nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

MyFitnessPal Community

Break Room Etiquette and Fish?

classycouture

I'm curious to what everyone's thoughts are on leftover fish being reheated for lunch at work the next day. I never really thought about it before until about 20 minutes ago when I reheated last nights fish dinner and was greeted with disgusted looks and comments from a handful of coworkers about the smell. Now, I like to get the most for my money (seeing I don't have that much to go around), so I plan my meals with lunch leftovers in mind. Do I really have to pay attention to the food that I'm bringing into work, just because a few people don't care for the smell?

Replies

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I guess its your office and your decision -- my best friend at work's desk is right by the kitchen and she suffers thru some gross food, including fish, burnt toast & popcorn. She has asthma and sometimes it really does make her have to leave her desk.

I have a friend whose office posted a sign requesting that people be sensitive to the smell of their food or they would remove the microwave, a couple of weeks later they removed the microwave and were told they could no longer eat at their desks. I think that's pretty extreme, but can understand why they would do it.

moosegt35

As someone very allergic to fish and shellfish, just smelling the fish smell could make me extremely ill. (My throat will start to swell shut just from breathing it in.) Leave it at home.

I also don't like burnt popcorn smell, but that is just an annoyance, not a life-threatening odor.

I guess no one should bring a peanut butter sandwich either because if they touch someone allergic to peanuts it could cause a reaction.

cathyfowler662

I was at the gym yesterday afternoon and someone in their breakroom heated fish to eat....I actually had to leave. It was already hot in there and I was on a treadmill...the smell of the fish was making want to vomit. It was my choice to leave.

At work my boss heats fish; it smells up the office, but we just give her a bad time about it. No big deal at work. Cook what you want.

Julettashane

i dont care i eat what i want

san0322

It's just not about something in particular stinking. There are people who have fish/shellfish allergies. That's definitely something to consider.

Personally, I have terrible allergies. Although I am not allergic to fish, it's not something I eat. However, any kind of strong or noxious smells really irritate me. This includes fish and burnt popcorn.

At work, I have the office furthest away from our kitchen, so I don't have to sit and smell most of what everyone cooks. But there was one day someone stunk up the entire office with a Hot Pocket - and it wasn't even burnt. I have never seen anyone in my office open their windows until that day.

WinnerVictorious

Yeahhhhhh I wouldn't worry about it. Eat your food. Honestly, I've never had anyone complain about the smell of seafood (salmon) when reheating it at work and I work with a bunch of people who would never consider eating healthy.

And besides, these are the people who routinely cook and burn popcorn or put ramen noodles or cup o soup into the microwave without water. There's NOTHING worse than that.

would you want somebody walking into your cubicle or office and farting every morning and then walking away? same principle.

But it's not really. Like, not at all, ever, in the least.

yes, it is. i've been there years ago. every single day there were 6 or 7 engineers on the same floor who would microwave little tupperware containers of fish and rice. every day. they were oblivious to the smell because it was normal for them. but the smell was piped into my office and i had to deal with it for hours until it dissipated. i sat at a SPARC workstation all day working on integrated circuit design. i couldn't get up and leave and i couldn't open a window to get fresh air. it sucked. it got to the point where i had to constantly block the air vent in my office with cardboard. so yes, it was as if they were coming into my office every afternoon, one at a time, and farting and then leaving. live through that and you'll understand.

i think most of the people thinking this isn't a big deal never had a cubicle or office next to a break room. mine wasn't that close, but the air recirculation system piped that break room air directly into my office since i had a corner office.

Lisafrazier71

If people have an issue with the way things smell in the break room, THEY should eat elsewhere, not you. Poor etiquette would be eye-rolling, dirty looks, nasty comments, etc... not you eating fish.

Julettashane

i dont care i eat what i want....but there is only 4 of us girls here so its doesnt matter...unless its onions or seafood for one girl she cat stand it

edited to say i didnt mean to quote my own comment lol

AuddAlise

As someone very allergic to fish and shellfish, just smelling the fish smell could make me extremely ill. (My throat will start to swell shut just from breathing it in.) Leave it at home.

I also don't like burnt popcorn smell, but that is just an annoyance, not a life-threatening odor.

By this logic no one should eat a peanut butter sandwich at work either. Yes people have allergies but come on! Oh, and before you accuse me of being insensitive to people with allergies...I am allergic to milk (and any product made with milk) and eggs. I am gluten intolerant too. My husband is allergic to anything that comes out of the ocean and cabbage. My oldest child is allergic to red food dye and my youngest child is allergic to spinach, strawberries and peanuts. I understand allergies.

MelMoly

i send my husband to work with leftovers all the time... and sometimes it is tuna noodle.. suck it

pwnderosa

Lots of people do it here so I don't really worry about it. You can microwave some water with lemon after to help clear the smell from the room and microwave though, I do try to keep the microwave in good condition after I use it.

Now when we had the lady here who burned her popcorn EVERY DAY...that was a problem for people, hahaha!!

Julettashane

i send my husband to work with leftovers all the time... and sometimes it is tuna noodle.. suck it

:laugh: :flowerforyou:

shirleygirl910

As someone very allergic to fish and shellfish, just smelling the fish smell could make me extremely ill. (My throat will start to swell shut just from breathing it in.) Leave it at home.

I also don't like burnt popcorn smell, but that is just an annoyance, not a life-threatening odor.

I guess no one should bring a peanut butter sandwich either because if they touch someone allergic to peanuts it could cause a reaction.

This is nothing to laugh at. I have a friend that can't even smell peanuts or her throat swells. They have a no food, no perfume, no air freshener policy in thier office. Allergies can be life threatening.

moosegt35

Yeahhhhhh I wouldn't worry about it. Eat your food. Honestly, I've never had anyone complain about the smell of seafood (salmon) when reheating it at work and I work with a bunch of people who would never consider eating healthy.

And besides, these are the people who routinely cook and burn popcorn or put ramen noodles or cup o soup into the microwave without water. There's NOTHING worse than that.

would you want somebody walking into your cubicle or office and farting every morning and then walking away? same principle.

But it's not really. Like, not at all, ever, in the least.

yes, it is. i've been there years ago. every single day there were 6 or 7 engineers on the same floor who would microwave little tupperware containers of fish and rice. every day. they were oblivious to the smell because it was normal for them. but the smell was piped into my office and i had to deal with it for hours until it dissipated. i sat at a SPARC workstation all day working on integrated circuit design. i couldn't get up and leave and i couldn't open a window to get fresh air. it sucked. it got to the point where i had to constantly block the air vent in my office with cardboard. so yes, it was as if they were coming into my office every afternoon, one at a time, and farting and then leaving. live through that and you'll understand.

i think most of the people thinking this isn't a big deal never had a cubicle or office next to a break room. mine wasn't that close, but the air recirculation system piped that break room air directly into my office since i had a corner office.

Cool story bro. Still is nowhere even remotely close to the same planet as someone coming around and farting in your cube all the time.

Cindym82

I'm allergic to a lot of fish, and shell fish and the smell of warmed fish actually makes my throat start to close.....so YES you should be mindful of reheating it

halobender

yes, it is.

It's still nothing like that, as they were heating food which they were going to eat. They weren't simply heating it just to have it heated and then leave it.

There's really no comparison to blowing *kitten* in someone's office/cubicle.

moosegt35

As someone very allergic to fish and shellfish, just smelling the fish smell could make me extremely ill. (My throat will start to swell shut just from breathing it in.) Leave it at home.

I also don't like burnt popcorn smell, but that is just an annoyance, not a life-threatening odor.

I guess no one should bring a peanut butter sandwich either because if they touch someone allergic to peanuts it could cause a reaction.

This is nothing to laugh at. I have a friend that can't even smell peanuts or her throat swells. They have a no food, no perfume, no air freshener policy in thier office. Allergies can be life threatening.

I wasn't laughing, but it's still stupid logic. I work with 500 people, if no one could bring stuff that 1 other person was allergic to we would all be drinking water and eating peas.

SteveJWatson

i think most of the people thinking this isn't a big deal never had a cubicle or office next to a break room. mine wasn't that close, but the air recirculation system piped that break room air directly into my office since i had a corner office.

No cubicle, but I did used to have to empty said barrels of old fishguts into a muckspreader every month or so......

You were allowed to go home and have a wash if it was your turn to do that. :laugh:

Once, one of the lids got stuck and somehow my boss fell into the (half-full) spreader...

How we all laughed (apart from him) - I think the smell clung to him for a week...

moosegt35

Lots of people do it here so I don't really worry about it. You can microwave some water with lemon after to help clear the smell from the room and microwave though, I do try to keep the microwave in good condition after I use it.

Now when we had the lady here who burned her popcorn EVERY DAY...that was a problem for people, hahaha!!

Someone in my office does that everyday too and I wonder how anyone can be so stupid to burn popcorn every single day and not figure it out.

SteveJWatson

As someone very allergic to fish and shellfish, just smelling the fish smell could make me extremely ill. (My throat will start to swell shut just from breathing it in.) Leave it at home.

I also don't like burnt popcorn smell, but that is just an annoyance, not a life-threatening odor.

I guess no one should bring a peanut butter sandwich either because if they touch someone allergic to peanuts it could cause a reaction.

This is nothing to laugh at. I have a friend that can't even smell peanuts or her throat swells. They have a no food, no perfume, no air freshener policy in thier office. Allergies can be life threatening.

I wasn't laughing, but it's still stupid logic. I work with 500 people, if no one could bring stuff that 1 other person was allergic to we would all be drinking water and eating peas.

Its not stupid logic - its no logic.

If you have someone with a nut allergy does nobody bring anything with nuts in? Thought not.

ninerbuff

If you work with a lot of Asians, it shouldn't be an issue!!!

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Cindym82

As someone very allergic to fish and shellfish, just smelling the fish smell could make me extremely ill. (My throat will start to swell shut just from breathing it in.) Leave it at home.

I also don't like burnt popcorn smell, but that is just an annoyance, not a life-threatening odor.

I guess no one should bring a peanut butter sandwich either because if they touch someone allergic to peanuts it could cause a reaction.

This is nothing to laugh at. I have a friend that can't even smell peanuts or her throat swells. They have a no food, no perfume, no air freshener policy in thier office. Allergies can be life threatening.

I wasn't laughing, but it's still stupid logic. I work with 500 people, if no one could bring stuff that 1 other person was allergic to we would all be drinking water and eating peas.

My building of 800 adults, and also a daycare is nut free, fish free, and perfume free b/c of allergies

Hellbent_Heidi

I think its disgusting, but work in a multi-cultural environment, so it happens.

My husband works with all guys, and they do it just to annoy each other....:sick:

kerricolby

I work in the reception area of an office and the smells from the kitchen fill the whole office. Fish I don't mind because everyone can tell that it's fish. There is one co-worker that will heat up a steam-fresh bag of broccoli and then the office smells like farts the rest of the day. So every person who comes in thinks one of the secretaries is farting like crazy in the office.

MariaLivingFit

I actually just had fish in the microwave at work for lunch today! It might bother some people, but the smell (if any) goes away in a matter of minutes. They can suck it up and deal with it.

JUDDDing

There are ways to retaliate (kimchee, corned beef and cabbage, sauerkraut) - usually this problem solves itself - with everyone being more considerate - in short order.

heatherpg47

Eat the fish.. as long as its in the break room.. that is where you are supposed to stuff like that... just don't take it to the work area. I hate the smell of certain Ramens... that's my issue, but I get over it when people eat it. They should get over it.

ItsCasey

I do it. I don't care. I am eating healthy, and could care less what others think. I do Tilapia or Salmon with brussels! Not a *kitten* is given.

Thank you!

I was beginning to think that people with office jobs were born pathetic or had somehow reverted to being children.

Agree with these two.

Burnt popcorn is a different story because that's a result of someone having the attention span of a 2-year-old and being unwilling to stand in the break room for a few minutes to make sure the popcorn doesn't overcook.

But you can't help the way fish smells. My office is right next door to the break room, so I smell things all day long, and most of it is not appetizing. But I'm not going to be rude enough to tell my co-workers what to bring for lunch. They are not children, and I am not their mother. Commenting on people's food choices is one of the rudest behaviors that I witness on a daily basis. People eat certain things because they like those things. Acting like you're grossed out by what someone else is eating is an insult to that person and is in very poor taste.

SVCat

I live by the office microwave. If someone brings fish in, I'm taking my utility knife and stabbing the *kitten* out of that microwave. I love fish, it's delicious...do I really want to smell it for the next hour? Nope.

If it were my fish, I'd gladly heat it up.

alifer

As someone very allergic to fish and shellfish, just smelling the fish smell could make me extremely ill. (My throat will start to swell shut just from breathing it in.) Leave it at home.

I also don't like burnt popcorn smell, but that is just an annoyance, not a life-threatening odor.

I guess no one should bring a peanut butter sandwich either because if they touch someone allergic to peanuts it could cause a reaction.

This is nothing to laugh at. I have a friend that can't even smell peanuts or her throat swells. They have a no food, no perfume, no air freshener policy in thier office. Allergies can be life threatening.

I wasn't laughing, but it's still stupid logic. I work with 500 people, if no one could bring stuff that 1 other person was allergic to we would all be drinking water and eating peas.

My building of 800 adults, and also a daycare is nut free, fish free, and perfume free b/c of allergies

Nuts and Fish are both high allergen foods. They can both also become life threatening in a very short amount of time.

Most schools are now peanut free or at least have peanut free areas. Fish can be just as deadly. There is no shot a person can take to desensitize to these allergies. So if your child were highly allergic to peanuts, would you want to send them to a school that isn't peanut free? How would you feel if your fish leftovers caused someone to leave in an ambulance, or cause their death? It's not a matter of choice for those of us with allergies. Thankfully I have never worked anywhere that I had to deal with that issue. It's bad enough trying to avoid them at the grocery store, restaurants and parties.