PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

I am a "bringer" when it comes to lunch.  Usually a sandwich, or a salad from home, or a small container of leftovers from last night's dinner (if it won't be an oder problem). 

I'll admit, my tastes in food tend to be rather bland.

Today, I had a salad with a vinaigrette dressing, an apple (which I cut into chunks so as not to be making a slobbery mess at the table), and.......a sugar-free, fat-free chocolate pudding cup (about 4 oz.). 

As I'm eating my pudding cup, Ms Food Police walks into the lunchroom and says, "Oh, you're eating a little kid lunch."

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"You're eating pudding.  Only little kids eat that stuff."

I was absolutely dumbfounded.  First, I think criticisizing people's food is rude, besides, what a silly thing to criticize!  It's not like I was sitting there, smacking my lips and smearing the pudding all over the table!

But it made me wonder, would it alter your perception of a person if you saw them eating something like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?  Or a pudding cup?

It does say something about the kind of person you are but I'm not sure I would have made a direct comment.

There's one guy in my office and when he's not travelling he brings in a cooler bag.  I swear his wife packs everything she packs for their kids' lunches...some kind of snack bar for break-time, sandwiches for lunch, carton of juice, maybe an apple, always a yoghurt and maybe a snack for the afternoon.

I have to admit I find it quite funny to hear him slurp on his juice carton.  :D

I work in the only building here you are allowed to eat at your desk.  That said, there are certain things I just wouldn't bring to work to eat.

Half the team I lunch with bring packed and half buy in the canteen ... we generally have a nosey at everyone's lunch - it is a kind of lunch bonding thing with this group - and then we get on and eat and chat

I really wouldn't jump to any conclusions about anyone based on the lunch ... bizarre!

I think it says more about the nosey critic that the eater!  Sounds more like jealousy  ;D

Here's to those who rather like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - may they keep smiling through the day!

Most of our folk bring in food, some go out and come back and eat in th kitchen, you can only eat at your desk if youhave an office which I do, but I often eat in the kitchen.

Wouldn't dream of commenting adversely on someone's lunch - more often, it's ooh, that smells or looks really nice!

Choc pudding - yummy!

The strange thing is, if Ms. Food Police had said it with a laugh or a smile, I'd have thought nothing else of it.  But she was absolutely serious and had that pinchy, "disapproving" look on her face, which is why it struck me so strange.

Ah well, today I had a nice turkey sandwich and a small bunch of grapes.  (I'm saving that last chocolate pudding cup for my dessert tonight! ;))

That is definitely very bizarre. I would probably have laughed outright and said, yes, I love to feed my inner child. Keeps me young so I don't turn into a dried up old prune like you! ;) (ok, I may or may not have said that last part - depends on just how much of a jerk I thought the person was).

I pack those kinds of things in my lunch (and my husband's lunch) all the time. Hubby actually often grabs my pink thermos lunch box to use and his co-workers teased him about putting a hello kitty sticker on it. So I found one!!!  ;D We don't care about what other's think.

Life is too short to go around picking such silly fights.

People are sometimes far too "precious" about food, particularly when they eat in public.  There are people who won't eat this or that thing because it isn't cool, fashionable, or it's a class (i.e. snobbery) issue. 

In your place, I would pay absolutely no attention whatsoever to Ms Food-Police, who seems quite rude.  Food isn't just fuel; it is also about pleasure and enjoyment.  As long as you are healthy and enjoy your food, then nothing else matters. 

We all have different tastes.  I happen not to like chocolate puddings and will rarely eat a chocolate cake unless it is Sacher Torte or Chocolate Nemesis.  However, give me good, neat, chocolate (in bars or chocolates in a box) and you're my friend for life! ;D

Are you talking milk, white or plain?   :D

Jess (with half a bar of own brand white chocolate on her desk!)

Daft comment. I wouldn't take any notice (just wiping a trickle of chocolate mouse cake off my mouth)  ;)

Mouse? Mousse .... oh well, it was delicious any way  :D

Mmmmmmm, Chunky Chocolate Fudge pot!

Gosh!

I feel sorry for the critic personally!  Their actions just make them out to be rude and lacking confidence.  Well, that's what I think anyway - can't immediately think of any other reasons why anybody would make a direct comment unless it was to make themselves feel or look better?  Maybe they didn't get packed lunches as a child, or maybe it's just their personal taste.

I have a packed lunch every day; if it's not smelly or messy why should anybody else care?!

As an aside... why does part of me want to suggest putting a mousse/desert on their desk with a post it note asking them to give it a try?!   ;)

Dippa your last line made me laugh out loud.  It reminds of the story of the little boy who asks God for ice cream when saying grace, and an old woman who overhears it gets "huffy".  When the little boy gets his ice cream for dessert, he hands it to the woman telling her she needs it more than he does!

Oh, and Jess, I know "pudding" can be different things on different sides of the pond, but this was a dark chocolate fudge with a ribbon of milk chocolate in the center.  Best of both worlds!

Oh, and Jess, I know "pudding" can be different things on different sides of the pond, but this was a dark chocolate fudge with a ribbon of milk chocolate in the center.  Best of both worlds!
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It's all sweet to me (and music to my ears) - I love them all, just nothing involving bananas as I am bananas enough! :D

I guess if you call it a parfait or mousse and pay $3.00 for it then it's okay to be seen eating it.  The Food Police should have to buy her lunch where I work.  A PB&J from our dining service cost $4.99 and other sandwiches are $7.79 before tax.  Your entire lunch cost less than one of our sandwiches.  Don't really know what point she's trying to make. 

I'm not understanding the first reply "it does say something about you as a person" comment.
Is there some sort of set of rules as to what people can pack for lunch??

No rules as such, but the type of content in ones lunch box can say one person is organised or scatty, or even prefers savoury treats or sweet, likes symmetrical foods, ... the list goes on and on .  In this case the question was being posed by a 'fun loving criminail!' (joke!) ;D

I would say pack what you want to eat, eat what you packed and stuff the rest of the world - if you want peanut butter (either smooth or chumky) and jelly or marmalade sandwiches, then so be it.  Enjoy!

Symmetrical foods. Laid out in parallel lines, of course.   ;D 

I've always been a bit of a Diva.  Symmetrical foods it is, then.

Rocket - I love the thinking!

I'll match your symmetrical foods for novelty shaped lunch foods...     ;D