The Best Foods to Eat On Your Lunch Break

Posted on January 31st, 2011 by Julie Rodrigues

Lunch is always a mystery. Choosing what to eat, what one is in the mood for, and the time we have to either prepare and/or enjoy our meal is a daily debate. Workers overlook lunch more often than not. Many Americans either don’t have the time or patience and gulp down whatever is convenient and shuffle back to work. But lunch in other countries is a time to chat, relax, and eat something savory with slow, thoughtful bites. Each morsel is taken into account as family and friends gather for their most important meal.

Perhaps lunch is the root of the weight problem in America. Many argue that dinners should be the smallest meal of the day, and lunch should be when you consume a hearty amount of healthy, stable calories. That makes sense since it’s the middle of the day and your body is running at its optimal speed and needs nourishment. Debating on the healthiest things to eat for lunch? Read on and find out which foods make the cut.

A baked potato. This is something that can easily be prepared the night before. After a few seconds in the microwave, a baked potato provides iron, potassium, calcium, fiber, and so much more. It is a stable carbohydrate, making you feel fuller for longer. Don’t go crazy with butter and cheese on your baked potato. This simply defeats the purpose of eating it. Just add a dab of sour cream and some salt and pepper. Certain fast food chains have baked potatoes on their menus so you don’t have to run away from them all together. Other complex carbohydrates include whole wheat bread and pasta, vegetables, and brown rice.

Baked chicken breast. This is an obvious dieter’s choice, but this protein is clearly a great lunch option. It is a stable lean protein that is very low in fat and provides a full feeling and nutrients that will keep you alert for the second half of the day. Children and adults should try to consume at minimum of 30 grams of protein a day for healthy anabolic rates. A medium sized chicken breast has 45 grams of protein. Meats are the best sources for protein, and chicken is a great option because of the low fat content.

Peanut butter. Incorporating low sodium, non-hydrogenated, natural peanut butter into lunch supplies it with adequate amounts of protein and necessary fats. Bring an apple and some peanut butter and have a tasty, low-calorie after lunch dessert.

Staying nourished during work hours is important for your productivity and for the betterment of your company. These top three foods will keep you alert and satisfied, as opposed to rich, fatty, and/or fried foods. Getting sufficient amounts of protein and complex carbohydrates is essential for every task in life. For instance if you are relocating, make sure that you stay hydrated and have your meals, even if it implies grabbing a PB&J sandwich. Planing a move comes with lots of responsibilities and usually puts you under stress while you worry about moving boxes and other items into homes or storage units and making sure that the movers are on time. if this is the case, then you need a hearty, healthy, and warm meal. So don’t overlook your lunch, it is worth taking the time out.

Related Articles:

1. The Best Foods to Eat on Your Lunch Break: The Big Dilemma
2. Need Energy on Moving Day? Eat the Right Breakfast Foods for a Nutritional, Invigorating Boost
3. The Optimal Post-Surgery Diet: The Best Foods to Eat During Recovery

Tags: healthy lunch, importance of lunch, staying healthy

This entry was posted on Monday, January 31st, 2011 at 10:29 am and is filed under Learning Center. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.