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| Desk lunch: How can you make it a bit nicer? | Desk lunch: How can you make it a bit nicer? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Hannah Briggs BBC News Magazine | By Hannah Briggs BBC News Magazine |
| The lunch break is under threat with 54% of office workers regularly spending it at their desks. But if you have to eat lunch in front of a computer, how can you improve the experience? | The lunch break is under threat with 54% of office workers regularly spending it at their desks. But if you have to eat lunch in front of a computer, how can you improve the experience? |
| A BBC Breakfast poll suggested more than half of British office workers feel there is a widespread culture of working through lunch. It's a pattern repeated across much of the Western world. | A BBC Breakfast poll suggested more than half of British office workers feel there is a widespread culture of working through lunch. It's a pattern repeated across much of the Western world. |
| With a culture of workaholism, the one-hour sit-down lunch is little more than a dream. British workers are typically legally entitled to at least a 20-minute break away from their workstation. | With a culture of workaholism, the one-hour sit-down lunch is little more than a dream. British workers are typically legally entitled to at least a 20-minute break away from their workstation. |
| But if you do find yourself chained to your keyboard, here are five ways to reclaim the desk lunch. | But if you do find yourself chained to your keyboard, here are five ways to reclaim the desk lunch. |
| 1. Set the scene | 1. Set the scene |
| Food always tastes better eaten off a proper plate rather than plastic packaging, says William Hanson, href="http://williamhanson.co.uk/about-william" >an expert in royal dining etiquette. | |
| "If you use proper cutlery and tableware it feels more like you're having a proper break." | "If you use proper cutlery and tableware it feels more like you're having a proper break." |
| The paper napkin is also a big faux pas says Hanson who recommends bringing in your own linen napkin to improve office hygiene. | The paper napkin is also a big faux pas says Hanson who recommends bringing in your own linen napkin to improve office hygiene. |
| "A lunch napkin should be 17 inches square whereas a dinner napkin is 21-28 inches square and it goes on your lap folded half way with the crease towards you. | "A lunch napkin should be 17 inches square whereas a dinner napkin is 21-28 inches square and it goes on your lap folded half way with the crease towards you. |
| "Make sure to dab your mouth after eating, don't wipe - remember it's not a flannel." | "Make sure to dab your mouth after eating, don't wipe - remember it's not a flannel." |
| If you are leaving your desk in-between bites, the proper etiquette is to leave your napkin on your chair, says Hanson. | If you are leaving your desk in-between bites, the proper etiquette is to leave your napkin on your chair, says Hanson. |
| "A soiled napkin should never be left on a table, or even a keyboard for that matter." | "A soiled napkin should never be left on a table, or even a keyboard for that matter." |
| If this level of prescriptiveness sounds like Downton Abbey transplanted to your office, how about just bringing your own metal knife and fork? And perhaps one plate? If office rules allow. | If this level of prescriptiveness sounds like Downton Abbey transplanted to your office, how about just bringing your own metal knife and fork? And perhaps one plate? If office rules allow. |
| Workers should also mind their manners even if chained to a desk, says Hanson. | Workers should also mind their manners even if chained to a desk, says Hanson. |
| "People are always observing you in an office environment. So if you have poor table manners at your desk then how are you likely to behave taking out clients? | "People are always observing you in an office environment. So if you have poor table manners at your desk then how are you likely to behave taking out clients? |
| "It could be the difference between getting a promotion, especially if your boss is watching." | "It could be the difference between getting a promotion, especially if your boss is watching." |
| 2. Plan ahead | 2. Plan ahead |
| While many people buy their lunch from canteens or sandwich shops, Alison Clark, a dietician at the href="http://www.bda.uk.com/" >British Dietetic Association recommends people concoct a healthy lunch at home. | |
| "Bulgur wheat is a healthy and convenient option if you're stuck at your desk," says Clark, who does healthy eating demonstrations at offices around the UK. | "Bulgur wheat is a healthy and convenient option if you're stuck at your desk," says Clark, who does healthy eating demonstrations at offices around the UK. |
| "Simply add hot water to your bowl of bulgur wheat, put the lid on. | "Simply add hot water to your bowl of bulgur wheat, put the lid on. |
| "Then empty a tin of salmon with nuts and seeds and raisins if you like and serve with natural yoghurt." | "Then empty a tin of salmon with nuts and seeds and raisins if you like and serve with natural yoghurt." |
| You can also try flavouring it with herbs and spices, says Clark. Coriander, basil, cinnamon or even curry powder could be used. | You can also try flavouring it with herbs and spices, says Clark. Coriander, basil, cinnamon or even curry powder could be used. |
| Foods such as bulgur wheat have a low glucose index, explains Clark, which allows for a slow release of energy to keep you going in the afternoon. | Foods such as bulgur wheat have a low glucose index, explains Clark, which allows for a slow release of energy to keep you going in the afternoon. |
| 3. Consider your neighbours | 3. Consider your neighbours |
| A survey last year suggested that 57% of Britons find noisy eaters to be the most annoying colleagues. | A survey last year suggested that 57% of Britons find noisy eaters to be the most annoying colleagues. |
| In addition, 26% of workers said they couldn't stand their colleagues' smelly food while trying to work. | In addition, 26% of workers said they couldn't stand their colleagues' smelly food while trying to work. |
| "Don't bring anything to eat that smells," says Hanson. | "Don't bring anything to eat that smells," says Hanson. |
| "Fish can be controversial so if you want to eat it, salmon or tuna fish might be OK but sardines can be offensive to other people." | "Fish can be controversial so if you want to eat it, salmon or tuna fish might be OK but sardines can be offensive to other people." |
| "If you don't know how to eat noodles elegantly then don't buy them for lunch." | "If you don't know how to eat noodles elegantly then don't buy them for lunch." |
| It is also better to take smaller mouthfuls when eating to avoid bloating and distension, says Clark. | It is also better to take smaller mouthfuls when eating to avoid bloating and distension, says Clark. |
| "Take your time eating and eat with your mouth closed. | "Take your time eating and eat with your mouth closed. |
| "Not only is it nicer to your neighbours, it also means you take less wind down when chewing which helps with digestion." | "Not only is it nicer to your neighbours, it also means you take less wind down when chewing which helps with digestion." |
| If you do decide to eat with cutlery, take a rest every four mouthfuls, advises Hanson. "The proper way to do it is to place your fork over the knife and to pace yourself. | If you do decide to eat with cutlery, take a rest every four mouthfuls, advises Hanson. "The proper way to do it is to place your fork over the knife and to pace yourself. |
| "Remember we eat with our eyes first not our mouths. Make a meal of it - dining is an experience after all." | "Remember we eat with our eyes first not our mouths. Make a meal of it - dining is an experience after all." |
| 4. Round off your meal | 4. Round off your meal |
| Traditionally, diners in posh settings might drink a digestif such as a creme de menthe after eating heavy meals. | Traditionally, diners in posh settings might drink a digestif such as a creme de menthe after eating heavy meals. |
| For an alcohol-free alternative, you could eat a peppermint cream or drink a cup of peppermint tea instead, says Hanson. | For an alcohol-free alternative, you could eat a peppermint cream or drink a cup of peppermint tea instead, says Hanson. |
| "If drinking coffee after a meal, it should traditionally be drunk out of a demitasse cup. | "If drinking coffee after a meal, it should traditionally be drunk out of a demitasse cup. |
| "The sugar always goes in after the coffee, brown for coffee and white for tea." | "The sugar always goes in after the coffee, brown for coffee and white for tea." |
| Stirring only clockwise is also a mistake, advises Hanson, as it prevents the sugar from dissolving. | Stirring only clockwise is also a mistake, advises Hanson, as it prevents the sugar from dissolving. |
| "Physicists will tell you that coffee dissolves better if you stir backwards and forwards, 12 till 6. | "Physicists will tell you that coffee dissolves better if you stir backwards and forwards, 12 till 6. |
| "It's much more elegant - remember you're not trying to create a whirlpool." | "It's much more elegant - remember you're not trying to create a whirlpool." |
| 5. Some sort of mini-break | 5. Some sort of mini-break |
| Anybody wanting to maximise a tiny break could always try out some "mindfulness" techniques. | Anybody wanting to maximise a tiny break could always try out some "mindfulness" techniques. |
| Research at Rice University in the US found a positive relationship between mindfulness - a Buddhist-influenced attempt to increase awareness - and job performance in service industry workers. | Research at Rice University in the US found a positive relationship between mindfulness - a Buddhist-influenced attempt to increase awareness - and job performance in service industry workers. |
| A growing number of companies in the UK such as Google and the Home Office are now offering mindfulness training to staff, hoping it will improve concentration. | A growing number of companies in the UK such as Google and the Home Office are now offering mindfulness training to staff, hoping it will improve concentration. |
| Juliet Adams, whose firm href="http://www.aheadforwork.co.uk/index.html" >A Head For Work teaches concentration techniques, says 10 minutes or less of mindfulness training can help workers return from lunch refocused and refreshed. | |
| Taking a "three-minute focus break" or going for a "mindful walk" can improve mental clarity and productivity at work, she says. | Taking a "three-minute focus break" or going for a "mindful walk" can improve mental clarity and productivity at work, she says. |
| "By bringing our attention back to the present moment, we can see things more clearly and make wiser decisions." | "By bringing our attention back to the present moment, we can see things more clearly and make wiser decisions." |
| You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook | You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook |