National Make Lunch Count Day: Transform Your Lunch Break
April 13th marks National Make Lunch Count Day. TGI Fridays launched this day back in 2016 to fight what they called "FOLO" - our growing fear of lunching out. Workers need to take back their midday breaks instead of eating at their desks.
Many feel stuck in endless work cycles without breaks. This hurts both health and job performance. The day encourages physical distance from our computers during lunch. This creates natural shifts in energy throughout workdays.
Key Info: National Make Lunch Count Day
- When is National Make Lunch Count Day?
Occurs annually on the 13th of April - This Year (2026):
Monday, April 13, 2026 (date has passed) -
Future Dates
- Tuesday, April 13, 2027
- Thursday, April 13, 2028
- Friday, April 13, 2029
- Saturday, April 13, 2030
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Additional Details
- Observed By: Working professionals and office employees across corporate environments
- Where Is It Observed: United States
- Primary Theme: Workplace Wellness Through Mindful Lunch Breaks
- Hashtags: #MakeLunchCount #LunchBreak #WorkplaceWellness #MindfulEating #TakeABreak
Quick Links: National Make Lunch Count Day
The Problem National Make Lunch Count Day Addresses
The desk lunch habit shows deeper problems in workplace culture. Many workers eat at their desks every day. These people rarely get true mental breaks. Their afternoon work suffers.
And so TGI Fridays launched the event as a campaign. To back it, they conducted research that revealed that 73% of American professionals eat lunch at their desks at least twice a week, and a third of them do it daily.
Brian Gies, who served as Chief Marketing Officer at TGI Fridays when they started this, spotted the problem early. "With 24/7 connectivity today in corporate America, somehow the lunch hour has been left behind," he said[1].
Take Maya, who works in digital marketing at a mid-sized agency. Her calendar fills with back-to-back meetings while emails pile up. She hasn't left for lunch in months. By 3 PM, she can't focus, and simple tasks take twice as long. What might a real lunch break do for her afternoon work?
When employees take regular breaks, they are more productive. Their blood sugar stays more stable with proper rests. This reset helps them focus without crashing later in the day.
Timeline: The Evolution of Making Lunch Count
Since it began, this day has grown beyond just getting people into restaurants. Today, it tackles real workplace wellness issues across different types of jobs. The timeline shows growing awareness that lunch breaks give our brains the necessary reset time.
TGI Fridays creates National Make Lunch Count Day to address "FOLO"
#MakeLunchCount hashtag spreads on social media
Companies start joining with workplace programs
Research links lunch breaks to better mental health
Virtual lunch gatherings emerge when everyone worked from home
Restaurants develop safe lunch practices after the pandemic
Workplace wellness programs start including lunch break advice
Focus shifts toward fighting workplace loneliness through shared meals
Hybrid work models need new connection strategies
How to Observe National Make Lunch Count Day
Making lunch count needs action from everyone at work. Small changes bring big benefits for staying resilient at work.
Individuals:
- Walk completely away from your desk for at least 30 minutes
- Eat mindfully without checking your phone or email
- Ask a coworker to join you for lunch conversation
- Try something new to eat or pack something special. Be sure to use eco-friendly lunchboxes.
- Post about it with #MakeLunchCount
- Walk a bit after eating to help your brain
Employers:
- Block out the lunch hour—no meetings allowed
- Make nice spaces where people can eat together
- Plan team lunches or learning sessions
- Have bosses set the example by taking breaks
- Share facts about why breaks matter
Restaurants:
- Create quick "lunch express" options for workers
- Offer deals for workplace teams
- Set up comfortable areas for coworkers to talk
- Connect with local businesses for lunch programs
Benefits of Making Lunch Count
Real lunch breaks bring measurable advantages to work. A recent analysis found that taking lunchtime breaks—and truly detaching from work—increases energy levels and cuts exhaustion. One year on, those same habits still boost vigor and deliver lasting energy throughout the day[2].
Brain science reveals lunch breaks turn on what researchers call the Default Mode Network—the part that helps solve problems creatively[3]. This brain state generates more "aha moments" when you return to tasks.
The social side of lunch creates team benefits, too. Groups sharing meals score 34% better at resolving conflicts than those who eat alone[5]. Dr. Kevin Kniffin studied firefighter teams and found that crews eating together performed better in both routine work and emergencies.
Where you eat matters just as much, going outside during lunch helps your afternoon. A study found that walking in nature can boost memory and lower anxiety—so take advantage[4].
National Make Lunch Count Day vs. Similar Observances
This day stands apart from related workplace events. While National Lunch Break Day (held in March) broadly supports taking breaks, Make Lunch Count Day targets desk dining habits and mindful eating. The TGI Fridays initiative focuses on professional settings where lunch disappears under workload pressure.
Take Back the Lunch Break Day happens later in June and centers more on worker rights and company policies. Make Lunch Count emphasizes practical eating habits alongside intentional breaks. This difference creates complementary awareness days rather than competing ones.
Companies planning wellness calendars should understand these distinctions. Each day serves specific purposes within yearly engagement plans. Make Lunch Count provides specific research-backed actions instead of just general awareness.
The April timing makes a perfect mid-second-quarter chance to reinforce good habits started during the new year initiatives.
Making Every Lunch Count
Lunch breaks mean more than just eating time during workdays. These daily pauses build sustainable work patterns that support real mental wellbeing. National Make Lunch Count Day highlights practices worth using year-round.
Organizations that protect lunch periods see employees with better well-being. This change costs nothing but brings significant returns. Better mental health directly leads to less turnover and more engagement.
Share your lunch experiences with #MakeLunchCount to join this growing movement.
Step away from your desk tomorrow. Your afternoon work depends on this small act of workplace self-care. Making lunch count transforms our professional lives—one meaningful break at a time.
Resources:
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Step away from screens during breaks - The Food Pocket Guide research shows this helps afternoon work and cuts down on "FOLO" (that's Fear Of Lunching Out). Pack foods that last in containers - think soups or salads as Anderson House Foods suggests - for energy without the hassle. When teams work hybrid, Laura's Lean Beef studies point to virtual lunch chats as a way to keep team bonds while still getting that midday reset.
Tork and ezCater's Lunch Report found that 30-40 minute breaks make for better afternoons. People feel 39% more focused and 94% happier with their jobs. And get this - the average break has shrunk to 35 minutes. A Compass Group study across countries shows real gains in health and output when companies say "yes" to quality breaks. Teams simply do better when the culture treats lunch as needed, not optional.
Lunch at work reveals deep cultural patterns in both food and social habits. A Swedish study in the *International Journal of Consumer Studies* shows how separate lunch spaces can reinforce cultural gaps. But diverse workplaces become spots where food traditions mix and social orders form. Work noted in the *International Journal of Cross Cultural Management* points out that eating together brings unspoken rules to light - like whether people expect to share food or how much time goes to talking versus eating. These patterns reflect each society's approach to work-life balance and teamwork.
Good lunch policies work when they: 1) Block meeting-free zones during main lunch hours 2) Create spaces meant for social eating 3) Have managers who take breaks themselves 4) Schedule team lunches sometimes 5) Let people choose when to break. The effect? Companies with clear lunch approaches see staff turnover drop by 22%.
Regular lunch breaks cut stress and prevent burnout, based on research from the *European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology*. The numbers tell the story - people who take midday breaks have 62% lower burnout risk according to Slack's 2024 Workforce Index. Tork's research connects these breaks to how satisfied and emotionally stable workers feel. After lunch, they return with more energy and sharper focus.
Sources & References
- [1]
- TGI Fridays. (2016, April 11). TGI Fridays Launches New Lunch Menu and Asks to Make Lunch Count. FSR Magazine.
↩ - [2]
- Sianoja, M., Kinnunen, U., de Bloom, J., Korpela, K., & Geurts, S. (2016). Recovery during Lunch Breaks: Testing Long-Term Relations with Energy Levels at Work. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 1(1).
↩ - [3]
- Raichle, M. E. (2015). The Brain's Default Mode Network. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 38, 433-447.
↩ - [4]
- Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., & Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138(138), 41–50.
↩ - [5]
- Kniffin, K. M., Wansink, B., Devine, C. M., & Sobal, J. (2015). Eating Together at the Firehouse: How Workplace Commensality Relates to the Performance of Firefighters. Human Performance, 28(4), 281-306.
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Barbara is a former journalist who is passionate about translating important causes into engaging narratives. She combines communication expertise with an environmental science background to create accessible, fact-driven content.
