My coworkers think I’m slightly food obsessed.
It might be the ever-changing food centric background on my PC, the unlimited amount of food photos on my phone, or perhaps because I keep things at the office most others don’t.
For example, I have a fruit bowl.
I’m a big fan of the fruit bowl and think everybody should have one, at home and at work. It’s far superior to the processed candy jar, although it will get you fewer friends, which means more fruit for me. I’m good with that.
I also think it’s incredible handy to keep a cutting board and a reasonably sharp knife in your desk drawer. You never know when you’re going to need it….like every single day.
Last, I firmly believe public bananas should be eaten in full view because well, there’s a reason they call it public banana. “Go grab your nanners and get your eat on,” I say.
What do you do at the office that draws interesting stares from your coworkers? Do you keep anything they would deem unusual?
Mary says
Haha! I’m about to start a new job in a few weeks time and am totally going to decorate my workspace with a shiny new fruit bowl! Love it! 🙂
Meghan says
You should! It makes snacking incredible easy and you’re setting a good example whether others partake or not.
Sarah Pie says
I want a desk knife and cutting board! (when I grow up and get a desk that is…) I tried keeping a sharp knife in my backpack and nearly stabbed myself 1 too many times.
Things my professors/cohort find odd about me include: Green smoothies, the lack of processed chips in my lunch, public bananas, GF eating, and reusable glass straws…
Meghan says
I like all the things they find odd about you. Don’t change, well except the knife thing. No need to go stabbing yourself.
Eating 4 Balance says
You are more awesome than I ever realized. I thought I was cool that I had a knife, vegetable peeler, and stock of fresh produce in my dorm room this past year. But you are queen. Thoughts of buying a fruit bowl for this fall is already swirling around in my head. Mine will most likely be more conservative (read: boring) and non-animal print, but still incredibly inspired. Oh, and a cutting board in your office has bound to give you some looks. And I’m sure you’ve gotten stared at more than once for cleaning said cutting board in the office sink. Unless you have a wash basin at your desk as well, but that would just be a little ridiculous. Ha 😉
How often do you have to restock your bowl? Has any of your food ever come up missing? It just looks so good it would be hard to fathom that no sticky fingers ever swiped the stray banana or orange…
Meghan says
You are the sweetest, and I do get weird looks all the time. Like today for example, because I brought in my beet juice, in a mason jar.
I do wash my cutting board in the office kitchen sink, which does raise eyebrows.
I try to bring all my fruit in on Mondays and then slowly but surely I pluck away at it all week. I’ve never noticed a piece go missing, which is kinda sad. I think I’d actually be ok with someone nabbing a piece too because at least they’d be eating healthy.
Eating 4 Balance says
Me too. I think it would be similar to the little thrill I get when I notice some has taken some of our produce at home for snacking. At first I’m miffed if I had designated them as “my bananas” but then I kind of am just pleased at the thought that my brother chose a piece of fruit over the much more appealing-sounding (at least to me…) carton of ice cream in the freezer.
Alex @ Brain, Body, Becuase says
bahahahahaha! A fruit bowl and a cutting board are both great ideas!
When I was a vegetarian, I got teased about my lunches. Now that I eat meat, I get teased less, although I eat pretty much the same thing, ha!
Meghan says
Oh man; the vegetarian thing is a whole other issue. I have family who still doesn’t understand that one.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I totally need to bring a knife and a small cutting board to the office with me to keep at work. That is a fantastic idea!
Meghan says
Yep, I absolutely encourage bringing sharp utensils to the workplace. It’s not at all threatening for people to know you keep a knife in your desk.
Caren says
I once had a take out mug at my desk that I didn’t realize was full of coffee. It sat there for 3 months until one day I knocked it over and the rancid smell enveloped the office.
My manager got so mad at me…..
Meghan says
Oh that is so nasty. Good thing you work from home now.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
A cutting board?! Genius. I keep basic spices – nooch, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, etc.
What gets me the most stares is the actual food. My co-workers will come by my desk at lunch to see what “elaborate” thing I’ve made, and then they have me describe each element and sometimes write down ingredients that are new to them. I’m like their food circus freak.
Meghan says
I like the idea of keeping spices handy. I also have a small bottle of olive oil and a small bottle of dark cherry balsamic vinegar at the office now, since I’ve been eating so many salads.
Hopefully, they are at least nice about it. I grossed everybody out today with beet juice. They were like, “What is in that smoothie?” When I said beets, they all wrinkled the noses and dispersed quickly thereafter.
Christine@ Apple of My Eye says
I love the idea of having a fruit bowl handy! Haha this post made me laugh :). Banana eating in public is always an experience!
Meghan says
You should get a fruit bowl. They are perfect for snacking and as an adding benefit, you’re promoting health and wellness.
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts says
Brilliant. Merely raving about vegetables is enough to earn raised eyebrows here.
Meghan says
I do my share of vegetable raving too. They think I’m batty. Oh well, if those are the consequences for loving my greens, I’ll take ’em.
Elle @ The Clean Project says
I need some of that NO STIR organic creamy peanut butter. That looks life changing.
Meghan says
It is good, but then again I’m a huge peanut butter fan.
Jess @ JessieBear What Will You Wear says
Omfg I am cracking up. Those are all things I would do.
Meghan says
It seems so normal to us, yet so strange to our co-workers.
Khushboo says
Haha I wish you were my coworker! Although I now work from home, I used to keep a bottle of balsamic vinegar in my officer drawer. It might not be conventional but it sured spared me the risk of spilling it while taking it back and forth from work!
Meghan says
I actually have a little bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar at work now because I’ve been going through so many lunchtime salads. It just made sense to keep the dressing at the office too.
Can you imagine if we worked together? It’d be a foodie heaven.
Olivia @ Liv Lives Life says
Haha I love the knife/cutting board idea. And the fact that it means more fruit for you. I guess the only reason I wouldn’t do that at my own desk is because I HATE doing dishes… 😉
Meghan says
Doing dishes IS the downside to eating well most of the time. Confession: I don’t wash the cutting board every day, only when I’m working with really messy or juicy fruit (like those strawberries).
Gina @ Health, Love, and Chocolate says
Haha I am pretty much known in my office for eating/drinking out of jars. Coffee, juice, smoothies, yogurt messes, oats…
Meghan says
I love it; I think we should all drink out of jars!
Jessie says
Confession: I dislike eating a banana whole. I’m not sure what it is about them (okay naughty thoughts are running through my head now, hahaha).. but I enjoy they much more in slices!
Meghan says
Ms. Jessie I think for that reason alone, you should join the #publicbanana movement. It’ll help you get over your phobia.
Abby says
Considering my coworkers live for free donuts and anything meat-centric, they think my vegan ways are just about as alien as if my head was on backwards. In fact, most don’t even know what “vegan” is. With that said, I don’t really bring anything “weird” but instead just go about my business and no one really cares because it’s not meat and they don’t want any. I eat all the time and it’s much less offensive than when they make bacon or eggs in the microwave. Ugh. The smell is ridiculous.
However, I do have a photo of a neighborhood goat (Beevis) on the wall by my desk that never fails to prompt a comment or two from time to time 😉
Meghan says
I need a neighborhood goat. Do black squirrels count? They are the cutest little things. Not that I would ever eat them.
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance says
I keep a Blender Bottle in my desk drawer, in case I want a protein drink. I also keep a bottle of cinnamon handy. You never know when you might crave cinnamon on something. 😉
Meghan says
Those are great things to have around. I may have to steal one of those.
Sara says
I love it. I use to reserve the spices that came when there was a company pizza party so I had a whole spice rack in my bottom file drawer at my desk complete with garlic, oregano, and pepper flakes (I felt a combination of glee and shame). Yay for you and your cutting board.
Meghan says
Now that is creative. I need a spice rack at the office!
Fran@BCDC says
Somehow I missed this post, Meghan. I Love your bowl…animal print bowl…excellent. Love the fruit in place of a candy bowl. The knife and cutting board are a great idea, too. Truthfully, I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore regarding what I eat. I may soon be brave enough for a public banana! 😉
Meghan says
I think you should go #publicbanana and then post it on Instagram for all to see. Viva la revolution!