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Every so often I have days that are very busy with no time to take a proper lunch. When this happens, I usually end up bringing my lunch to a meeting and eating while other people talk. These aren't lunch meetings (usually around 1 or 2pm), and I'm typically the only person who has brought food. This got me wondering if I was committing a faux pas without realizing it. So my question for you all is this:
Is it unprofessional to bring lunch to a meeting?
This is almost impossible to answer without being there, but I'll try and give some guidance from my Point of View:
Is it ever acceptable?
Absolutely - we've all got to eat and, despite best efforts and 'official guidance', sometimes our days conspire against us. It's something I've certainly done, especially with last minute meetings. And some meetings certainly have a food culture - I used to have a 9 - 12am Friday morning meeting, and we'd always grab breakfast at around 10:00am.
I also don't think anybody would look twice if you bring a drink and some sharing food such as cookies or doughnuts etc.
Is it ever completely unacceptable
I'd suggest it's never acceptable if there are clients, customers or senior (in comparison to yourself) colleagues in the meeting.
Also, I hope it goes without saying - but it should never done with "anti-social" foods. I.e, smelly foods, messy foods, hand food (Excluding sandwiches)
How do I mitigate the risk?
Following the culture is always the first rule. If your boss brings food, then that's almost always a cue that it's fine. You state that you're the only one, so this in itself is a warning sign.
Ask others and excuse yourself. If this is truly a once ever [x] meetings thing (Where x is a reasonably high number), then I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a bit of understanding. Especially for a 1:00pm meeting.
It also depends on the formality of the meeting - an informal catch-up with colleagues on your team is a world away from a formal board meeting.
In summary, however, if you're the only one doing it and these meetings don't fall into your local definition of "lunch time", then I'd suggest you avoid doing so.
Generally, in most workplaces where I have worked, if a person is working completely through lunch (When the other attendees are not or lunch would be provided), the other meeting attendees will be understanding if you eat your lunch, but only if you explain that you have had back to back meetings and ask if it is ok. I have seen a lot of people do this through the years and have never seen a group say no. If you don't mention it and just pull put your lunch and start eating, that would often be considered rude.
It is also a good thing to ask if you have to eat your lunch during a conference call.
In general though, I do not accept meetings that are during my lunch hour, I suggest a different time unless the issue for the meeting is quite critical. If you block off lunch as a meeting on your calendar, you will get far fewer meeting requests at that time.
Eating behavior and expectations has many cultural differences, so it will be hard to answer your question without being familiar with your culture.
Any work environment that allows/accepts scheduling meetings through the lunch hour, should be tolerant of people eating during meetings. Personally, I try to avoid these scheduling messes, but I don't control my schedule and our working culture is very flexible with calling meetings. I have never had anyone complain about me bringing my lunch to a meeting, in fact, most times the reaction is sympathy for my schedule that day.
You should be cognizant of who will be in your meetings and the subject, and try to bring your lunch to the meeting where you will have the least interaction and fewest higher ups.
I have a completely different list of what makes it acceptable or not. It's unacceptable, if:
It's acceptable if in the meeting you are a consumer. If you're supposed to answer questions during the meeting, making everyone wait until you finish chewing before every question is exceptionally rude.
If you have so many meetings where you're a consumer that you regularly eat during the meeting, then you can improve your standing by getting rid of, or streamlining, these meetings - this will help your reputation far more than eating during such a meeting could ever harm it (unless your food makes noise, smells, or spills).
I think it can be acceptable but first and foremost the person taking food should inquire as to whether it is OK to do so, instead of assuming. IMO it's a common courtesy but as already mentioned, some cultures have different tolerances. I am in the UK and this sort of behaviour (I believe) is generally frowned upon.
This casual and arguably disrespectful 'attitude' irks me more than the food itself. However, I agree with some of the comments above (e.g. that a snack can generally be OK) but it depends on the meeting or if you are taking a pre-planned working lunch etc.
I have an employee who brings food to our regular, scheduled, team meeting and has not thought it necessary not to ask. Last time he was late to the meeting as well as he was preparing his 1st breakfast.
Just to follow on from the two excellent answers so far, what hasn't been mentioned is WHAT you are having for lunch
There is a difference IMHO between eating a ham sandwich during a meeting and pulling out a bowl of extra spicy curry with some rice and naan breads.
I would say that consideration to other meeting attendees is paramount
I generally find it distasteful.. there's a time and place for eating. Aka not when you're supposed to be actively participating in a group.
