4 Reasons It's Time To Rethink Lunch

 One of the most counterintuitive ways to undo a productive morning is to try to power through to the afternoon without a break. Research from the University of California-Davis found that when we skip lunch and try to push on with thought-intensive tasks, we actually hinder our performance, since not having lunch can exhaust our cognitive capacity . Think of your growling stomach as a spokesperson for your brain, which badly needs a rest. You won't lose momentum, we promise.

 

 Sad but true: Four out of five American workers eat at their desks. On the one hand, at least they're refueling. But on the other, they're missing out on a scientifically proven, caffeine-free way to recharge. It's as simple as getting outside during a lunch break. Aha! moments, breakthroughs and "why-didn't-I-think-of-that-sooner?" solutions to niggling issues are likely to come when you've left the workplace and decamped to a natural (or even "nature-like") environment, says workplace psychologist Kimberly Elsbach . (Nature is a known mood booster .)

 

 The average American spends $18 a week -- almost $1,000 a year -- on lunch out . Cool (and subsidized!) cafeterias and Wheel of Lunch spinner notwithstanding, if you're looking to save money, you're better off bringing your own lunch and putting the cash toward better-for-you (and often better-tasting) homemade lunches .

 

 If you feel like you're hardwired to crave something sweet after a meal, take heart; it's common . In fact, even health experts do it . Finishing your lunch with, say, a piece of chocolate, as nutritionist Keri Gans does, marks a set "end" to the meal, lets your body know it's done eating and can help you avoid hitting the vending machine for a snack an hour later.