A recent survey indicates that more than half of employed Americans are skipping lunch to enhance their productivity. The poll, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Buddig, surveyed 2,000 working individuals, including 1,000 parents of school-aged children, revealing that approximately 55% choose to forgo their lunch on particularly busy days.
Respondents reported that, on average, they forget to eat lunch two days each work week. Alarmingly, 43% of workers rely on reminders to ensure they eat, with women significantly more likely than men to need such prompts (63% vs. 48%). Although the survey noted that 63% of working Americans typically enjoy a full meal for lunch, a substantial 37% admitted to consuming lighter snacks or grazing throughout the day instead of having a proper meal.
Lunch Break Patterns and Trends
The survey also uncovered that over one in ten respondents (13%) regularly eat lunch while working, rather than taking a proper break. Differences in lunch habits emerged between genders and work arrangements. Men (91%) are more likely than women (85%) to pause their work for lunch, and hybrid workers (94%) are more likely than their remote (85%) and in-person (87%) counterparts to take a genuine lunch break.
A significant number of employed Americans, about 33%, typically consume their midday meal at their desks, with remote workers (41%) leading this trend compared to hybrid (38%) and in-person employees (28%). Most workers begin their lunch around 12:48 p.m., but the average lunch duration is only 35 minutes.
Among those who do step away from their desks, many (43%) engage in multitasking during their lunch breaks. Women are more likely than men to multitask while eating (51% vs. 33%). Common activities during lunch breaks include checking social media (70%), texting (64%), and making phone calls (55%). Despite this, a majority of respondents (84%) agreed that taking offline lunch breaks, free from screens and technology, is beneficial for their health.
Health and Lunch Choices
On a typical workday, 62% of employed Americans usually bring lunch from home, while 33% purchase their meal, and 5% have meals provided by their employer. Among their favorite lunch options, sandwiches are favored by 75% of workers, with 70% of those with school-aged children reporting that their kids also enjoy sandwiches.
When examining lunch preferences, working Americans identified sandwiches (64%), salads (45%), and hamburgers (33%) as their most common choices. Parents noted that their children are likely to eat sandwiches (58%), pre-made meal kits (36%), and pizza (30%). However, the survey highlighted a disparity in meal quality; while 83% of parents believe their children’s lunches are healthy, only 74% felt the same about their own meals.
Interestingly, hybrid workers reported the healthiest lunch habits, with 79% indicating they consume nutritious meals, compared to 71% of remote workers and 65% of in-person employees. Those whose lunches are catered by their employers also reported healthier eating habits (75%) compared to those who prepare homemade lunches (72%) or buy lunch (62%).
Amy Krider, senior brand manager at Buddig, emphasized the importance of taking time to eat a full, substantial meal. “Busy work schedules mean that many don’t have time to pack healthy, protein-filled lunches,” she stated. “That’s where the classic sandwich can come in handy. Protein-filled and versatile, it’s included among respondents’ favorite lunch meals for a reason.”
This survey, conducted online by Talker Research from July 15 to July 18, 2025, sheds light on the lunch habits of employed Americans and highlights the need for better work-life balance to ensure health and productivity.