Hi there, Mamas! Tomorrow is a pretty cool day – and not just because it’s Friday the 13th. It’s National Make Lunch Count Day! It’s all about getting up AWAY from your desk to enjoy a nice meal. Either at a restaurant, in the lunch room, or even outside.
This day was apparently created by TGI Friday’s to encourage people to lunch away from their desks. (Presumably to eat at a TGI Friday’s…) But no matter the reason for its creation, eating 
away from your desk has many benefits.
Benefits of an Actual Lunch Break
- Socialization: When we’re buried in work at our desks, it makes it hard to socialize with our coworkers or form new business relationships. The Mediterranean Diet, which has been voted time and time again as one of the healthiest eating patterns, includes socialization at the base of their “food pyramid.” It’s that important.
- Mindful eating: Whether we’re working on our next big project or scrolling through social media, when screens are involved, it takes the focus away from our internal cues. That can cause us to eat more than we need because our body doesn’t register that we’ve actually been eating.
- Increase activity: It uses a bit more energy when we walk to the break room or to our car, rather than bending over to open our lunch box. Better yet? Grab a coworker to walk the parking lot with you before or after you dine.
- Improve productivity: People who take breaks are actually more productive than those who don’t.
- Improve nutrition: Regular meals are a great way to make sure you’re getting all of those important nutrients you need everyday. Aim for balanced meals at lunch (at least three food groups). This helps you to feel fuller longer and to get a wider variety of macro- and micronutrients.
Tell me, Mamas: How many of you regularly lunch away from your desks? Do you bring your lunch or order out? Dine alone or with others?
National Make Lunch Count Day!