How do you make eating at your desk less depressing?

Eating at your desk in the middle of the day happens sometimes. Life gets busy, work gets busy, the break room is taken, the conference room has an ongoing meeting. There you are, at your desk. Pile of invoices next to you, laptop open to Facebook Business, and a sad, soggy salad sitting there, waiting to not be enjoyed.

BUT THERE'S HOPE! Desk dining can be resurrected into a positive experience! Whether you're in a super cool office like mine or the exact cubicle from Office Space, these tips will lift your lunch expectations.

1. Use a plate and real silverware. I know you spent a solid $30 at your kid's best friend's mom's Tupperware party, but just trust me and use it to transport your food, not to eat out of. Using a real plate and an actual fork will give you a home-y boost and make your leftovers seem a little less sad.

2. Don't do take-out. I don't care if you only have ten minutes. Don't do it. You're going to feel terrible, it's expensive, and it's never as quick as you think it will be. Opt out of the grease-bomb and make your own coconut-oil-bomb. Healthy fats, please. Besides, my guess is you have plenty of leftovers in your fridge that you already paid for.

3. Turn off the screen. If you can avoid it, don't work and eat at the same time. One of two things will happen. One, you will get distracted and not finish your food and waste it while still being very hungry. Two, you will get distracted and eat way too much and hate yourself a little bit. Save yourself the discomfort, turn off the screen, eat, and come back to work after. Besides, it's good to take breaks throughout the day anyway. Also, labor laws.

4. Skip the break room pastries. In a time of dire need, the last quarter of a cinnamon roll from two days ago that's been sitting next to the sink and absorbing soap and water and coffee splashes can keep you from starving. But your office isn't a deserted island and you are not on Survivor. Class it up! If you're dying of hunger and need something carb-heavy, have a banana. They're super carb heavy and you can brag about how healthy you're being with your fruit.

5. Eat a vegetable. I'm not telling you to consume an entire head of lettuce. But! Maybe have a side of sweet potato, or eat your protein over a bed of spinach. It'll make you feel just a little bit more accomplished in a small way, and should lighten up your meal so you don't get the three o'clock sleepies.

6. Invite over a coworker. Eating by yourself gives you this feeling that you should be multitasking. Eating with someone else is a little less lonely, and is a great excuse to take a real break to eat. Focus on something other than work, have a little visit, eat, and you'll be replenished for the rest of the day.