28 foods you shouldn't eat at your desk

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If you're one of those people who eats at your desk (guilty!), it's important that you be mindful of what you're consuming.

Not only do you want to stick to foods that will minimize blood sugar swings and optimize brainpower and mental focus — but you'll also want to think about whether what you're eating is in any way offensive to those who sit around you ... especially if you sit in an open office.

Foods that are messy, crumby, smelly, noisy, or sugary can have a serious impact on both yours and your coworkers' productivity.

Keep scrolling for a list of foods you should try to keep out of the office:

Anything smelly

There's nothing worse than sitting next to someone who eats hard boiled eggs for breakfast.

Well, maybe there is: Sitting next to a coworker who eats reheated fish for lunch.

Smelly foods like the following should stay out of the office:

• Reheated fish

• Hard boiled eggs

• Brussels sprouts

• Raw onions

• Garlic

• Pungent spices

• Tuna salad

• Stinky cheese

Anything messy

Would you really want your CEO to walk by as you're licking the bone of the rib you just scarfed down? I'm guessing you wouldn't. Eating messy foods at your desk is unprofessional. It can be visually offensive to those around you. Plus, if anything happens to drip on your nice white shirt, you'll be stuck sporting a nasty stain the rest of the work day.

Here are a few messy foods to avoid:

• Burritos

• Spaghetti with red sauce

• Ribs

• Wings

• Tacos

Anything too crunchy or loud

If the sound of your crunching or slurping is even giving you a headache, imagine how your desk neighbors feel!

If you're not sure how loud you're being when you eat a particular food, ask someone around you if it's distracting. Or, try eating that food at home and ask your partner or a friend to be honest about whether the crunch or slurp is annoying.

Here are some noisy foods to avoid (if you can't figure out how to eat it quietly):

• Soup

• Potato or tortilla chips

• Pretzels

• Nuts