Are you a lunch eater? I know many people who skip lunch entirely, and others who grab some chips and a soda and consider it lunch.
I’m not really a lunch eater either, nor a breakfast eater. If anything I eat brunch or a late lunch. My lunch is usually just a sandwich or maybe some soup. If I’m really hungry I’ll make some mac and cheese or some cheese tortilini with butter.
Lunch is more than just a way to refuel your body, it’s also a great way to recharge your mind and well being too.
I have to admit that often the reason why I don’t have lunch is because I’m busy doing other things (blogging, cleaning, running errands…). I really need to find some time during the day not only to eat a healthy lunch but also to step away from everything and just enjoy some R&R for a half hour or so.
Here are some tips from Lifestyle expert Martha McCully. She recently teamed up with Sargento to encourage Americans to take back the lunch hour to refuel their minds and bodies with natural, fresh-tasting ingredients. She want to people to distance themselves from their desk chairs.
Martha developed some exclusive tips for taking a real lunch including getting back to nature, eating real foods and adding art into your routine. (Not just your screensaver!). Check them out (below).
Step away from Facebook; Put down the Blackberry. According to a recent study by Right Management, one-third of us eat lunch at our desks; another third skip lunch all together. We feel compelled to stay at our computer – even if we work at home. This isn’t good for our performance or productivity, never mind our brains or bodies. Here are some tips to take a real lunch and help reboot, each and every day.
Get back to nature, literally. There’s no easier way to commit to lunch than by actually removing yourself from your work. Put an end to starring longingly out the window and actually take a step outside for real interaction with nature. Bring your meal to a local park or visit a fruit stand in the area for some face-to-face time with fresh air.
Eat real food. Your body and brain need nutrition. Buy fresh ingredients at the Farmer’s Market or local grocery to customize your sandwich every day. Upgrade to juicy heirloom tomatoes, crisp romaine lettuce, real Sargento Sliced Natural Cheese, and freshly-baked whole grain bread. Swapping out bland options for real foods in your mid-day meal is a great way to savor the flavors of a life well-lived.
Exercise your options. Yes, we’ve all heard you should join a gym and work out at lunch. But how realistic is this? Not very. However, your office or gym may offer half-hour yoga or stretch classes. Stop day dreaming about a better-for-you lunch hour and do it! Take a real opportunity to get the blood flowing and recharge for the day ahead.
Have a real conversation. Use your lunch hour to get your mind off of work – and onto a friend. It’s the little things in life worth celebrating, and what better way to celebrate than over food? Opt for authentic conversation with a friend instead of an email exchange and break up the day with great company.
Experience real creativity. No matter how you swing it, a scrolling screensaver is not art. Visit a true art exhibit or start on your summer reading list for a great escape from the day. Experiencing real creativity is important to stimulate your mind and apply valuable outsider insight to your everyday work!
Take a Real Lunch. Improve your state of mind. Really.
Do you make sure to have lunch every day? Do you eat lunch at your desk or do you step away and eat some place else (like outside)? Feel free to share you lunchtime routine with me and if you have any tips on making the most of your lunch time.
Kimberly
*I was not compensated for this post. I am sharing this for the benefit of my site readers.
Anne says
This was a really interesting post. Since I’m not working these days, I find lunchtime to be pretty much the same as the rest of the day. But now I’m thinking that if I do something special or different, it might just put a better spin on the whole day. Thanks for posting this!
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
I eat lunch every day but it usually at my desk at work. I really should take a break from my desk more than I do now.
Maryann D. says
Great advice for lunchtime at work. I do different things for my lunch. Sometimes exercise or walk, sometimes read. I really should make an effort to get away from my desk more often though.
Rosie says
I haven’t been eating lunch. Now a habit, but not a good one. I’d like to get back to eating lunch, but I need my situation to change!
Scott Harpole says
I don’t think I’ve valued lunch, since working for myself. I just grab something to eat and keep on working. Thanks for the insightful post. Maybe I’ll consider taking time away from a screen and eating outside!
Sandy Cain says
I am a lunch eater. It’s the meal that I get hungriest for, and I like to eat lunch early, around 11 or 11:30 am. Breakfast and dinner I can juggle, but somehow if I don’t eat lunch and early, I feel sick.
Wendy T says
Gosh….anymore I don’t know. My days and nights are mixed up, kind of like an infant. So “lunch” might be at 3pm. I try to eat something every few hours, even it’s just a piece of cheese.
Tammy S says
I do take a lunch when I am working. I love just getting away for an hour or two. Sometimes I go for a walk on my lunch or read. I usually pack a lunch so I can have more me time during my lunch hour.
Karen Glatt says
Lunch is the favorite meal of the day, I make sure to get fruit and veges at this meal, and I always have a good protein with my carbs. When I eat a healthy lunch, I do not over eat at night. It seems to curb my night time eating!
Susan Smith says
When I was working I would always go into the lunch room to eat. I think it’s important to eat away from your desk to give your self a break plus it’s good to socialize with your co workers. I would take my lunch so I wouldn’t be tempted to buy high calorie vending food.