What constitutes as a meal when claiming expenses?

My work pay for my travelling expenses and meal (breakfast or lunch up to £10.00) as subsistence when I required to work away from my base. I sometime buy a packet of crips or a bar of chocolate in the morning when I passby a shop nearby and keep it for lunch then at lunch time I buy a sandwich from a local shop, the total of the two purchases are under £10, but my work do not pay for the crips or chocolate bar as these do not constitutes as a meal. Can you please advise what constitutes as a meal? What about the “meal deal” it contains sandwich, packet of crip or chocolate bar and a fizzy drink? Many thanks

Hi Carmenip,
You can only claim for an evening meal when you work away from home. Relief is not due for the purchase of lunch or snacks as you still need to eat whether you are at home or or not.
Thank you.

Hi, Sorry my question is what constitutes as a meal to qualify for meal allowance? I sometime require to work away from my normal place of work (over 10 hours), I have to catch an early train/bus and I buy a packet of crips or a bar of chocolate in the morning when I passby a shop nearby and keep it for lunch then at lunch time I buy a sandwich from a local shop, the total of the two purchases are under £10, can I claim the £10 as meal/subsistence allowances. Many thanks

Hi Carmenip,
HMRC's definition of a “meal” is simply a combination of food and drink items.
Thank you.