# Do you usually eat lunch alone or with a group? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011 "2008-01-10T18:40:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/1 "2008-01-10T18:40:12Z")
I usually make it a point to eat lunch with my staff everyday - we all go into the lounge [which happens to be our greenhouse] and eat…just about every day. I enjoy it because it allows us to all be in the same room - to let our day take a calming turn and gives us the opportunity to unplug for awhile. I rarely eat alone in my office. How about you? Do you prefer one to the other? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/2 "2008-01-10T18:42:41Z")
Alone, with a book. I’d like to start eating lunch with coworkers, but I’m new here, and I don’t really know anyone. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/3 "2008-01-10T18:44:30Z")
Alone, at my desk, reading the 'Dope. Exceptions are made for office parties or when everyone gets takeout. ---
**Author:** ![\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7cd45c/32.png) [@\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Deep_F_ied)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/4 "2008-01-10T18:45:54Z")
I am in technical assembly and the vast majority of my coworkers speak Vietnamese. I mean they do speak English as well but when they are together in a group it can get pretty loud. I usually eat lunch alone in my car. I guess that seems sad but I don’t mind it. Plus it is pretty much the only place one can smoke around here. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/5 "2008-01-10T18:47:34Z")
I once had a boss who had an expectation that I would eat lunch with her everyday. If I did not, she was heartily offended, to the point that if I did want to each lunch elsewhere I had to come up with a very good reason. It was not a good situation. I prefer to eat with a group usually, but I prefer peers to bosses and employees. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/6 "2008-01-10T18:48:08Z")
Alone! One and sometimes two times a week I have a working lunch, but if it is literally just eating lunch, I prefer to be alone. It is my time to collect my thoughts and unwind. My typical work day is a lot of group work with my colleagues, though. Maybe if I didn’t see them often, it would seem more enjoyable to relax with them over lunch … but I’ve just spent a lot of time with them in the morning, and will most likely be spending more time in their company in the afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/7 "2008-01-10T18:54:16Z")
I usually eat alone. I don’t mind having lunch with co-workers, but I’m already spending the day with them in a noisy store. For lunch I like to mellow out in my quiet car with a book. It helps me relax and get my thoughts together for the rest of my shift. Plus it gives me a chance to get some fresh air; it’s my first job that keeps me inside all day and I’m not used to not being outdoors for work. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/8 "2008-01-10T18:57:43Z")
[QUOTE=Cub Mistress] I once had a boss who had an expectation that I would eat lunch with her everyday. If I did not, she was heartily offended, to the point that if I did want to each lunch elsewhere I had to come up with a very good reason. It was not a good situation. I prefer to eat with a group usually, but I prefer peers to bosses and employees. [/QUOTE] I agree, and for some of the new people here eating with everyone [including myself] was a bit much - granted we work for a non-profit environmental group so we’re all a bunch of tree-hugg’in dirt-worshippers so things tend to stay a little layed back around here. I happen to be the E.D. but we are all working for the same cause. I never have a probelm if people want to eat alone, I just thing that right no we have a great cohesive group and we all get along quite nicely. There are times in the spring and summer where we’ll all eat outside…very nice indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/9 "2008-01-10T18:59:45Z")
Alone. I go over to the cafeteria, go to MY table (always the same one unless someone stole it), have my lunch and read the LA Times. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/10 "2008-01-10T19:02:49Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Alone, at my desk, reading the 'Dope. Exceptions are made for office parties or when everyone gets takeout. [/QUOTE] This is me almost exactly. I have one coworker with whom I had lunch almost every day, but she’s been on maternity leave for the last four months, and I actually enjoy my quiet time. I prefer to be sitting in front of my computer and browsing while I eat. I usually eat with my coworkers if someone went out and got all of us lunch, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/11 "2008-01-10T19:14:24Z")
I go home and eat with my husband. Before that, I’d eat alone in the car and read. As an adult, I don’t mind it, but remember how it was in school? There were several years I didn’t eat lunch because I couldn’t face sitting alone in the cafeteria. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/12 "2008-01-10T19:23:56Z")
Ever since I moved to my current job, I’ve gotten into the nasty habit of just working right through lunch and eating at my desk… if there’s no work to do, then I end up surfing around the internet for an hour instead and then get back to work. The only time I seem to eat lunch with anyone anymore is when someone orders food because a meeting is running late and we’re all hungry. Once the weather warms up, I do believe I’ll start forcing myself to take a walk at lunch, because this is a very very unhealthy habit. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/13 "2008-01-10T19:24:42Z")
I prefer to eat alone. Engaging in conversation with others just slows me down and my food gets cold on me if there’s too much chatter. That said, I don’t mind if a co-worker I am acquainted with joins me, but I don’t seek out to sit with others in the break room. If I could eat at my desk I would, but since I have to use the microwaves in the break room I figure I might as well eat my lunch there. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/14 "2008-01-10T19:30:15Z")
Usually I eat lunch alone in my office, with a book. One or two days a week I’ll meet my husband for lunch. Occasionally I’ll go out with a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/15 "2008-01-10T19:31:50Z")
I eat with my husband most days; he works at the same place I do. He’s off at a training this week and I miss it desperately! How did I face those lonely husbandless lunches all those years? 😃 Sometimes I eat with other friends at work in the breakroom; there’s usually a lively bunch down there. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/16 "2008-01-10T19:32:17Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] I go home and eat with my husband. Before that, I’d eat alone in the car and read. As an adult, I don’t mind it, but remember how it was in school? There were several years I didn’t eat lunch because I couldn’t face sitting alone in the cafeteria. [/QUOTE] I’ve read your posts. I’ve seen your pictures. I’d eat lunch with you any day! ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/17 "2008-01-10T19:33:29Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] I usually make it a point to eat lunch with my staff everyday [/QUOTE] I do that as well. The business buys each Friday, and on the other days people often bring leftovers/etc. However, nothing is really planned out, so it can be feast or famine. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/18 "2008-01-10T19:39:08Z")
Well, I’m alone in person but I eat lunch with you guys most days, so I’m virtually not alone. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/19 "2008-01-10T19:45:01Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Well, I’m alone in person but I eat lunch with you guys most days, so I’m virtually not alone. 😃 [/QUOTE] Ya beat me to it. I do occasionally go to lunch with a group, but we’re talking…maybe once a month? Sometimes I’ll use my lunch-break to run errands, though. It’s what I meant to do today and didn’t manage. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011/20 "2008-01-10T19:47:30Z")
At this job I eat alone, with my crossword puzzle. I will occassionally talk to others, but I have no desire to be friends with these people. I’ve been friends with cow-orkers before and it brought me nothing but trouble. StG [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-usually-eat-lunch-alone-or-with-a-group/433011.md?page=2)