Healthy Hoopie Habits - Day 11: Eat Lunch

Yes, Really—Eat Lunch

This one might sound a little silly at first.
Like… “Eat lunch? That’s the habit?”
But if you're anything like me, this one is a game-changer.

I’ve always been great at eating breakfast. I start the day strong with a solid, balanced meal. But once I got into my workflow, lunch would just slip. Not because I was skipping it on purpose—it just kind of got pushed off the radar. I’d be deep into work and then suddenly, it’s mid-afternoon and I hadn’t eaten anything substantial.

Snacks Are Not a Meal

I wasn’t going without food completely. I’d grab quick things—fruit, jerky, protein bars, protein shakes. All technically healthy, but not a full, balanced meal. Not enough to really refuel.

I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to slow down. But that was costing me later in the day. By 2 or 3 p.m., I’d hit a wall feeling tired, foggy, and distracted.

The Fix: Meal Prep + Scheduled Time

The first step was simple: meal prep. Every Sunday, I take time to prep real lunches for the week, stored in glass containers, ready to heat and eat.

It takes me zero brain power during the week. I don’t have to think about it. I just grab, heat, and go.

But the second piece is what really made it stick: I block off lunch in my schedule. I eat at noon—sometimes at my desk while I work, sometimes with a book or a short break away from the screen.

A Midday Reset That Actually Works

Since making lunch a daily non-negotiable, that afternoon slump has almost completely disappeared. I feel more focused, more clear-headed, and less reliant on caffeine to get me through the back half of the day.

Sure, if I slept terribly, I still might feel a little off. But more often than not, eating a proper lunch gives me steady energy and a sharper brain for the rest of the afternoon.

Fuel Matters—Especially If You Train

If you’re active, you cannot afford to skip lunch. Your body needs that fuel to repair, recover, and perform. And no matter how many protein bars you eat, they won’t replace a real, balanced meal.

Undereating doesn’t align with excellence. So if you’ve been snacking your way through the day or running on coffee until dinner, here’s your challenge:

Prep a real lunch.
Make it balanced.
Make it simple.
And show up for your body in the middle of the day the same way you do in the morning.