Oh the good 'ol days when lunchtime was for nothing but eating, visiting with friends, and relaxing. When is the last time you did nothing but eat on your lunch break? We're a society of stressed-out, always-busy, multi-tasking maniacs most of the time, which of course sets us up for snarfing down fattening convenience foods from fast food joints and vending machines in an effort to save time. Not good. Not good at all.

Life is about more than just how much you accomplish each day and although being as productive as possible is not a bad thing, there's definitely something to be said for slowing down to smell the roses. Here's some good advice on how to make the most of your lunch break:

Get outside Depending on where you work, you're probably cooped up indoors in the same place for most of the day, so get outside and breath some fresh air to recharge your body and your mind.


Do some daydreaming Daydreaming serves two purposes: it can help you escape the stresses of life (even if just for a few minutes), plus it's great for getting your creative juices flowing before you head back to work.

Take a power nap A little shut-eye for about 15-20 minutes can give you renewed energy for the second half of your day and help alleviate stress by breaking the tension and helping you relax.

Pack a frozen dinner, for lunch Frozen meals have come a long way, and today there are all kinds of healthy options out there that are perfect for microwaving at work.

Go back to the days of the lunch sack, but make it better Commit to packing your lunch at least two to three days a week, work on finding healthy options you enjoy (like raw veggies, tuna or chicken salad on whole wheat bread, or turkey in a tortilla roll-up), and make sure you keep your pantry stocked with what you need to make them.

Get away from your desk No matter how busy you think you are, use your lunch time to get up and away from your work area for at least 10 or 15 minutes. You'll feel more refreshed and relaxed.

If you must go fast food, go fast food wisely Just because you're trying to be healthier doesn't mean you can never have fast food, you just have to choose it wisely. Go for broiled or grilled chicken sandwiches without the sauce, or a salad with dressing on the side.

For a healthier lunch, eat a healthier breakfast Start your day out right and it will be so much easier to keep the trend going all day long.

Combine running errands with exercising If you can, walk to your errand destinations (the bank, store, etc), park as far out in the parking lot as possible, take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc.

Walk to lunch Just like trying to fit in a little exercise while you run errands, you can do the same thing for eating lunch -- walk to the deli instead of driving, take the stairs down from the office instead of the elevator, or take your sack lunch and walk out to a quiet place in the park to eat it.

Start a "lunch bunch" group Gather a group of healthy-minded friends and co-workers and eat your lunches together -- you can support each other and offer inspiration.

Eat healthy not only for your health, but for your work performance too Eating healthier will not only do wonders for your body, but also for your mind -- which in turn will help you feel more motivated, inspired, and productive at work.