Is skipping lunch a bad idea, even if I had a big breakfast? Katelyn T., Canton, OH

Hi Katelyn!

So glad you asked this really important question! It’s important to always eat lunch. You should never skip meals if you can help it, ESPECIALLY if you are trying to lose weight. I know it may seem like skipping out on food will help you weigh less, but in reality, it won’t. It’s possible that it will make it even harder for you to lose weight in the long run!

Just like the fire in a wood burning stove must be constantly stoked to keep burning, your metabolism needs to be fed with fuel every few hours so it can keep working its hardest to burn the calories you consume. If you don’t eat for a long period of time, you have nothing to burn, so your metabolism starts to slow down.

Eating meals regularly will also help keep your blood sugar and appetite steady, fighting off that pesky hunger that might lead to cravings or overeating later in the day. So even if you had a big breakfast, make sure to eat something balanced and nutritious at lunchtime too to keep that fire burning and those pounds melting off! 🙂