As the second meal of the day, it is often just as important as the first.
Most of us have skipped breakfast at some point in life. You get up late, the clock is ticking, you are rushing out the door and you end up choosing a shower and brushing your teeth over eating a bowl of cereal at the kitchen table because, well there’s always later on and at least you got your coffee down.
But what about missing lunch? Does it matter? Some people wouldn’t dream of skipping out on their midday break. Lunch is the perfect opportunity to stop, regroup, and fuel up for the challenges of the afternoon. Doesn’t ring true? If you don’t see lunch this way you could be part of a growing section of the population who just feels too busy to give lunch any thought. Here’s why that’s a problem.
You’ll Consume Your Calories in the Evening
According to Tamara Duker Freuman, a dietician speaking with CNN.com, if you avoid eating lunch, you will most often end up consuming those skipped calories in the evening. Eating large amounts of food late in the day can result in packing on the pounds. So, even if you feel like skipping lunch will help you lose weight, in the end it could have the opposite effect.
You Can Lose Touch With Your Hunger Cues
It’s always good to eat when you feel hungry. When you do not deprive yourself of food Freuman says you can become less likely to snack throughout the day. There’s nothing wrong with a healthy snack here and there but too much snacking on the wrong stuff can result in unintended weight gain even if you eat healthy dishes at meal time.
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It Will Make You Irritable
Ever heard of the word ‘snarky’? If you haven’t, look it up. This will be you come 2 PM if you haven’t made time for that sandwich.
It Can Create Sleep Problems
Strange but true, messing around with your meals can affect your sleep. If you are starving by the time dinner hits you could be tempted to pack in a huge meal, leaving you bloated and gassy. This can make it difficult to fall to sleep. Ideally, dieticians say you should avoid eating two hours before you go to bed.
It Can Help Prevent Overeating at Dinner
In line with the ideas mentioned in #1, eating a good lunch can help prevent you from overeating at dinner. It can also lower your chances of feeling like you need to load up on high-calorie, high-fat foods. If you are ravished by the time you reach our last meal of the day, the temptation to eat unhealthy foods is higher.
Fill yourself at lunch with lean proteins, legumes, vegetables, fruit and a few carbs. Nuts, quinoa, chickpeas, cheese, avocado, and whole grain bread are all foods that can help provide you with the nutrients you need for a profitable afternoon.
photo credits: EM Karuna/Shutterstock.com
