Snack Drawer Essentials

I remember it well: Picture a 22-year-old, fresh out of college with brand-new dress slacks and a nice, new pleather laptop bag sitting at her desk halfway through the first day of her new big-girl job. I had gone to lunch a few hours earlier with my new teammates and came back ready to tackle… well, tackle whatever tasks they decided to give me since it was my first day and all.

I check the clock at 2:00, then 2:13, then 2:21, and then it’s suddenly 2:30 and I’m starving. Like, hangry, but polite because it’s my first day and good first impressions are a must. And, of course, my desk was empty (did I mention it was my first day)? In college, I would’ve just dug through my backpack and pulled out some half-eaten bag of chips or smashed granola bar as a snack and been totally fine. But that brand-new pleather laptop bag had nothing but a planner and a handful of pens and pencils. (Cue the narrator: “Sorry, honey, but you’re fresh out of luck today.”)

Let it be known that I suffered through the rest of the afternoon trying to stifle the stomach growls and at least pretend to have a productive first day (not that I had been given a whole lot to work on yet).

That was four years ago. And now my younger sister, Claire, is in the same boat as a new college grad with her very own first big-girl job. In a recent episode of our podcast, we discussed everything that comes with a new job, a big move, and finding your way in the world as a baby adult. After we wrapped up the conversation I realized that, holy cow, I am a real adult now!

And this is when I share my wisdom with you, just in time for new grads and interns preparing for their first day at their new job. Don’t be like me and forget the essentials on your first day. Here’s how to stock the *perfect* snack drawer.

 

Composing the Perfect Snack Drawer

Believe it or not, there’s an art to this.

Components:

Protein to keep hanger at bay (If consumed as a morning snack, it’ll tide you over until lunch.)
 Something sweet for quick energy boost (I recommend chocolate to satisfy that sweet tooth.)
 Something salty (These also function as the perfect sides for a sad lunch …*cough* salad *cough*.)
 Oatmeal, granola bars, etc. (Fuel for when you’re running late and have to rush out the door without breakfast.)
 Emergency lunches, such as canned soup, mac & cheese cups, etc. (You’ll forget this on the same day you’re rushing out the door and don’t have time for breakfast because the universe is against you on these days. You can thank me later. 😉 )
 Caffeine (Heaven forbid you work in an office where they A) don’t have coffee available or B) shut down the coffee pot before noon.)

Location:

This is key to survival. Last thing you want is to reach over to grab that pack of M&Ms and find that your entire snack drawer has been raided.

1. Pick a drawer that is comfortable to reach into but is also inconspicuous. To identify this drawer, take a seat at your desk. Turn your chair slightly towards your cabinet. Practice leaning into each drawer. Pick the one that’s most comfortable and doesn’t make you look like you’re doing anything suspicious that might attract a co-worker. Take care to ensure that this drawer is large enough for your snack stash. Consider drawers with a lock as an added bonus.
2. DON’T TELL ANYONE ABOUT YOUR SNACK DRAWER. The worst thing you could possibly do is let anyone know that you have it. If you do, you’ll find yourself suddenly supplying the whole office. To prevent yourself from appearing as stingy, offer snacks to your co-workers, but don’t let them see where it came from. To do this, take care to approach them at their desks with the gift of snacks, rather than pull it out from your coveted snack drawer right in front of them.

General Upkeep

For the sake of perceptions and to not become *that* person with mice attracted to your workspace, be sure to tidy up your drawer at least once per month. Have some snacks that you bought with good intentions (this would be granola bars for me) but have no intention of eating? Leave the box on the kitchen counter to share with your co-workers. Take this time to add items to your grocery list so you’re not left high and dry on a day you forget your lunch or are extra hangry because you had to stay late one evening.

 

To everyone nervously and excitedly counting down the days until their First Day, good luck! To those seasoned office pros, are there any additional snack drawer tips that I’ve missed?