LET'S DO LUNCH

I was sitting in our staff room today having lunch with a couple of other people. We were just chatting. Probably fairly typical conversations: "How's your day going? What are you having for lunch? Any plans for the weekend?" Nothing too serious, just a bit of light conversation while we enjoyed a break and something to eat. It got me thinking though about how often I talk to people who miss out on lunch altogether or how it’s a rushed affair only if time permits. 

What does lunch look like for you? Something quick to grab and go? Maybe lunch doesn’t enter into your day and it’s not till you get home that you find the time to eat? Or perhaps you’re starving by midday and could never consider missing out.

Many people I speak to have developed a culture that lunch isn’t so important. Life gets busy, meetings get scheduled, or maybe you see it as a way of eating less food for the day.

Lunch is important. No more important or less important than any other meal but it is important. It’s a long time between breakfast and dinner and our body and brain like to have a regular supply of energy to maintain function. We work at our best when our body has enough energy to get through the day.

The culture of your workplace can have a big impact on whether lunch is a priority or not. If the boss is seen working through lunch or the majority of staff sit at their desks to eat without stopping then it can feel like it’s unacceptable to take a lunch break. The expectation may be that you will work through lunch. Maybe you feel like a slacker if you stop for lunch.

The reality is that we work better when we schedule in a break and incorporate a meal somewhere around the middle of our day. We can’t expect our bodies to work effectively when they don’t have enough fuel. That mid-afternoon slump can be avoided by having a midday meal that consists of carbohydrates, protein and fruit/vegetables. Eating a combination of protein and carbohydrates helps to regulate energy release and keep us going throughout the afternoon.

Sometimes I have hectic days too and end up grabbing a snack on the go or it’s late afternoon by the time I manage to have lunch and it’s on those days that I get home feeling fatigued, headachy and exhausted. Plus I end up feeling like I just can’t eat enough to satisfy myself in the evening – it’s my body’s way of replenishing what it’s missed during the day. Being aware of this and how my body feels is enough to make lunch a priority for me. Plus I’d miss out on those few minutes of down time chatting with my work colleagues.

Here’s my challenge to you: Have at least one lunch break this week. Take yourself and your lunch away from your desk. Have some quiet time or take the chance to chat with others and have some enjoyable food as well. See how you feel at the end of the day. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Andrea Palmer is the Dietitian for Habit Wellington.