9 messiest lunches to eat at your desk

The messy lunch is the bane of every white button down's existence. Here are nine you should avoid at all costs.

Burger crumbs on your keyboard? Source: Getty Images

We've all been there...

1. Spaghetti bologneseImageThis slurpy-saucy mess known in Italian as maccheroni alla chitarra con polpettine di carne (or spag with meatballs, mate) was not made for the office. Best you eat this one in the comfort of your home. With a bib. And a drop cloth for good measure.

2. TacosImageHaving fun getting behind that F-key, because one bite and a taco's wet, crumbly contents will fall all over you keyboard. Mexican food was not made for neat eating. REPEAT MEXICAN FOOD WAS NOT MADE FOR NEAT EATING. (But we'll totally down a couple of these fried fish tacos with tequila on Friday night!)

3. Pho

Photograph Derek Swalwell Source: Feast magazine

This clear Vietnamese soup may seem like an innocent option, but those noodles flick and splash that liquid all over the place! So if you value the piles of documents upon your desk, it's best you eat this beefy broth far, far away from them. (Game to make your own? Find the recipe

here

4. RibsImageFinger food is generally a bad idea when it comes to desk food. Wet, saucy finger food is a doubly bad idea. Do these Kansas City ribs at home where nobody will judge, hopefully.

5. A toasted croissantImageFlaky pastry is the bane of every desk hungry / long-haired employee's existence. Unless you're okay with working in a cloud of filo pastry, maybe eat this tasty treat outdoors, or with a vaccuum cleaner handy.

6. DosasImageThese pancakes are delicious when piping hot. But cold? They're just depressing. Also they don't tear as easily, even with a knife and fork, not that you could use a knife and fork whilst working at your desk. Life is simply too short to suffer like that.

7. Tuna melt

Ok, so there are two problems here. One: tuna stinks up the office, especially when heated. Two: it has a tendency to spill out of sandwiches. Consider saying "nah" to tuna.

8. ShellfishImageOkay, this mightn't be your average work lunch. Unless you're a BOSS (oh, to dream, to dream!). But consider this: who doesn't love the sound of a sea animal's skeleton being cracked open while they work? Your colleagues. That's who. So don't do it. If you do have cash for crustaceans, though, make Luke Nguyen's Homard lobster baked in coral butter at home.

9. Burgers

Pork belly, tofu and Sriracha slaw burgers with Sichuan onion rings

Photograph Chris Chen Source: Feast magazine

Sure, it looks like a sandwich, but unlike it's travel-friendly, well-contained, bread-with-crusts-bound cousin, the burger is not half as convenient. Especially if you're going to eat something like the mouthwatering monstrosity – aka a

pork belly, tofu and Sriracha slaw burger

– above.

Play safe, eat a sandwich

How to start a sandwich love affair

Follow SBS Food

SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food

Watch now

Have a story or comment? Contact Us

SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.