Bringing Food to Work

[rachel.]

I'm starting my very first 9-5 job downtown next week and I'm so incredibly nervous! I'm not sure what to expect, and I would also like to know what you all bring to work for snacks and lunches and stuff. Any and all suggestions and tips would be greatly appreciated. :)

[Texasgirl]

Oatmeal
Pouches of tuna
Tea bags

[3KO]

I'm not going to be much help cuz I'm a stay-at-home mom so I don't have to worry about that but things to consider would be if you have access to a fridge and/or microwave. If you are wanting to eat clean you can makes your meals ahead of time, portion them out in tupperware, take to work and keep in the fridge until you can heat them in the microwave for lunch. I'm sure others will have more specific advice. Congrats and good luck! :hi:

[northernstar]

My office has a fridge, freezer and microwave, so I'm set. I bring cans of diet pop, packets of Crystal Lite, and some light salad dressing and other things and leave them in the fridge. Get some good tupperware.
Don't get caught up going to Timmy's (luckily there's not very many in downtown London ;)) or buying your lunch at cafes (they usually have cheap specials).

[quickie]

When people say to just bring snacks, how is that supposed to work? Shouldn't you just bring what you would normaly eat? :unsure:

[taniea19]

I love beef jerky (Iknow the sodium is a little high ) As well as fruit ans some nuts. I cut up veggies into little baggies Like celery, broccoli , caluiflower and cucumber. I keep them portioned so they are ready to go you can pre cook chicken breast and do the same baggie thing as well as hard boiled eggs, ditch the yolk. There are tons of lunch bags out there taht you can buy taht has ice pack and such, I have a HUGE one. I freeze bottles of water put them in keeps food cold and by lunch you have ice water. Nuts and seeds are great too. I guess it really depends on what your goals are and what you are currently eating. I'm thinking lean protien, fibrous veggies, and some nuts. Good luck and congrats on the job!!!

Tanya

[DeeDee]

I cook and prepare for 2-3 days ahead of time and then portion all my meals in microwaveable containers. I have a fridge and microwave at work so I can bring things like chicken, rice, eggs, cottage cheese, salads etc. all the things I would normally eat at home so it doesn't disrupt my normal diet routine.

[Leah]

Originally posted by quickie@May 15 2006, 09:54 PM
When people say to just bring snacks, how is that supposed to work? Shouldn't you just bring what you would normaly eat? :unsure:
Yes

[Brandi]

I pack my little cooler bag. And fill a gallon of water and off I go.

[quickie]

Originally posted by Brandi@May 16 2006, 02:29 AM
I pack my little cooler bag. And fill a gallon of water and off I go.
Your'e always 'off I go'. :mad:

[Brandi]

Originally posted by quickie@May 15 2006, 07:32 PM
Your'e always 'off I go'. :mad:
:p

Love 'em and leave 'em

[cm13cm]

Originally posted by Brandi@May 15 2006, 09:40 PM
:p

Love 'em and leave 'em
variety is the spice of life right ;)

[patience123]

I just cook the meals that I would normally have, put them in the tupperware and take it to work. In my desk I keep: tea, stevia, sometimes I bring gum (although I'm trying to quit that lol) and we have spring water at work, so I just bring one bottle with me that I refill. If you're good at controlling your eating you can keep nuts and fruit in your desk too. :)

[colo1278]

yeah, I bring what I normally eat too, not just snack stuff.

It's usually leftovers from dinner the night before, but in case there wasn't enough left over, I always have a canister of oats, a tub of choc whey pp, tuna creations packets, a box of whole wheat couscous or microwaveable brown rice, bagged broccoli, egg whites in the fridge, etc. One of my fave meals is the last four items all mixed up in one bowl.

Everyone has gotten used to my "weird" food and has stopped asking if I want McDonalds for lunch. On your first day, be prepared for odd looks and questions. Stay strong!! :lol:

[Fet]

I take 4 of my 6 meals to work, in a big cooler bag. I make the 4 meals the night before, then I make a "fresh" dinner and Snack #3 when I get home from work. I'm bad - I don't eat breakfast till I get to work. I have emergency stashes of extra PP and oatmeal in my desk, just in case.

[Pinky]

Originally posted by DeeDee@May 15 2006, 08:17 PM
I cook and prepare for 2-3 days ahead of time and then portion all my meals in microwaveable containers. I have a fridge and microwave at work so I can bring things like chicken, rice, eggs, cottage cheese, salads etc. all the things I would normally eat at home so it doesn't disrupt my normal diet routine.
Same here. We even have a stove and oven, haven't used it though.

[absolut_blonde]

Cottage cheese & berries (not together, I don't like them mixed because I'm weird) is a good snack. Sometimes with some almonds if I need some fat.

[ReneeG]

Yeah, if you are working 9-5 and eating five or six meals, you need to bring meals. Do they have a fridge? If not get a cooler. ( I am with Brandi)
You will have to give yourself some time to cook all the meals ahead of time, but it is worth it.

[Beth66]

I bring 3 meals to work per day. One is usually leftovers from the night before (lean meat plus veggies, maybe some brown rice); the second is a salad with a can of tuna and a dressing made with flaxseed oil, mustard and vinegar; the third is cottage cheese with nuts or peanut butter (or sometimes fruit if I'm going to the gym after work).

[rachel.]

those are great ideas! thanks so much everyone :) The first day I'm just going to bring a few protein pancakes in a baggie just until i understand how everything works -- my dad is my boss's boss sooo hes taking me to lunch the first day :p

i dont think ill get weird looks -- if anything ill get more suck ups, guh. lol

[Sarawithanh]

Originally posted by rachel.@May 16 2006, 01:19 PM
those are great ideas! thanks so much everyone :) The first day I'm just going to bring a few protein pancakes in a baggie just until i understand how everything works -- my dad is my boss's boss sooo hes taking me to lunch the first day :p

i dont think ill get weird looks -- if anything ill get more suck ups, guh. lol
you never know - ppl look at you weird if you dont go out to eat with them everyday for lunch - or if they see you constantly going to the fridge to eat... :rolleyes:

lol. my coworkers have gotten used to not inviting me to go grab lunch with them - i usually on go once or twice a month to panera when my house is out of food...

and since one of my other coworkers has tuna on her salad - i dont feel bad eating tuna, and if i bring hardboiled eggs for a mid morning snack - i usually scarf em down real quick so as not to smell up the office....

but seriously, i see my coworkers eat lunch and thats it - i dont know how they function!!! and one of them doesnt eat breakfas - i'd die

[Sarah]

Originally posted by Sarawithanh2000+May 16 2006, 08:29 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Sarawithanh2000 &#064; May 16 2006, 08:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-rachel.@May 16 2006, 01:19 PM
those are great ideas&#33; thanks so much everyone :) The first day I&#39;m just going to bring a few protein pancakes in a baggie just until i understand how everything works -- my dad is my boss&#39;s boss sooo hes taking me to lunch the first day* :p

i dont think ill get weird looks -- if anything ill get more suck ups, guh. lol
you never know - ppl look at you weird if you dont go out to eat with them everyday for lunch - or if they see you constantly going to the fridge to eat... :rolleyes:

lol. my coworkers have gotten used to not inviting me to go grab lunch with them - i usually on go once or twice a month to panera when my house is out of food...

and since one of my other coworkers has tuna on her salad - i dont feel bad eating tuna, and if i bring hardboiled eggs for a mid morning snack - i usually scarf em down real quick so as not to smell up the office....

but seriously, i see my coworkers eat lunch and thats it - i dont know how they function&#33;&#33;&#33; and one of them doesnt eat breakfas - i&#39;d die [/b][/quote]
it has been said before - bring what you would normally eat at home.

but

realize that you are new to this organization and you don’t want to be the only one every single day sitting at your desk eating while everyone else is out at ______. It really sucks. Been there, done that. So, I set up rules for myself. If my co-workers are going to get sushi – I’ll go. Sushi w/o rice is clean and fits into my plan. If they are getting chicken – I’ll go. See if you can find a compromise that fits into your eating plan (which is most important).

Mmmmm. Panera. Must avoid the bagels….Bagels = Kryptonite

BTW - Good containers are a must. Nothing sucks more then find out your food leaked all over your bag and soaked through to your pants on the way into work.

[Pinky]

I work in an office with only one other girl. We both follow the rules of eating 5-6 meals a day. So you can pretty much guarantee that at any point of the day that you come into our office, one of us will be eating.

I do get tired of the comments, "eating again". Yeah, well look at me and look at you. Looks to me like my plan is working better&#33;

[Sarah]

Originally posted by Pinky@May 16 2006, 09:34 AM
I work in an office with only one other girl. We both follow the rules of eating 5-6 meals a day. So you can pretty much guarantee that at any point of the day that you come into our office, one of us will be eating.

I wish somebody else in my office ate the way I do. Sometimes I do feel like a bit of a freak.

[jrb1980]

I think people at my office just think I am cheap because I never go out for lunch :lol:

[janey]

Originally posted by DeeDee@May 15 2006, 09:17 PM
I cook and prepare for 2-3 days ahead of time and then portion all my meals in microwaveable containers. I have a fridge and microwave at work so I can bring things like chicken, rice, eggs, cottage cheese, salads etc. all the things I would normally eat at home so it doesn&#39;t disrupt my normal diet routine.
This is me too.

People make fun of my lunch bag but whatever. :cool:

[dichotomous]

Hi Rachel,
pack your usual food. It is so easy to get off track. All of my coworkers think it is funny that I always have food. Yet I am the first person they come to when they want to lose weight. :lol:

[Jypsie]

Just take a jar of Peanut Butter and a spoon. ;)

[Birdie]

Please beware the office snack area. Cookies and candy jars were everywhere in my last office, not to mention treat day amd that is such an easy way to add unwanted calories into your mealplan. A Hersey Kiss here and one there.

Kiwi is right. Good containers are a must&#33;

Congrats on your new job&#33;

[sunny]

To me, it feels so good to be a freak. :lol:
If I didn&#39;t eat raw chayote and baked whiting at work, what my office mates would be talking about?
They always say: &#39;How come you always eat so much and still lose weight?&#39; :D

[kszal]

I make all of my food ahead of time on Sundays. I eat 5 of my 6 meals at work, so I pack them all in my lunch bag. I have LOTS of tupperware.

[rachel.]

well im just a lowly intern -- im only 19 :p lol so I shouldnt have to worry about going out too much... plus I have a peanut allergy so that rules out all baked goods and most candies.

I&#39;m just going to have to be respectful of the fact that some people are sensitive to smelly things like tuna and eggs... not really fair to them really. :)

[Inatic]

If you put a thick slice of onion on top or/or in a container of tuna or eggs. It absorbs the smell. :)

[krispy1138]

Originally posted by Inatic@May 17 2006, 05:05 AM
If you put a thick slice of onion on top or/or in a container of tuna or eggs. It absorbs the smell. :)
Good tip&#33; I&#39;ll have to try it (I was banned from bringing tuna to my office, and I really miss it).

[Sarah]

Originally posted by krispy1138@May 17 2006, 06:35 AM
Good tip&#33; I&#39;ll have to try it (I was banned from bringing tuna to my office, and I really miss it).
never heard of that. and the food doesn&#39;t taste like onion?

[collegegirl]

I&#39;m really glad to hear that a lot of you get the same comments of "eating weird" and "eating all the time." People tell me I should eat normal food, but I just think to myself that I am eating normal food, they just aint&#39;t. Sometimes it gets me discouraged though so it&#39;s good to hear a lot of you have the same problems. :)

[Inatic]

Hint of onion taste, not sure. Since i like onion, never noticed it. :lol: