Skip to main content

7 Foods Lawyers Should Avoid in the Office, Courtroom

By Deanne Katz, Esq. on September 12, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

In the office and the courtroom it's important to be professional and look credible. But it's hard to carry that off when what you had for lunch is sending a different message.

As an intelligent adult you probably already know some foods to avoid, like garlic and onions during weekday lunchtime.

Those aren't the only foods that can cause trouble for you when you're trying to make your case. There are other foods to avoid if you don't want to look like a fool.

  1. Brassicas. This family of vegetables includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts and they can be every bit as 'musical' as beans. Avoid eating these before a meeting or heading into court unless you like feeling bloated while you're trying to make a good impression.

  2. Soupy or saucy foods. There's no excuse for splashes of red or oily sauce on the front of your shirt when you work in a professional office. Look for foods that you don't have to slurp and that are not likely to splash, especially if you have to make an appearance after lunch.

  3. Curry or spicy food. This often overlaps with saucy foods as a no-no but it should get its own mention because of its aromatic power. The reason this food is delicious is that it's so heavily spiced, but having that spice in your clothes for hours make it less than appealing to judges and clients.

  4. Heavy or fatty foods. Gone are the days of the three-martini lunch and with them the post-lunch nap. Food that weighs you down isn't going to help increase your billing time. Save it for nights and weekends rather than letting it interfere with work.

  5. Dairy. We're assuming any lactose-intolerant people avoid dairy already but it's also not good for your voice. It produces mucus which is not what you want before a courtroom presentation. Have the milk and cookies after you win the case, not before.

  6. Caffeine. Another problem for the voice, caffeine dries out the vocal cords. That can lead to an awkward coughing fit while you're trying to make your point. You don't have to skip your morning injection but during meetings and in the courtroom stick to water to keep the words flowing.

  7. No straws. Carbonated drinks can make you burp but using a straw can do that as well. Drinking with a straw requires you to take in air while you swallow and that air has to go somewhere. Avoid that problem by keeping the straw out of your drinks.

Appearance counts for a lot when you're trying to build credibility so know what foods to avoid during the workweek.

Copied to clipboard