5 Very Real, Very Sad Lunches from Sad Desk Lunch

Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong is a writer and public health dietitian focused on food systems, racial equity, and nutrition. Originally from Los Angeles, she has taught English in rural Japan, worked as a private chef in Malibu, and led an innovative city-funded corner store program in New Orleans that increased fresh food access in low-income neighborhoods. She was previously a contributing editor for The Kitchn, and currently lives in Denver with her husband and two kids.
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updated Jun 5, 2019
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(Image credit: Sad Desk Lunches)

The genius of the Tumblr Sad Desk Lunch is immediately obvious to anyone who has ever had a job that involved a lot of lunches eaten in front of the computer at work, mindlessly scrolling through Pinterest or food blogs while trying to ignore ringing phones and loud co-workers. It’s hard to have a happy lunch at your desk.

This week we are talking to experts about their best lunches to pack for work or school. But today is about what not to do, as Kira Fisher, the writer behind Sad Desk Lunch, shares a gallery of her favorite sad lunches (and why she loves them) and her advice for avoiding depressing desk meals.

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“This is one of the most popular lunches on the site. I think it’s what people WOULD want to eat on a Wednesday.” (Image credit: Sad Desk Lunches)

What makes these lunches so sad?

I’m of the belief that it’s not the lunch itself that makes it sad, it’s the fact that you’re eating it at your desk. However, there are definitely lunches that look worse off than others. The best sad lunches are the ones that vibrate misery — usually gray and brown tones. Think lentil soups, browning salads.

What is your best tip for packing a sad lunch?

A surefire way to pack a sad lunch is pre-mixing the dressing in the salad so it gets soggy. Pro tip: put dressing in small jam jars instead! Or, exclusively make kale salads because pre-dressing actually breaks the leaves down for you.

Another good opportunity for sadness is bringing leftovers that aren’t exactly lunch-sized so you of course get hungry three hours later and gorge at the vending machine.

Thanks, Kira!

More from Kira Fisher:

→ See more lunches & submit your own: Sad Desk Lunch
→ Check out her Tumblr
→ Follow her on Twitter

Okay, your turn. What’s the saddest desk lunch you’ve ever eaten?

(Images: Sad Desk Lunches)

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