# People eating breakfast at work **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067 "2009-07-06T12:46:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/21 "2009-07-06T16:21:39Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I don’t have a problem with it, just think it’s a big change from the past. > > BTW, I think people who say they don’t have time could just wake up 10 minutes earlier to eat at home. They would rather use the time to sleep. Okay, but what about those of us who said that we’re either not hungry when we wake up or prefer to eat breakfast later because it makes us less hungrier throughout the day? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/22 "2009-07-06T16:22:48Z")
I eat breakfast at work, sure. - I’ve got just enough time in the morning to shower, dress, and wake up by checking daily websites. (And no, I’m not going to get up earlier. I’m giving up enough of my evenings as it is and I’m still not getting a full night’s rest.) The bathroom and bedroom are upstairs, the kitchen’s downstairs. By the time I head down, I’m already ready to leave and I have just enough time to grab a paper bowl and some instant oatmeal. - I don’t have an electric kettle or anything at home, so I’d have to nuke some water to get it hot enough for the oatmeal. The break room at the office has a hot drinking-water tap, which is incredibly convenient. - If I barely have time for oatmeal, I surely don’t have time to prepare eggs, but I do need them on occasion. So every so often I get breakfast on the way in to work (Whataburger has a fantastic breakfast menu). I eat in the break room so it doesn’t bother my coworkers, especially since I come in later than them, and I never waste more than a few minutes eating. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/23 "2009-07-06T16:36:42Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > BTW, I think people who say they don’t have time could just wake up 10 minutes earlier to eat at home. They would rather use the time to sleep. Well, yes. You see, eating at one’s desk is acceptable in most workplaces, but sleeping there is generally frowned upon. It’s all about time management. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/24 "2009-07-06T16:43:19Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Well, yes. You see, eating at one’s desk is acceptable in most workplaces, but sleeping there is generally frowned upon. It’s all about time management. Not only is eating at your desk acceptable, it brands you as a “hard worker.” For some reason, sleeping at your desk is not viewed with your management as having the same dedication. ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/25 "2009-07-06T16:47:09Z")
I eat a my desk all the time. Always have. I just find the lunchroom boring. Of course I’ve always been the boss so nobody ever objects. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/26 "2009-07-06T16:47:35Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > If I wanted a job where I had to work nights and weekends I would have “MD” after my name. At least they get paid a lot in order to be on call all the time. > > It’s amazing how some places have decided that low paid people have to be available 24/7 during some days or weeks. Not everyone who does this is low paid. On the other hand, some people who do this are low paid. But since our employees in China and Malaysia are willing to be on call 24 hours for half what our “low paid” people here make - the reality is that this sort of imposition is the competitive reality. I’ve been involved in some of those decisions lately - and honestly, its easy to move the team of whiners overseas - both financially and emotionally. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/27 "2009-07-06T17:01:17Z")
A lot of people eat lunch at work too, so I guess in about 20 years they will eat dinner at work as well? 🙂 Pretty soon nobody will need a kitchen at home. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/28 "2009-07-06T17:23:01Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > A lot of people eat lunch at work too, so I guess in about 20 years they will eat dinner at work as well? 🙂 Pretty soon nobody will need a kitchen at home. A lot of people already eat dinner at work. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/29 "2009-07-06T17:25:07Z")
I telecommute full time now, but when I still went to the office, lots of people did this. Most of my co-workers have families, rush hour in that city is ghastly, and its public transportation is almost useless; when you have two or three or four people’s schedules to coordinate in the mornings and you’re sharing a car, it can be tough to get everyone where they need to be exactly on time. Years ago, there was more likely to be just one person in need of driving, since there was more often only one breadwinner and kids had fewer Scheduled Activities as well as fewer that they needed chauffeuring to and from. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/30 "2009-07-06T17:29:17Z")
Oh, and also: years ago I was a lowly go-fer on a TV set. Every single one of the crew, including me, got free catered gourmet breakfast and lunch from our very own on-site caterer. That’s pretty standard. The film business has figured out that feeding people where they work is actually cheaper than letting them all go eat on their own – because it takes much less time that way. Eating where you work can be efficient. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/31 "2009-07-06T17:40:20Z")
I do case management for federally subsidized preschools. My day starts at 8:30 am, so my staff and I have most likely eaten at home or on the way in to work. When I worked at the hospital as a floor nurse, I had to start my shift at 7, so most of the nurses would assess their patients by 8:30 and then go down to the cafeteria and bring up some breakfast before 9. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/32 "2009-07-06T17:40:52Z")
I started doing this when I had a child. At work is the only time I get to actually eat. I’m sure people are astounded by the size of my lunches (it’s my “big meal” of the day) because I almost never get to actually eat my dinner. Weekends I literally go hungry until she goes to bed, managing a bite or two of whatever I’ve prepared before she starts to get up and smear whatever it is around the room. I’m lucky to even get a glass of water down before she snags it and pours it on the carpet. Honestly, when they say that mothers generally lose the baby weight around the two-year mark, how is anyone confused by this? It makes perfect sense to me! LOL! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/33 "2009-07-07T01:37:19Z")
At the place where I used to work, there were luncheons, receptions, etc. all. the. time. involving cold cut and cheese trays, salads, crackers and pepperoni chunks. The leftovers were put in the company fridge after the event. We (me n’ the 4 women I worked with) would take the goodies out at 8 a.m. (a little before working time actually commenced), pop open a few cans of Pepsi Light, and dig in! 😃 Our young, male boss from Squaresville, uptight and proper, was always horrified :eek:. (No, none of us were obese, either!) ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/34 "2009-07-07T01:44:55Z")
I usually eat on my way to work and snack all the rest of the day at my desk. I can’t eat much at once, so I’ll have a piece of fruit or a handful of almonds about every hour and a half to two hours. Eating breakfast at work (or lunch or snacks) is so common at my office that no one even notices it anymore. ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/35 "2009-07-07T01:56:54Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I don’t have a problem with it, just think it’s a big change from the past. > > BTW, I think people who say they don’t have time could just wake up 10 minutes earlier to eat at home. They would rather use the time to sleep. I would LOVE to sleep in. However, hubby and the horses want their breakfast before he and I go to work, so we people have our first meal a little before 5 am. I get to work around 7, and am ready for a little something by 8:30 or 9. Instant oatmeal, or a minibagel and a schmear, is better for me, and more filling than a bag of chips or a candy bar. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/36 "2009-07-07T01:58:10Z")
It’s SOP at my job, but we work 12 hour days, so a short breakfast is part of our first break. some do take advantage, though… ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/37 "2009-07-07T03:43:13Z")
I bring my bagel or muffins with me because, yes I like to sleep in those few extra minutes as well I’m almost never hungry when I wake up. There’s about an 60-90 minutes from the time I wake up to the time I feel able to eat, doesn’t matter if it’s weekends or workdays I just can’t eat any earlier without feeling nauseous and to make that timing so I could eat before I left for work… well I’d probably fall asleep at the wheel of the car. I usually chow down in my cube while reading my email and making that day’s to-do list before I scurry off everywhere else. As this is also usually before I am officially on the clock that means I am caught up and ready to start the day. We even have a little kitchenette with a toaster and microwave for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/38 "2009-07-07T04:14:22Z")
The building that my office is in has a kitchen on every floor, stocked with: Breakfast cereals (including plain and flavored oatmeal), pop tarts, granola bars, english muffins Milk - skim, 1%, whole, soy, chocolate soy, vanilla soy Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and since summer is here, peaches, strawberries, grapes Crackers, nuts, chips, dried fruit Cookies, m&ms (peanut & plain), skittles Cheese, yogurt Baby carrots, hummus Ice cream bars/sorbet bars Cases of multiple flavors of regular & diet soda, plus a fountain & syrups to make italian sodas And of course an espresso machine, and a french press coffee machine And much more I’m sure I’ve forgotten. So yes - I eat breakfast at work. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/39 "2009-07-07T04:26:40Z")
My stomach isn’t happy with me if I eat first thing in the AM. I usually have a bottle of soda or tea along with Ritz crackers or pretzels, or a peanut butter sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067/40 "2009-07-07T05:40:05Z")
> [@susan\_foster](#): > > The building that my office is in has a kitchen on every floor, stocked with: > > Breakfast cereals (including plain and flavored oatmeal), pop tarts, granola bars, english muffins > Milk - skim, 1%, whole, soy, chocolate soy, vanilla soy > Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and since summer is here, peaches, strawberries, grapes > Crackers, nuts, chips, dried fruit > Cookies, m&ms (peanut & plain), skittles > Cheese, yogurt > Baby carrots, hummus > Ice cream bars/sorbet bars > Cases of multiple flavors of regular & diet soda, plus a fountain & syrups to make italian sodas > And of course an espresso machine, and a french press coffee machine > > And much more I’m sure I’ve forgotten. So yes - I eat breakfast at work. Instead of Username/Topic win, we have a Username/Location win. Because yes, I want to know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-eating-breakfast-at-work/502067.md?page=3)