6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Skip Lunch

I am sure you have heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—but lunch should have an important part in your daily meal plan as well. Not only can it affect productivity and energy, but also provides essential nutrients for a healthy lifestyle.

1. Energy:

You may need coffee to perk up in the morning, but many people feel a decrease in energy in the afternoon too because blood sugar tends to drop. Eating a nourishing lunch can help boost blood sugar, and in turn, give you a lift in energy to power through the rest of the day.

2. Overeating At Dinner:

You may assume that by skipping lunch you are saving calories, but this isn’t necessarily true. If you skip lunch, it makes it very easy to overeat at dinner. And, because you are so hungry, you may gravitate towards the more unhealthy foods and fill up on empty calories. If you eat a nourishing lunch, you will be more likely to enjoy a more balanced dinner.

3. Mood

Hunger can have a negative effect on mood. This is also likely due to a drop in blood sugar, which can cause irritability in addition to fatigue. Hunger can also cause headaches and a general unwell feeling, which can greatly impact mood.

4. Productivity:

The common theme here seems to be blood sugar. When blood sugar drops, it also makes it tough to be productive. It is hard to concentrate, and you may start to feel like rushing through tasks and not giving them your full attention.

5. Overall Nutrition:

Skipping meals means you may be missing out on essential nutrition. Eating a balanced lunch of proteins, fibers and fruits/vegetables ensure that your body is getting everything that it needs on a consistent basis.

6. Metabolism:

Skipping meals on a regular basis can actually slow your metabolism. When your metabolism slows, you are essentially burning fewer calories overall. So really, skipping a meal on purpose for losing weight or eating fewer calories may not pay off in the end.

The key to eating a nourishing lunch every day is to have a plan. Even if you don’t plan on packing a homemade lunch, you can take a glance at the menu of places you will be eating lunch and get an idea of what you want to order.

(Talk to your doctor and/or healthcare professional before you start any type of new eating regimen or diet programs. The content and information on this webpage are for informational use only and should be carefully considered by the user.)