Home > Better health > Archives > 2007 > March > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDo you have food in your desk?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Storing food in their desks was named as one of the reasons women’s desks are “germier” than men’s desks.
Do you store food at your desk? What kind? Does having snack food on hand help you maintain your weight?
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Comments
By Patrick
March 9, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this
In my old cubicle I virtually had an entire pantry. I had a two-drawer file cabinet that contained no files, just food. I had a box of instant oatmeal (apple-cinnamon flavor), small boxes of cereal (sugar cereal like Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops), Cokes, popcorn, and some cans of Chef Boyardee pastas. I even had a jar of peanut butter and would try to keep a loaf of bread on hand once in a while. At one point I evend had the classic college favorite: Ramen noodles in the cups.
Now I don’t have that cabinet, but just a single desk drawer. I have a box of instant oatmeal (same flavor - apple cinnamon), instant grits, and some granola bars. I also have a couple of cases of Cokes behind me.
By Rubennia
March 9, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this
I have a drawer designated for snacks. It has granola bars, peanut butter crackers, NEKOT cookies, and herbal tea. The NEKOTs are when I just need a little something sweet without going to the snack machine for candy. The rest are for snacks between breakfast and lunch and for late evening.
By LR
March 9, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
Yes, we are only given a half hour for lunch so you can either: a) Go to the cafeteria downstairs b) Take your chances storing food in one of the break room fridges c) Keep a well-stocked desk drawer of non-perishables
I choose the last option, supplemented by some semi-perishables I’ll bring in to eat the same day. The current hoard? 3 cans of V8, 2 bottles of water (one sparkling, one still), 4 assorted microwaveble vegetarian soups, 6 individual packs of trail mix, 4 protein bars, an individual fruit cocktail, some Crystal Light powdered drink mixes and a variety of Green and White teas.
By ron
March 9, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
My snack drawer is full of ground beef, uncooked, a dozen eggs, two packs of shredded cheese and one container of sour cream and pancake mix. The ice cream keeps melting due to the excessive heat by easy bake oven puts off. I keep one live chicken in the bin atop my cubicle just in case…
I also have a variety of dark beers and mini bottles of scotch and whiskey.
My blender is broke so I have no use for the two pounds of margarita salt and mix in my “good times’ drawer.
And finally I have a drawer full of condiments and condoms just to the left of my keyboard.
By G
March 9, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this
Ron you are crazy…lmao.
No goodies but some drinks, condiments (you name it, i probably have it), plastic-ware, straws, napkins, febreeze (for those broccoli days), lint brush, lotion (for those late days), and a pair of socks for the really chilly days.
By TheOne
March 9, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
ron you r a mess!!! I needed a good laugh, thanks!!
I don’t keep a lot stored - a few sodas (that I hardly ever drink), other than that I usually bring whatever I want from home, and eat it the same day.
By Becky
March 9, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah..I have a box of cereal, fig newtons, microwave popcorn, go tarts & instant girts. In our office, everyone knows if they want food to come see the girls in accounting..No drinks for me though, other than water..
By Peri
March 9, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
I also have a drawer I keep stocked with munchies. There is microwave popcorn, oatmeal, granola bars, snack-size candy bars, individual size bowls of applesauce and Dole fruit mixes and a 12-pack of Coke. I also keep a box of those individual drink mix packs that turn a bottle of water into a calorie-free, sugar-free iced tea, fruit punch or lemonade. I love those.
I can get most of those items from the vending machine down the hall, but everything in those machines is outrageously overpriced.
By Michelle
March 9, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
Power bars, granola, snacks of that nature.
By RUChinaDoll
March 9, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
A bottle of water, instant oatmeal, goldfish crackers, dried apples, fig newtons, graham crackers, and the crystal light packets. I also keep a basket of candy on my desk for my department when we need a sugar fix at 3:00.
ron can you make me a taco?
By deidreNC
March 9, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
i usually keep most of the same stuff everyone above said (except ron lol) but since no one else keeps food-they always ‘borrow’ mine-so ive been keeping less…that way i have more :)
By Kat
March 9, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
I want to work with Ron!!!
By CLolly
March 9, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
well i have some teas of every kind, a box of special K cereal, some splenda, some sweet and low some cayenne pepper, some canned cabbage, some lime jello (not yet mixed), some oatmeal, a box of light brown sugar, sea salt and some GET REGULAR detox Tea….in the other drawer to keep the germs at bay i have some MR CLEAN ANTIBACTERIAL Spray with some paper towels and Lysol Clean up wipes………
By Testing it
March 9, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
in my drawer i have a washcloth, some baby powder, deodorant, tampon or two, alcohol, toothbrush, toothpaste a comb, some gel, hairbrush and an emergency set of curlers……..
By Summer
March 9, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
We all laughing at Ron, but he probably serious, LOL. You are silly!
By Foodie
March 9, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
Holy CRAP! No wonder America has a weight problem and offices have germ/bug problems! Look at all the junk you people keep in your desks. I also have a snack drawer that is emptied daily. Today I have a banana, a small baggie of rice cakes (if I bring in the whole bag they’ll be gone by noon) and a granola bar for midafternoon. I have a few individual packets of oil and vinegar for when I forget salad dressing. That’s it. The rest of the space is filled with touch-up make-up, a compact mirror, a bottle of vitamins, deodorant and a few stray hairpins.
Stop grazing through your workday and you might slim down. Sheesh.
By Summer
March 9, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
I keep an emergency Campbell’s soup and instant apple cinnamon oatmeal in the drawer along with a couple of condiments. I also have cream of mushroom in my drawer that I accidently brought from home and cannot remember to take home.
By Confused
March 9, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
Canned cabbage? Brown sugar? Lime Jello?
What are you making?
By Summer
March 9, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
I keep an emergency Campbell’s soup and instant apple cinnamon oatmeal in the drawer along with a couple of condiments. I also have cream of mushroom in my drawer that I accidently brought from home and cannot remember to take home (don’t ask how I did that).
By TestingIT
March 9, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
canned cabbage was for the all veggie diet, lime jello (sugar free was for the Atkins diet) and brown sugar was for the oatmeal……but if u combine the three they make a great facial moisturizer…. ……
By Teri
March 9, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Instant oatmeal, cup-a-soup, hot cocoa mix, sugar and creamer (office always runs out), wipes, plastic ware, salt, brush, mirror and hair clip, napkins, bandaid, hand cream, tylenol. I think that is about it. Never know when you might need something and not have it!.
By Drawer-full
March 9, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Wow, this is sooo enlightening! Sort of like, when I go visit someone new I’m dying to go through their fridge and cupboards out of curiosity. Anyway, currently in my desk drawer I have toothpaste, brush, and floss, South Beach cereal bars, dry cereal, an unopened box of Girl Scout Cafe Cookies, and large jug of Crystal Springs Distilled Water. In the fridge I sometimes keep fresh fruit, yogurt and/or frozen entrees or ice cream. Helps a lot to write my name on it but still sometimes disappears. Actually, if I want something to disappear I put it in the office fridge. Does it help me stay away from snack attacks? Nah, at those times I head for the nearest convenience store for Little Debbie, Ben & Jerry, Famous A, Hershey, you get the picture. If I keep that stuff around I’ll eat the whole package in one sitting. They took away the snack machine long ago due to lack of business (then why was it always sold out??). I also have a supply of seasonal decorations. Need to put out the St. Pat’s day stuff soon to avoid getting pinched. When I want to de-germ I borrow the receptionist’s spray can of Lysol. I also keep a can of air freshener so that my office doesn’t smell like where I ate lunch, and a can of WD40 just in case.
By SexyLeggs
March 9, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Ron…man that was funny. I always keep a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. I keep chocolate nutritional drinks in the fridge along with some fruit. I don’t eat much junk. I have a cup of ice cream everyday @ 3:00.
By landsaf
March 9, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this
sunflower seeds, drink mix, energy bars. Thats about it. We have an excellent (healthy) dining facility here so no need for a food drawer.
By Jae
March 9, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
hmmm.. Triscuits to go with the jalapeno cheese I have stashed in the fridge, a bag of cheetos, a bag of unpopped micro chz popcorn, a bag of unpopped micro extra butter popcorn, a can of yucky chef boyardee beef ravioli(saving this for either a “I’m (REALLY)broke day” or someone else’s broke day, turtles( the candy of course) a roll of girlscout trefoils, and alot of condiments
By Anne
March 9, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
To Foodie….don’t you know you are supposed to eat at least six small meals each day? I have lost a total of 106 pounds on Weight Watchers and keep low fat, healthy snacks, dried fruit, non-salted assorted nuts, oatmeal, rice cakes, pretzels, apples, bananas, etc. I’m proud of my snacks!!!!! I’ve reached my goal weight of 135 lbs and have kept the weight off for over 4 months.
By RUChinaDoll
March 9, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
anne you go girl!
By Doug
March 9, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
Anne: I think what Foodie is saying is that the choices people are making (chips, cookies, popcorn, ice cream) are not as healthy as they could be. Fresh fruit, carrot sticks, pretzels, etc. are wiser choices. Good for you for losing the weight and making your own healthy snack choices!
By BigGayBert
March 9, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
Foodie, it’s no wonder you are so cranky with that horrible crap that you eat! Rice cakes? RICE CAKES ARE NOT FOOD!!!! I think they’re some kind of packaging material or building material for homes in third-world nations.
You may be healthier that the rest of us, but that just means you will have a nice healthy corpse after you get hit by a Marta bus at age 32 while you’re out doing something stupid like jogging. :-PPP
By kt
March 9, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Why do people feel the need to keep so much food at work? I have a box of girl scout cookies on standby for a sweet treat but that’s it.
LOL at Ron!
By Koz
March 9, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
Not only do I have a food drawer but I have a mini fridge under my desk.
By TheOne
March 9, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
You guys are hilarious!!!!
Anne You mentioned the six small meals….is snack food a replacement for a meal? Just asking….like could I eat a granola bar, or an apple and count it as a meal. I could stand to drop a few pds (5-10) myself.
By SexyLeggs
March 9, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Anne much kudos. Keep up the work to YOUR satisfaction. A lot of people have so much junk at their desks. Do any of you throw it out after a certain amount of time or is it all eaten before you mentally think it has expired? Also, I sometimes keep spoonsized shredded wheat at my desk for fiber when I want to munch on something. Occasionally, I mean ocassionally I will go to a co-workers desk and get a piece of candy.
By Becky
March 9, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Why would you have makeup, deodorant & hair rollers in your desk drawer? Foodie, not everyone has to worry about weight, so why shouldn’t they eat whatever they want?
By Foodie
March 9, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
Anne Doug is right. I meant all the high fat/calorie/salt/etc stuff folks are listing. I didn’t exactly say what I kept in the fridge either.:) I have two or three Healthy Choice lunches, a bag of carrots, a tub of low fat cottage cheese and a case of bottled water. Of course the fridge doesn’t get emptied daily! I eat 4 to 5 smallish meals a day, which most would probably view as snacks since five baby carrots, a handful of peanuts or rice cakes, and maybe a bit of cottage cheese is a meal to me. I tried Weight Watchers a while back and I couldn’t eat all they wanted me to. And I’m not a little whisp of a thing, nor am I fat…and am wwaaayyyy over 32 and don’t jog (bad for the knees). I hike instead.
I sounded judgemental up there too. I didn’t mean to rake anyone over what’s kept in their desk. I just wanted to point out that if they’ll keep better stuff and fill up on airy things like plain popcorn, carrots, peanuts or rice cakes, they’ll lose weight, feel tons better and not have to take things like Metamucil or ColonBlow all the time.
By Drawer-full
March 9, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
Ya’ know, sometimes you just have to keep things at work to get thru the long work day. I’m not complaining because I enjoy my job, I appreciate the paycheck and my very nice co-workers, but sometimes it’s just a nice treat to have a special snack in the middle of a very busy day. And one doesn’t always want healthy, if ya’ know what I mean.
By TestingIT
March 9, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
canned cabbage does NOT expire..I pray that the can does not ever pop open…YIKES…….
By Ginny
March 9, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
In order to get out of the office to get my kids from school, I work from 7:00 to 3:30 and I don’t take a lunch. So I keep granola bars, graham crackers and a small jar of peanut butter, and fruit snacks in my desk and individual apple sauces and yoguart in the fridge (that happens to be in my area) in case I need a little something to get me through the day.
Everything is either individually sealed or, in the case of the graham crackers, in a sealed tupperware container to keep out bugs and such. I’ve never had any problem with anything getting into them.
By kellbell
March 9, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
hmm let’s see.. right now i have two packs of ramon noodles, chicken & beef flavors.. i also have a small jar of crunchy peanut butter.. and one jar of creamy peanut butter lol.. i have two packages of apple-cinnamin oatmeal.. i have a “soup at hand” jar of creamy tomato soup :) i usually have sunflower seeds but i ate them all :( thants about it.. my company provides us with water/soda/tea and all that good stuff! what’s sad is i’ll probably never eat any of this stuff.. it’s just in case!!
By Rebecca
March 9, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this
I always keep vitamins, hair elastics, tylenol, salt and pepper, chewing gum, toothbrush, mouth wash, Weight Control Oatmeal, Fiber One snacks, and the 100 calorie bags of microwave popcorn in my drawer.
I had no idea lots of people had a snack drawer.
I then usually also bring an apple,carrots, lowfat chesse sticks, lean cusine or the like to supplement.
By Becca
March 9, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
Okay I’m three months pregnant so I have snacks in my drawer. Also we do not get a lunch break, we work thru lunch.:( So I often bring baked Wheat thins, carrots, yogurt, fruit juices, and the occassional nutty bar or snickers. I work a full eight hours at my desk from 9:30-6:00 daily so I need something!
By Erin
March 9, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
The current contents of my desk include:
And that’s it. I do have liquid creamer for coffee in the fridge, but with a big note taped to the side to ask me first before using. So far, it’s worked and nobody’s messed with it.
By julie
March 9, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
Bert- I’m with you, dude!! Anne-YAY for you girl!! Good job. Party on, Ron!!
By SMS
March 9, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
Like most people, time is limited for lunch, 30 minutes. I keep Pop Tarts, oatmeal, granola bars, popcorn, crackers, the flavored tuna packets, and the occasional soup at hands in my desk drawer. I also have plastic forks, spoons, knives, small plates & bowls. And the favorite thing at my desk it the “candy basket”. People come from all parts of the company just to get their daily chocolate/sugar fix.
By Drawer-full
March 9, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Our office provides sodas, juices, etc. and I will occasionally have a Coke. But I only end up drinking half and don’t like to waste, so I went to the store to check out those little mini-cans to keep in my office. But I discovered it’s about 2/3 of a can of Coke and more sugar/cals than the half I usually drink so I just continue to have half a can of office Coke and waste the rest. Long and convoluted story, I know. I am not making sense. Long afternoon of “death by paperwork.” Just wanted to talk to some friendly folks in the world out there. Have a good weekend everyone!
By Dianne
March 9, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
I think I have most of the stuff mentioned stocked in my office as well. No, I don’t graze all day, but it comes in handy when you can’t run out to lunch, forget to bring your lunch, or refuse to pay the high price of vending machine snacks. I’m also saving gas by now having to go out everyday!
I eat properly, and save money at the same time. Can’t beat that!
By Fulton County Mom
March 9, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
:o) I have food in my desk….candy….however it is there because the guys (and some women) I work with are often in need of a sugar fix….It does help me keep my weight down because knowing it is there if I want/need it keeps me from thinking I cannot have it.
By Barbara
March 9, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Lots of people seem to have instant oatmeal.where does the water come from to mix it and what do you put it in to eat it? Why not just eat breakfast? I usually bring what I need for the day. May have some candy on hand.