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I would probably do grilled chicken on ciabatta or a baguette. A nice "grown up" looking sandwich that will fill you up?

Cucumbers have a pleasant, clean smell and don't "crunch" too loudly,
I would suggest a clean-eating sandwich too: maybe gypsi salami with mustard and cream-cheese? Wraps are easy to contain too: I like to make mine with some deli ham, deli turkey, spinach, balsamic dressing and shredded cheddar. You could also bring dried fruit bars, or raisins.

good luck!

What takeout restaurants are popular near your office? If you want to blend in, pick something up from where ever others are likely to be buying their lunch (Au Bon Pain, Potbelly's, etc.).

It sounds as if you don't regularly interact with upper management, but have you noticed what they're typically eating in the lunchroom? Having worked for years in a corporate setting--as both a midlevel employee & a member of top management--I'd never spend too much time judging people based on their lunch selections. Different strokes for different folks. So you maybe overthinking it, but it sounds like your best option is to simply blend in, even if it's not what you'd typically eat.

What about bringing in some soup you could heat up and drink out of a mug. I think a simple soup and a nice sandwich would be a perfect "working meal". You have so many options when it comes to sandwiches, fillings, bread, condiments! The options are endless. I love to make "grown up PB&J" Take a hearty bread or even raisin bread, smear with marscapone cheese, fig preserves and sprinkle with pecans. Oh how yummy it is!!!

I think a chickpea salad would be ideal. How about chickpeas with chopped celery, chopped red pepper and parsley or cilantro. Dress it just with olive oil and salt and pepper. It will be impressive and the chickpeas will fill you up and give you energy.

A well made (not overstuffed, and toothpicked) wrap is generally a good, non-messy option. Fruit salad and cut up veggies are a good way to avoid doing a salad with flying bits everywhere. Don't stress it; its just lunch. No one's going to think you're a dummy for dribbling a little mayo on your shirt- it happens to everyone.

When I have a meeting over lunch, I often see the higher-ups eating yogurt and a granola bar. I swear I've seen like four or five of them eating this same thing. There's no way that would fill me up though. I usually go with a sandwich.

The only reason I notice is because seeing them eat makes me hungry. I don't judge people by what they eat. They could bring in baby food for all I care, and I wouldn't respect them any more or less.

what about a grain salad with some veggies, maybe roasted to reduce the "crunch" and a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice on top. I love eating this cold, and its delicious

-rice or pasta works, but i like quinoa or barley

So sorry that your boss is a cheep snizzle (fancy word for snot nose). If they expect you to give up your lunch time to work, at least they should feed you. Even it it's pizza & salad.

The whole concept of "bring your own" while the company steals your time is unbelievably offensive.

@jerzeeTomato: I wish. Nope, they'll be right there, eating with us. It's a working meeting, and no one is excused for lunch.

@whoot: When us mid-level folks get together, we usually go in and pot luck or order pizza. Upper mgmt is known for going out to expensive lunches, but since we're working with a vendor, we can't do that. Not really stealing my time, since I'm getting paid my exorbitant hourly wage for the whole day...

@dhorst for the win! I'm stopping a Trader Joes in the morning for some cheese, grapes, and a baguette.

Thanks everyone!

Your favorite wrap or bagel sandwich.

All the suggestions above are great!

But no one's mentioned a little bento with some sushi. Sophisticated, simple, tasty.

Or tabouleh sald with chickpeas. Or hummus with pita and assorted nibbles (olives, sweet pepper strips, apple or cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, cheese or salami cubes, etc.)

Or whatever can be eaten tidily and without strong scents. The thin sandwich cut into four pieces is a good idea.

My top suggestion would be to have a very large snack on your break, so you only have to nibble during lunch.

I would bring an innocuous sandwich (turkey, cucumbers, spinach, roasted peppers and a dab of pesto on whole wheat is my current fix!).

to prevent sandwich crumbs/ick, take a piece of parchment paper. place sanwich in center. pull left and right side of paper to center and roll, cinching the sandwich in, then tuck the up&down side under the sandwich. slice the sandwich in half and pack. when you eat it, only touch the paper (peel down to eat the sandwich) to keep the ickies off your budget/hands.

apple slices with a toothpick or a banana are great accompaniments, as is a cup of yogurt. frozen grapes are also delish.

the one sandwich a person has brought in here that made me think was a cucumber sandwich. from my pov, i thought it was awesome. a very masculine guy brought it in and i think of the sandwich as girls at afternoon tea. it just opened my eyes to the multi-faceted personality he has.

Lucky Charms. Big bowl of 'em. Cap'n Crunch might betray you as too ambitious.

I would go with a wrap...I just wouldn't put avocado or sliced tomatoes in it. Diced tomato is ok, but as one person wrote, avocado and tomato tend to slide right out. Also, make sure your dressing isn't too peppery - don't want anything stuck in the teeth!

You could also go with a salad - my favorite is Asian grilled chicken over lettuce with cilantro, daikon, and a ginger-sesame vinaigrette.