

You commented on your colleagues ready meals but you're using processed granules and claiming it's home made! your colleagues are obviously just as judgemental as you.

The meal is homemade....God forbid anyone should ever use gravy granules.

Oh my goodness. Really?

Barely legal?! Do you know how many workplaces there are where this is the only option? Because I've worked in a few and it is perfectly common.

Using gravy granules is not 'home made'. 😂

No, in general, you are not being unreasonable to bring in home cooked food. Just be mindful of what you are heating up though, a roast dinner sounds fine..One of my colleagues once brought kippers in and the whole building stank, so perhaps avoid those!

There's always one. Of course no-one needs a hot meal for lunch, but many prefer to have one and, as the OP has shown, it can be a lot healthier and better for weight loss to have a cooked meal instead of a sandwich.

The OPs roast is probably more filling and good for avoiding the mid afternoon slump than a bread based meal too.

I'd rather smell peoples food than what they smell like after they've been out for a cigarette break.

There’s always some joy thief to rain on your parade

Okay so the food is homemade but the gravy isn’t. Is that better for you, snob?

I said they can smell strong but that’s it. Never commented on how processed they are.