National Make Lunch Count Day
Taking a lunch break can help increase productivity, creativity, and mental well-being — step away from work, enjoy your meal, and recharge!
Encourage workplace wellness and employee engagement by promoting intentional lunch breaks as a productivity and mental health reset—driving foot traffic to restaurants, cafés, and food retailers.
- Share 5-minute lunch break ideas that boost afternoon focus and energy
- Partner with local restaurants to offer 'Make Lunch Count' specials for office groups
- Create employee wellness content around the mental health benefits of unplugging during lunch
- Highlight healthy meal prep and portable lunch solutions for busy professionals
In today’s fast-paced world, lunch is often treated as something quick or secondary. In the past, people commonly took longer breaks to relax and enjoy a proper meal. Today, lunch is frequently rushed, skipped, or eaten while working.
Several factors have contributed to this shift: busy schedules, long commutes, and constant digital connectivity. Even when a lunch break exists, it may be filled with multitasking. This can lead to fatigue, reduced focus, and energy dips later in the day.
National Make Lunch Count Day promotes a simple but important idea: lunch is more than just fuel—it is a reset. A proper break can improve focus, reduce stress, and support healthier eating habits.
There is also a social aspect. Lunch has traditionally been a time for connection, whether among coworkers, friends, or family. When it becomes a solitary, rushed activity, that sense of connection can be lost. The day encourages people to rediscover that balance.
The observance began in 2016, introduced by the American restaurant chain TGI Fridays. Its purpose was to highlight the importance of using lunchtime to support both personal well-being and work-life balance.
As a workplace-focused day, it aligns with broader discussions about sustainable productivity. It does not require a specific routine or a long break. Instead, it encourages intentional choices: eating a real meal, stepping away when possible, and treating lunch as a meaningful time.
Ultimately, “making lunch count” looks different for everyone. It might mean a nutritious meal, a quiet moment, a walk, or a social break. The shared idea is simple: when lunch is treated with care, the rest of the day often improves.
Go Out for Lunch
The main goal of this day is to fully enjoy a proper lunch break. If you like spending time with colleagues, invite someone to join you and step outside the workplace. A change of environment can help your mind disconnect from tasks and return with better focus. Going out does not have to be time-consuming or formal. The idea is simply to separate lunch from your work setting. This might include: Walking to a nearby café and eating there instead of returning to your desk.Picking up something quick and enjoying it in a park, courtyard, or even your car with your phone turned off.Trying a new place and treating it like a small break rather than a routine errand. A common mistake is turning lunch into another rushed activity. This day encourages slowing down: choose a real meal, sit comfortably, and pay attention to what you are eating. Even small habits, like drinking water first or taking a few deep breaths, can help your body shift into a more relaxed state. If you are with coworkers, lunch can also be a great way to connect. Conversations often feel easier away from screens. To keep things enjoyable, agree to keep work talk minimal. If it comes up, gently shift the topic to hobbies, plans, or anything that helps people unwind.
Pack a Healthy Lunch
If going out is not possible, preparing a healthy lunch in advance is a great alternative. Even with a short break, a well-planned meal can turn lunch into something enjoyable rather than rushed. Packing your own lunch has several benefits: it reduces decision fatigue, supports balanced nutrition, and helps create a calm, structured break. The key is to prepare something that feels complete, not just convenient. A good lunch often includes: Protein for fullness (chicken, beans, tofu, eggs, tuna, Greek yogurt).Fiber-rich carbs for steady energy (whole grains, quinoa, brown rice, oats, legumes).Fruits and vegetables for nutrients and freshness (salads, roasted veggies, cut fruit).Healthy fats for flavor and satisfaction (avocado, nuts, olive oil, hummus). To make things easier, rely on simple “templates” instead of starting from scratch each day. For example: A grain bowl with vegetables, protein, and dressing.A filling salad with a mix of textures and something warm.A sandwich or wrap with fruit and a side like yogurt or nuts.Leftovers prepared in larger portions for the next day. Texture and freshness matter. If food becomes soggy or bland, it is less appealing. Keep dressings separate, use reliable containers, and include something crisp for balance. After eating, use the remaining time to reset. You might try: A short walk.Gentle stretching, especially if you sit most of the day.Reading, journaling, or listening to something relaxing.A brief breathing or mindfulness exercise. The goal is not to turn lunch into another task, but to protect it as a genuine break that supports the rest of your day.
Get the Whole Office Involved
Another way to celebrate is to include your workplace. With a bit of planning, teams can turn lunch into a shared experience. If possible, management might even support the idea by organizing or covering a group meal. A collective lunch can change workplace habits. Many people skip breaks because they feel expected to stay available. A shared lunch helps normalize stepping away and shows that well-being matters. There are many flexible ways to involve everyone: Organize a lunch swap where people bring and share dishes.Plan a potluck with clearly labeled ingredients.Create a themed lunch, such as tacos, salads, or sandwiches.Place a group order from a local restaurant.Encourage a screen-free lunch where people avoid devices. Leaders can support this by avoiding meetings during lunch and taking breaks themselves. Even a simple message encouraging people to pause can make a difference. For remote or hybrid teams, participation is still possible. Options include: A casual video lunch.Independent lunches followed by a short social check-in.Sharing meals, recipes, or food experiences online. This day can also open conversations about boundaries. For example, teams might agree that messages sent during lunch do not require immediate replies unless urgent. This helps everyone feel more comfortable taking a proper break. National Make Lunch Count Day TimelineLate Middle Ages (14th–15th centuries)From Two Meals to a Midday BiteIn much of Europe, people typically ate two main meals, with a light midday snack for workers beginning to emerge as days became more structured around wage labor and market hours. 1810s“Luncheon” Enters Everyday EnglishThe word “luncheon” gained popularity in English to describe a light midday meal, especially among the upper and middle classes, reflecting changing social schedules and longer mornings away from home. Mid-19th CenturyRise of “Lunch” and Urban Workday MealsAs industrialization concentrates workers in cities, a shorter, practical midday meal known as “lunch” becomes common, replacing the more leisurely “dinner” that had previously been eaten in the middle of the day. 1867First U.S. Federal Labor Law Mentions Meal BreaksThe Eight-Hour Law of 1867, covering federal laborers, helps formalize the idea of a defined workday, creating space for standardized rest and meal periods that would shape how and when workers took lunch. 1894Pullman Strike Highlights Long Hours and Meager BreaksThe nationwide Pullman Strike drew attention to industrial working conditions, including long hours with inadequate time for meals, fueling broader labor movements that ultimately pushed for more humane workdays and lunch breaks. [1]1938Fair Labor Standards Act Reshapes the WorkdayThe U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act establishes a federal minimum wage and overtime rules, standardizing the length and structure of the workday and indirectly reinforcing the midday lunch break as a fixed part of daily labor routines. [1]1950s–1960sThe Business Lunch Becomes a Cultural InstitutionPostwar economic growth and expanding white-collar work helped turn the “business lunch” at restaurants into a staple of corporate culture, blending mid-day eating with networking, negotiations, and relationship building.
From Two Meals to a Midday Bite
In much of Europe, people typically ate two main meals, with a light midday snack for workers beginning to emerge as days became more structured around wage labor and market hours.
“Luncheon” Enters Everyday English
The word “luncheon” gained popularity in English to describe a light midday meal, especially among the upper and middle classes, reflecting changing social schedules and longer mornings away from home.
Rise of “Lunch” and Urban Workday Meals
As industrialization concentrates workers in cities, a shorter, practical midday meal known as “lunch” becomes common, replacing the more leisurely “dinner” that had previously been eaten in the middle of the day.
First U.S. Federal Labor Law Mentions Meal Breaks
The Eight-Hour Law of 1867, covering federal laborers, helps formalize the idea of a defined workday, creating space for standardized rest and meal periods that would shape how and when workers took lunch.
Pullman Strike Highlights Long Hours and Meager Breaks
The nationwide Pullman Strike drew attention to industrial working conditions, including long hours with inadequate time for meals, fueling broader labor movements that ultimately pushed for more humane workdays and lunch breaks. [1]
Fair Labor Standards Act Reshapes the Workday
The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act establishes a federal minimum wage and overtime rules, standardizing the length and structure of the workday and indirectly reinforcing the midday lunch break as a fixed part of daily labor routines. [1]
The Business Lunch Becomes a Cultural Institution
Postwar economic growth and expanding white-collar work helped turn the “business lunch” at restaurants into a staple of corporate culture, blending mid-day eating with networking, negotiations, and relationship building.