PICTURE: PEXELS/ EATING AT DESK
Whether you’ve packed a homemade curry, brought in a leafy salad, or plan to heat up last night’s leftovers, lunch at work is a sacred time for all. But with shared spaces, diverse palates and limited fridge real estate, it’s easy to unintentionally ruffle some feathers…
Adhering to a few simple ‘golden rules’ can keep the peace and help everyone enjoy their office lunch without passive-aggressive sighs wafting through the building.
Here are the key dos and don’ts of dining at your desk (or the communal kitchen), guaranteed to make you everyone’s favourite colleague.
1. Be considerate with smells
Some meals are just more pungent than others. But if your lunch is strong enough to double as an air freshener (for better or worse), it’s best to step away from the desk. Fish, boiled eggs, garlic-heavy pastas and curries can all linger long after you’ve finished eating. If you know your food’s on the fragrant side, enjoy it in a well-ventilated area or take it outside for some fresh air. Your team will thank you.
2. Keep your mitts off food that isn’t yours
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many office fridges fall victim to the mystery lunch thief. That clearly labelled yoghurt or prepped smoothie bottle? Hands off. No matter how tempting it looks, if it’s not yours, don’t touch it. Consider it the golden rule of communal kitchens.
3. Don’t leave a mess behind
No one enjoys washing dishes at work, but communal sinks aren’t yours to mess in. Rinse your containers, wash up after yourself, and pop your dirty lunchbox in your bag to take home. A crusty plate or coffee mug abandoned in the sink is a surefire way to start a passive-aggressive war of sticky notes.
4. Don’t let lunchboxes linger
We’ve all forgotten a lunchbox in the fridge at least once, but leaving containers to ferment for weeks on end is not only unpleasant, it’s unhygienic. Make a point of clearing out your food at the end of each week. If it’s green and fuzzy, it shouldn’t be taking up shelf space.
5. Use the microwave mindfully
Reheating your lunch? Great—just don’t leave it unattended to bubble over and coat the inside of the microwave. If you do have a spill, wipe it up. And while we’re here: try to avoid reheating anything too stinky (see point one). A good rule of thumb? If you don’t want to smell it in a lift, think twice before blasting it on high for three minutes.
6. Avoid loud crunching and slurping at your desk
We all have different sound sensitivities, but chowing down noisily in a quiet office can be surprisingly disruptive. Crisps, carrots and chewy gum can all test the limits of your colleagues’ patience. If your lunch is more ASMR than calories, consider a change of scenery—or at least, turn up the office playlist.
7. Respect shared appliances and space
Fridge space is prime real estate. Don’t bring in a week’s worth of meals in one go, and avoid stuffing your containers into other people’s lunch bags. The same goes for the kettle, toaster or sandwich press—if there’s a queue, be patient, and don’t hog the equipment like it’s your personal kitchen.
8. Take a proper break
If you can, step away from your desk for lunch. Not only is it good for your well-being, but it also signals to others that it’s okay to pause. Eating mindfully, even if just for 20 minutes, can help reduce stress and improve digestion. Plus, it saves your keyboard from becoming a crumb graveyard.
Compiled by: Food & Home Entertaining Staff
First published on Food & Home
