Lunch is an important meal in your day as is eating a healthy breakfast in the morning. A common belief is that eating a big breakfast means that it’s okay to skip lunch. Chances are when skipping lunch you will develop a hunger during the day that will lead to snacking on unhealthy foods or eat too much at dinner time. Often times when skipping lunch your body may become depleted of nutrients that are needed for you to remain alert. Lunch time may provide a two-fold purpose, the fulfillment of knowing that you eating healthy food and the fact that you are giving your body and mind a chance to rest for a short time, helping you to remain alert for the balance of the afternoon. There are ways in which you can be certain that your lunch is healthy, regardless of daily activities or situation.
If you are away from your home at lunchtime, rather than going to a fast restaurant, carry a bag lunch prepared at home, this can save you time and money. When you have prepared your lunch from the ingredients that you have purchased from your local grocery store, this will ensure you of a more nutritious and tastier lunch. If lack of time in the morning does permit you to pack a lunch, simply pack it the night before.
Frozen diet meals usually low in fat and high in nutrition available in several lunch size varieties can purchased at your local grocery store. These meals are for you to have a different lunch every day of the year. This choice is usually more expensive than making and packing your own lunch, but a good choice if time does not permit you to prepare a bag lunch. To determine the best frozen healthy diet meals, look closely at the nutrition facts and ingredients labeled on the outside of the package.
Also available are many varieties of non-perishable healthy lunch meals, such as microwaveable, water added soups, pretzels, crackers with peanut butter, cereal bars, or instant oatmeal, and also healthy choices of beverage for lunch time that can be kept at your desk or in the lunch room refrigerator.
If you forced to eat out, make healthy food choices that include light meals, such as wraps, sandwiches with whole grain or multi-grain bread and light on the spreads, salads with light dressing, and fruit. By all means, avoid fast food, pizza, and heavy meals, like pasta; it may be okay if you plan to be physically active during the afternoon.
