You reach into your bag and it is not there. The lunch you made the night before is sitting on the kitchen counter, and it is far too late to go back. A forgotten packed lunch can spoil the mood of a morning, but it does not have to spoil the whole day. With a little planning, you can turn the problem into a small inconvenience rather than a crisis.
Have a fallback
The simplest fix is a small emergency stock at work. Keep a few things in a drawer or cupboard that will last for a long time, such as a packet of oatcakes, a tin of soup or a jar of something to spread. Check first that you are allowed to keep food there, and replace anything you use as soon as you can. Label your things, so that nobody else eats your emergency lunch.
Know your options nearby as well. Find out where you can buy something simple within a short walk, such as a bakery, a greengrocer's or a shop that sells sandwiches. Ask colleagues where they go, and look at what the canteen offers, if there is one. A short note on your phone with a few places saves you from searching when you are already hungry and in a hurry.
Make it harder to forget
Put the lunch box somewhere you cannot miss it, such as next to your keys or on top of your shoes. Some people pack it into the bag the night before, so that it is already there in the morning. Others set a reminder on their phone for the moment they usually leave. The best trick is to attach packing the lunch to something you never forget, like locking the front door.
If it does happen, take it lightly. Ask a colleague whether they can spare a little, and offer to return the favour another day. Some teams have a habit of putting extra food on the table, so it is worth asking. Do not skip lunch altogether just because the plan failed. Find something sensible, sit down and eat it properly. A forgotten lunch usually turns into a small story that you laugh about later.
