Over Half Of American Workers Skip Lunch For Productivity, But Say Its Hurting Their Health

For many working Americans, lunchtime is no longer a break — its a casualty of the daily grind.

A new survey of 2,000 employed U.S. adults — including 1,000 working parents of school-aged children — found that 55% skip lunch on busy days to be more productive. The survey, commissioned by Buddig and conducted by Talker Research, reveals how work pressure, parenting demands and screen time are reshaping Americans’ eating habits.

On average, respondents said they forget to eat lunch two days a week. More than four in 10 workers (43%) rely on reminders to eat at all, with women significantly more likely than men (63% vs. 48%) to need those prompts. Even among those who do eat lunch, a third (33%) usually do so at their desk or workstation, with remote employees (41%) being the most likely to do so, compared to hybrid (38%) and in-person workers (28%).

Although 63% of respondents say they eat a full, substantial lunch most days, 37% admitted to either grazing on snacks or eating smaller meals throughout the day instead. Another 13% said they regularly eat lunch while continuing to work, without taking a break from their tasks.

On average, lunch takes place at 12:48 p.m., and lasts just 35 minutes. Hybrid workers were most likely to take real breaks: 94% said they typically pause work to eat, compared to 87% of in-person workers and just 85% of remote workers. Men (91%) were also more likely than women (85%) to take time to stop and eat.

When workers do step away from their jobs for lunch, many dont fully unplug. Forty-three percent said they multitask during their lunch break — with women more likely than men to do so (51% vs. 33%). Common lunchtime activities include checking social media (70%), texting (64%) and making phone calls (55%).

Yet most recognize that time off the clock is essential. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed said that taking a screen-free lunch break is good for their health.

“While it can be tempting to power through your workday and skip taking a lunch, its important to give yourself a break and eat a full, substantial meal,” said Amy Krider, senior brand manager at Buddig. “Not only do we need all the energy we can get from a filling meal to do our best work, we also need little breaks from our screens and tasks during the day as well for our health and wellness.”

The poll also explored what Americans and their kids are actually eating. While 62% of workers typically bring lunch from home, 33% buy it and 5% get it provided by their employer. Sandwiches reign supreme: 75% said sandwiches are their go-to meal, and 70% of parents said their children also consider sandwiches a lunchtime favorite.

Workers top three lunch staples were sandwiches (64%), salads (45%) and hamburgers (33%). For kids, the most common options were sandwiches (58%), pre-made meal kits (36%) and pizza (30%).

Parents reported feeling more confident in the quality of their childrens meals than their own. While 83% said their kids eat healthy lunches, only 74% said the same for themselves. Hybrid workers reported the healthiest lunches (79%), compared to remote (71%) and in-person employees (65%). Workers whose lunches are provided by their employers also reported better quality meals (75%) than those who bring lunch from home (72%) or buy lunch (62%).

“Busy work schedules mean that many dont have time to pack healthy, protein-filled lunches,” said Krider. “And working parents have the added struggle of making sure their kiddos get nutritious, filling meals while at school. That’s where the classic sandwich can come in handy. Protein-filled and versatile, its included among respondents’ favorite lunch meals for a reason.”