A Little Lunch Etiquette Goes a Long Way
When you're too lazy and exhausted from your busy schedule, you might not think too much about what lunch to bring to work. After all, anything goes as long as it's fast and filling, right? Not so fast. From hard-boiled eggs to salmon and tuna salad, there are some things you should think twice about before packing them for your shift. You don't want to be that coworker. Here are 10 foods you should never take to work, and 10 better things to bring that your colleagues will appreciate you for.
1. Fish That Needs Reheating
Fish can be perfectly fine at home, but reheating it in a shared office microwave is usually a bad idea. The smell tends to spread quickly and linger long after lunch is over. Even if you love salmon, your coworkers may not want it lingering in the kitchen for the rest of the afternoon.
2. Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are convenient, high in protein, and easy to pack, but they can be rough in a shared workspace. Once the container opens, the smell can travel farther than you might expect. If you really want eggs at work, consider eating them outdoors or saving them for a day when you’re not eating around other people.
3. Extra-Garlicky Leftovers
Garlic is delicious, but a very garlic-heavy meal can take over the office quickly. Pasta, stir-fries, roasted vegetables, and dips can all become an issue when garlic levels are high. The problem isn’t that garlic is bad; it’s that the scent can stay on your breath, in the room, and sometimes even near your desk.
4. Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is one of those classic work lunches that seems practical until the lid comes off. The smell can be strong even before it hits the microwave, and it’s not always easy to contain in a shared fridge. If you bring it anyway, make sure the container seals tightly and eat it in a well-ventilated area.
5. Messy Ribs or Wings
Ribs and wings are better suited for a restaurant, backyard, or couch than an office lunch table. They usually require extra napkins, leave sticky fingers, and can make your workspace feel less professional. They’re also hard to eat neatly if you have meetings, calls, or emails waiting right after lunch.
6. Very Spicy Foods
Spicy food is a personal preference, but intensely spicy dishes can be disruptive at work. Strong peppers and sauces may make the kitchen smell sharp, and they can also lead to coughing, watery eyes, or other reactions in close quarters. It’s usually better to save the hottest meals for home, where you can enjoy them without worrying about everyone nearby.
7. Crunchy, Noisy Snacks During Meetings
Chips, pretzels, and other loud snacks aren’t terrible foods, but they’re not ideal during calls or group meetings. The sound can be distracting, especially if people are trying to focus or hear someone speak. If you want something crunchy, eat it during a break instead of while everyone is gathered around a conference table or video call.
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8. Foods with Lots of Raw Onion
Raw onion can make a sandwich or salad taste great, but it has a way of sticking around. The smell can linger on your breath and in a small office kitchen, which may be awkward during close conversations. Cooked onion is usually less intense, so it’s a better choice if you’re packing lunch for work.
9. Saucy Foods That Spill Easily
Soups, curries, and pasta dishes can be wonderful lunches, but they become a problem when the container leaks. A sauce spill in your bag, on your desk, or inside the office fridge is frustrating for everyone involved. If a dish depends on a lot of liquid, only bring it in a container you trust completely.
10. Pungent Cheeses
Strong cheeses can be enjoyable, but they’re often too much for a shared workplace. Blue cheese, washed-rind cheeses, and very sharp varieties can fill a fridge or break room with a smell that not everyone appreciates. Milder cheeses are a safer option when you’re eating around coworkers.
Now that the biggest office lunch offenders are out of the way, let's take a look at 10 better things to bring that won't make your coworkers hate you.
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1. Turkey or Chicken Sandwiches
A turkey or chicken sandwich is a reliable work lunch because it’s easy to pack, easy to eat, and unlikely to bother anyone nearby. You can add lettuce, tomato, cheese, or a mild spread without making it messy. It also doesn’t need reheating, which saves you time if the office microwave line is long.
2. Grain Bowls
Grain bowls are a great option because they’re filling without being difficult to manage. Rice, quinoa, farro, or couscous can hold up well with vegetables, beans, chicken, tofu, or a mild dressing. They’re also easy to eat from one container, which makes cleanup simple.
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3. Pasta Salad
Pasta salad works well at the office because it’s usually served cold or at room temperature. You can make it with vegetables, mozzarella, grilled chicken, chickpeas, or a light vinaigrette. As long as you skip overpowering ingredients, it’s a practical lunch that doesn’t demand much attention.
4. Wraps
Wraps are easy to transport and less likely to fall apart than an overstuffed sandwich. Fill them with chicken, hummus, vegetables, turkey, or mild cheese for a balanced lunch that won’t create a mess. They’re especially useful if you need something you can eat quickly between meetings.
5. Cut Fruit
Cut fruit is refreshing, simple, and office-friendly when packed properly. Apples, grapes, berries, melon, and orange slices are easy to snack on without needing much cleanup. Just avoid leaving fruit scraps in your desk trash for hours, since even good choices can become unpleasant if they sit too long.
6. Yogurt with Granola
Yogurt with granola is a good work option because it’s compact and easy to assemble. It can work as breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon snack, depending on how much you bring. Keep the granola separate until you’re ready to eat so it stays crisp and doesn’t turn soggy.
7. Mild Soups in a Secure Container
Soup can be perfectly fine at work when it’s mild and packed carefully. Tomato soup, chicken noodle, lentil soup, and vegetable soup are usually safe choices so long as they don’t have an intense smell. The key is using a leakproof container and reheating it without splattering the microwave.
8. Salads with Dressing on the Side
A salad is one of the easiest lunches to bring to work, especially when you keep the dressing separate. Greens, grains, roasted vegetables, chicken, beans, nuts, or cheese can make it filling enough to get through the afternoon. Adding the dressing right before eating keeps everything fresher and avoids a soggy lunch.
9. Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers can be a solid office snack or light lunch when you choose mild varieties. Cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack are usually much safer than stronger cheeses. Add fruit, nuts, or sliced vegetables, and you have something that feels satisfying without creating much cleanup.
10. Simple Leftovers
Simple leftovers like chicken, rice, and vegetables are usually a safe choice for the office. They reheat well, don’t create much smell, and can be packed in one container for convenience. A mild sauce or seasoning keeps the meal interesting without turning the break room into a problem for everyone else.
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