Bring Own Lunch to the Interview Day Lunch

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Ask them what they'll be serving or ask them if a meal can be prepared that can accommodate your health needs. And by health I mean an actual medical condition(s). If you're on some new slim fast/atkins/starve yourself diet, well, you'll just have to deal for one day. 😉 Otherwise, call them and discuss it with them. 👍
 
They usually have vegetarian options.

Like the others said if it's a special medical need diet, then you should call and discuss with them what their options are and/or if you need to provide your own lunch. If it's a weight-loss diet you are probably going to be okay for one meal.
 
Just don't eat.

I'm used to not eating during long spans of time so hopefully I have no problems... especially when Downstate offers me Tuna Fish next week.

PASSSSSSS (unless its raw and in a sushi roll 😛 )
 
ishchayill said:
Can this be done if one is on a special diet? Or is it rude or otherwise not practical?
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Eat before you get there and eat when you leave. I doubt that you will suffer too much and pulling out a "doggie bag" looks pretty lame.
 
I don't always remember if I requested kosher meals or not so I bring my own. If there's food for me, great. If not, I eat the food that I bring me and usually explain it. Hasn't hurt me so far. I wouldn't sweat the little things like that.
 
you should order take out and be courteous and ask if anyone wants anything
 
I agree that pulling out your lunchbox in the middle of the interview day may be a little bit odd (unless it's one of the old school 80s lunch boxes with the mini thermos...then...yes, definitely do it), but I don't really think it would impact you negatively in any way. When I was on the interview trail, interview lunches were overwhelmingly informal - usually just the applicants and some current students showing up for a free meal. I would be surprised if anyone there really has enough power to flag your application for a bag lunch...or if anyone would really feel offended enough to do so.
 
romba said:
I don't always remember if I requested kosher meals or not so I bring my own. If there's food for me, great. If not, I eat the food that I bring me and usually explain it. Hasn't hurt me so far. I wouldn't sweat the little things like that.
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ditto. only i'm a vegetarian as well (no fish, so no tuna which is usually easiest for them) so i'm doubly hard for schools. i had no problems bringing and eating a little something to supplement whatever i could eat at interviews where there weren't perfect options for me. just don't make a big deal out of it; try to be discrete. trust me, subtly pulling out your own food is no more conspicuous than walking up and taking the lone shrink-wrapped kosher meal sitting there with all the normal food :laugh:

J DUB said:
Yeah, dont be the "douche".

😀
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i don't think it's "douche-y" to do what i described above. maybe you wouldn't be so quick to judge if you had spent a lifetime being a person with dietary restrictions living in a world that doesn't cater to your needs (pun definitely intended).
 
J DUB said:
if there are "real" medically-related reasons, then by all means, bring your lunchbox.....

if not, suck it up, and not be a douche!! Vegs dont have to eat the meat. There are vegs and fruits usually....
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medical issues are not the only type of dietary restrictions. read the last few posts more carefully 🙄
 
Thanks guys.

My specific reason is that I eat only kosher, but the question applies to anyone on a diet, whether it be vegetarian, halal, medical, weight-loss, or whatever.

I wouldn't look like a douche because the reason for bringing my own lunch would be readily apparent, I think.
 
One interviewee pulled out her own sandwich. I didn't really think anything of it, but it might have been easier for her to do since she was a girl carrying a purse. Guys might have a harder time since they really will need to bring a lunch bag.
 
ishchayill said:
Thanks guys.

My specific reason is that I eat only kosher, but the question applies to anyone on a diet, whether it be vegetarian, halal, medical, weight-loss, or whatever.

I wouldn't look like a douche because the reason for bringing my own lunch would be readily apparent, I think.
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yeah, all of my schools have been super accommodating about my kashrut and vegetarian needs, with the exceptions of umass, nymc (cafeteria food), and harvard (cafeteria food). i wouldn't worry too much about this.
 
I don't know why everyone is making it such a big deal. I don't have any special dietary needs, but it wouldn't be any of my business or bother me if someone did and brought their own lunch.

As long as it was a religious or medical need and not just a weight-loss or fad diet I would think that the school should be okay accommodating, also. I don't see why they wouldn't.
 
dw2158 said:
medical issues are not the only type of dietary restrictions. read the last few posts more carefully 🙄
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I agree. There are days I don't eat meat (ala Friday), so while it's not the same level, I definitely think there are other issues that should be respected around food choice.
 
do whatever you need to do...it's just lunch...
Not like you're going to pull 5 big macs and a bucket of fried chicken out of your backpack. Anything within reason, right? :laugh:
I know I wouldn't give it a second thought if I saw someone brought their own lunch. At worst, I just might think, "cool, someone who eats consciously." Or something along those lines.
 
If it means me getting more food, then I am all for people bringing in kosher/vegan/whatever for themselves.

I find myself still hungry after these admittedly tasty but small (for me) interview lunches.
 
Bring your own food it you want to. They're not going to care in the least. That being said, if you can, might as well enjoy the free food they provide you. If you don't want to, don't sweat it.
 
I don't think anybody cares. It's not going to matter for your application, especially if it's because of kashrus. One school I interviewed at actually had an interview with a student during lunch, and theoretically bringing out your own food in that situation could be awkward, but all you have to say is "I keep kosher so I brought my own lunch" and then go on with the conversation.

I never bothered asking for kosher meals (especially since I'm also a vegetarian), and I just basically didn't eat at lunch. Which wasn't a problem--I'd have a nice breakfast beforehand, and then eat afterwards.

This time around I'm a vegan, but I only applied to one school so it doesn't really matter--I'll just not eat 🙂
 
J DUB said:
eat your weeds and be happy!! 🙂
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are you honestly missing the fact that i, and other posters in this thead, keep kosher? seriously?

anyway, i'm very happy eating my *kosher* weeds. i do not need your encouragement to be so.
 
dw2158 said:
are you honestly missing the fact that i, and other posters in this thead, keep kosher? seriously?

anyway, i'm very happy eating my *kosher* weeds. i do not need your encouragement to be so.
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Did you not say you were a veg head too? 😀

Seriously?

Hence, eat your weedies!!! :laugh:
 
dw2158 said:
are you honestly missing the fact that i, and other posters in this thead, keep kosher? seriously?

anyway, i'm very happy eating my *kosher* weeds. i do not need your encouragement to be so.
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can weeds be non kosher? unless you grow it in a field nourished by pig blood or something?
 
I think this is totally fine. When I was interviewing I saw one girl do this and I thought nothing of it. You could have allergies or eat only certain foods for religion regions.

Goodluck!
 
bleargh said:
can weeds be non kosher? unless you grow it in a field nourished by pig blood or something?
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haha believe it or not, there are some vegetables that (according to some rabbis) can be non kosher. for example, broccoli has to be really thoroughly checked for little bugs, because those little bugs can hide in the florets and are not kosher. i will leave it up to your imagination whether or not i subscribe to that particular school of thought regarding broccoli 😛
 
dw2158 said:
haha believe it or not, there are some vegetables that (according to some rabbis) can be non kosher. for example, broccoli has to be really thoroughly checked for little bugs, because those little bugs can hide in the florets and are not kosher. i will leave it up to your imagination whether or not i subscribe to that particular school of thought regarding broccoli 😛
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if you eat the bugs, the terrorists win?
 
So you couldn't just get a normal vegetarian/vegan meal and be fine? I'm veg for religious reasons too...but I've never had a problem with the standard vegetarian meals anywhere.
 
daisy44 said:
So you couldn't just get a normal vegetarian/vegan meal and be fine? I'm veg for religious reasons too...but I've never had a problem with the standard vegetarian meals anywhere.
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i'm not veg for religious reasons. i keep kosher. i also happen to be a vegetarian.
 
There definitely are kosher aisles at the stores in Pittsburgh. Well there are whole kosher stores but the regular stores have kosher aisles. During Passover they will move all the yeast-containing bread to a special section out of the way too.

I'm not Jewish but I can appreciate having matzo crackers available year round 🙂

also isle = island and aisle = row in a grocery store
 
bunnity said:
There definitely are kosher aisles at the stores in Pittsburgh. Well there are whole kosher stores but the regular stores have kosher aisles. During Passover they will move all the yeast-containing bread to a special section out of the way too.

I'm not Jewish but I can appreciate having matzo crackers available year round 🙂

also isle = island and aisle = row in a grocery store
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bingo 🙂

and, please, i live in NYC... do you think i'm not familiar with the concept of a kosher aisle? or *gasp* an entire kosher store? :laugh:
 
dw2158 said:
bingo 🙂

and, please, i live in NYC... do you think i'm not familiar with the concept of a kosher aisle? or *gasp* an entire kosher store? :laugh:
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there are teh jews in teh NYC? no wai?!
 
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