National Make Lunch Count Day

Take Back Your Lunch!

Grab your sandwiches, salads, and sushi rolls, folks—April 13th is National Make Lunch Count Day! This underrated holiday is here to remind us that lunch isn’t just a meal—it’s a midday revival, a sanity break, and an opportunity to eat something that isn’t a sad granola bar while hunched over a keyboard.

It’s time to put down the spreadsheets, back away from the inbox, and embrace the art of lunching with purpose. Whether it’s about upgrading your meal, stepping outside, or sharing a bite with friends, today is about making your lunch matter.

Why Do We Celebrate National Make Lunch Count Day?

National Make Lunch Count Day was born out of necessity—a rebellion against the half-eaten desk sandwiches, sad vending machine snacks, and the illusion that working through lunch makes us more productive. It doesn’t. In fact, skipping lunch or eating while multitasking can leave you feeling sluggish, cranky, and one minor inconvenience away from flipping your entire desk.

🔹 Lunch is the MVP of the Workday – It’s the meal that refuels the body and reboots the brain after hours of morning toil. A good lunch boosts creativity, prevents that 3 PM energy crash, and saves you from the shame of eating six consecutive packs of office peanuts out of desperation.
🔹 Workplaces are Stealing Our Lunch Breaks – Thanks to always-on culture, lunch has become just another task we multitask—a sad side quest to answering emails. This holiday says NOPE. It’s a reminder that stepping away for a real break can actually make you more productive, not less.
🔹 Mindful Eating is a Game Changer – Studies show that eating mindfully (aka not inhaling your food while staring at your phone) improves digestion, nutrient absorption, and keeps you from eating an entire family-sized bag of chips at 4 PM because “you forgot to have lunch.”

In short, this isn’t just about eating—it’s about reclaiming joy, health, and sanity, one well-earned lunch break at a time.

The Unexpected History of the Midday Meal

Lunch hasn’t always been the unsung hero of meals. In fact, for centuries, it barely existed.

🥖 In the Middle Ages, lunch wasn’t a thing – People typically ate two meals a day—breakfast and dinner—because, apparently, no one thought hunger was a valid concern. Farmers and laborers would grab a quick bite in the middle of the day, but it was hardly a meal worth celebrating.
🍽️ The Rise of the Working-Class Lunch – By the 18th and 19th centuries, lunch became a social necessity for the upper class, but for workers, it was still a grab-and-go affair. This was the era of "ploughman’s lunches" (bread, cheese, and ale) and hurried midday meals eaten in factory breakrooms or on street corners.
🕰️ Lunch Gets Fancy – In the early 20th century, urbanization and changing work schedules transformed lunch into something hot, structured, and socially acceptable. This led to the birth of the power lunch, the three-martini lunch (shoutout to Mad Men), and eventually… the sad desk lunch.
💻 The Lunch Break Crisis – Fast forward to today, and lunch is under attack! Studies show that 62% of professionals regularly eat lunch at their desks, while 1 in 5 people don’t take a lunch break at all. This is why National Make Lunch Count Day exists—to remind us that lunch deserves better.

How to Celebrate?

Taking back your lunch break isn’t just about eating—it’s about eating well and with purpose. So, how do you make your midday meal count?

🥪 Leave the Desk Behind – First rule of National Make Lunch Count Day: NO DESK LUNCHES. Find a park, a café, a breakroom—anywhere that doesn’t involve spreadsheets. Your brain (and your digestive system) will thank you.
🌮 Upgrade Your Meal – PB&J? Not today. Treat yourself to something special—a new restaurant, a gourmet sandwich, a fancy salad that costs more than your coffee addiction. Give your lunch the respect it deserves.
👯‍♂️ Make It Social – Lunch is better with company. Grab your coworkers, call a friend, or FaceTime your mom. Studies show that social meals reduce stress and boost happiness. (Plus, it’s a great excuse to gossip about Karen in Accounting.)
🍰 Slow Down & Enjoy It – No rushed bites. No mindless munching. No shoveling food like you’re in an eating competition. Savor each bite, chew slowly, and maybe even say yes to dessert—because you’re worth it.
📴 Unplug While You Eat – Put the phone away. No scrolling. No email-checking. No reading about world events that will ruin your appetite. Just you, your meal, and the simple joy of not being bombarded by notifications.
🏆 Turn Lunch Into an Event – Make it a thing! Organize a themed lunch day at the office, hold a “best homemade lunch” competition, or commit to a daily lunchtime walk. The possibilities are endless.

Why It’s Seriously Good for You 🏆

Making lunch a priority isn’t just enjoyable—it’s scientifically proven to be good for your health and productivity.

✔ Taking a real break reduces stress and improves focus for the rest of the day.
✔ Mindful eating enhances digestion and helps with portion control.
✔ A balanced lunch prevents the dreaded afternoon slump, so you’re not asleep at your desk by 3 PM.
✔ Social lunches build relationships and boost mood, which means fewer passive-aggressive emails in the afternoon.

This National Make Lunch Count Day, take a stand. Step away from the keyboard, eat something amazing, and reclaim your lunch break like the midday hero you are.

Whether you’re picnicking in the park, savoring sushi, or gathering your coworkers for an epic lunch outing, make it count. Because in a world of deadlines and diet fads, a good lunch might just be the highlight of your day.

And if anyone tries to schedule a meeting at noon? Hit them with the ultimate power move: "Sorry, I have a very important appointment with my sandwich."

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