Woman’s Refusal To Give Up Her Prepared Meal Raises Eyebrows In The Office
The tricky balance between kindness and boundaries at work
Food in the workplace can often create small but awkward situations. Many people rely on meal prepping to save both time and money, while others prefer to grab takeout or simply forget to bring something to eat. In shared spaces like offices, these different habits sometimes clash and create uncomfortable moments between coworkers.
The OP, a 27-year-old employee, is diligent about preparing her meals in advance. Every Sunday, she cooks and portions lunches for the week so she does not have to spend extra money on daily takeout.
Her coworker, Sam, 30, is friendly but tends to forget his meals. Normally, when this happens, he just goes out to buy food.
However, one day things took a different turn. Right before lunch, Sam realized he had once again forgotten his food. Seeing OP heating her prepared meal, he asked if she could give it to him since, in his words, she could always buy something later. OP declined, explaining that she brought her lunch for herself and wanted to stick to her plan.
Sam reacted with annoyance, calling her selfish for not sharing. He argued that it was “just one meal” and suggested she could easily afford takeout. Another coworker overheard and later commented that OP might have been more generous. This left OP feeling conflicted.
On one hand, it was indeed only a single lunch, and refusing seemed harsh in the moment. On the other hand, OP felt it was unfair to be pressured into giving away food she had carefully planned, prepared, and paid for.
She questioned whether she should feel guilty, since feeding Sam every time he forgot his meal was clearly not her responsibility.
Original Post
RedditOriginal Post
RedditTwo coworkers expect women to sacrifice their own needs for them.
RedditAnother coworker could share their lunch with Sam.
RedditHe forgot his lunch, and it’s his own responsibility, not anyone else’s.
Reddit
His poor planning isn't OP's problem.
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OP doesn't owe her coworker food if he forgets his.
Reddit
Not OP's job to feed a forgetful coworker.
Reddit
Coworkers aren’t entitled to OP's lunch just because they forgot theirs.
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OP is allowed to set boundaries.
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OP is not responsible for feeding coworkers when they forget their lunch.
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He can buy his own lunch.
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This situation is less about selfishness and more about boundaries. OP prepared and paid for her own lunch, while Sam’s forgetfulness is his own responsibility. Expecting others to cover for repeated oversights is not reasonable in a workplace setting.
At the same time, some may view sharing food as a simple act of kindness, which explains why OP felt conflicted. Both perspectives exist, but the core issue is whether generosity should be voluntary or pressured.
OP’s choice to keep her meal was fair, and it does not make her unkind. It shows that personal planning and self-care are just as important as being considerate to colleagues. In the long run, clear boundaries like this help avoid resentment and maintain healthier working relationships.
