Ananya Mayekar ’28
EE Staff Writer
In the US, the words lunch and dinner are two separate meal times, but in other countries, this is not the case! Some countries call lunch as “dinner” to define a noontime meal, which is different to how the community says it here.
It is believed that people who eat a lot of food do not end up living a long life, which is not right. You are still able to eat a lot of food, mainly healthy, and balance it out with sweet foods you crave once in a while. The key term of healthy meals in a healthy lifestyle is defined as balance. There are many benefits of eating lunch, such as providing energy throughout the entire day and boosting your metabolism/mental health. However, this will only be the case if your lunch is considered as healthy. There are many components to breaking down how to pack the best lunch, which is why I will help you!
Your lunch is supposed to be very filling and nutritious, which is why fruits and vegetables are needed to give you carbohydrates to provide energy for you throughout the entire day. Foods that are made of whole grains are also necessary since they consist of fiber, which is helpful for reducing health problems, maintains your weight, and fills you up for the whole day.
Healthy fats are provided in lunch to make it nutritious, which is why it goes a long way in your life. Foods such as nuts, seeds, avocados, and olives provide you with fiber and protein in the body to help you be satisfied with your meal for the day. They also will help with your cholesterol levels and give you important nutrients like vitamin A, D, E and K.
Lastly, to support your body’s tissues, protein is needed in the body. It should be added to the last quarter of your lunch, and is found in many foods such as nuts, hummus, lentils, and plant-based cheeses. This component in the body is essential since it will power you throughout the day, increase your metabolism, maintain your digestive system, and balance your glucose levels.
According to research, people who eat a healthy lunch consistently with the main components required live a very long life, also with the benefits of moving the body and having a healthy lifestyle.
You may not think a healthy lunch is necessary for one’s individual wellbeing, but is actually very important for the teenage body since we are all still growing. Healthy lunch supports your developing body, helping you both academically and physically, which is crucial for teens’ health. That is why, the next time you eat your Cheetos and drink your energy drink for lunch, remember the unhealthy components you are adding to your body, and what you actually need for longevity.
Featured Image courtesy: Silver Hills Bakery