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Ask Basya

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Dear Basya,

As Pesach gets closer I am finding myself too busy to eat lunch. I find that I am actually not very hungry at lunch time, probably because I am so busy. Is it ok to skip lunch a few times a week? I am hoping it will give me that extra boost and make me lose weight faster.

Signed, Busy
and Distracted

 

Dear Busy and Distracted,

You are asking a great question, however, the answer is no. I really do not recommend skipping any food on our plan, but I find that skipping breakfast or lunch does the most potential damage. Although we may not feel the hunger immediately, it usually comes back to haunt us later at night in the form of noshing and nibbling. This is not to say that if you eat lunch you will never crave at night, but a proper lunch will fortify you and help you have the self control needed later on in the day.

I like to compare it to missing a night of sleep. If you stay up all night for a wedding, you may not feel the effects right away. However, if the children are extra challenging the next evening, you may be more short tempered with them, even though it is almost a full day later! This is not to say that the children would have otherwise been easy to manage, but with a full night’s rest you are more likely to handle them patiently.

It is the same idea with skipping a meal. Even if we feel ok at the moment, the effects of the skipped food can come back at a later time and make trouble for us. So at this busy time of year (which will only be getting busier!) it is more important than ever to make sure to eat right!

Best,

Basya

Basya Kovacs is a nutrition counselor at nutrition by Tanya and is the manager of the Monsey and Monroe locations, and co-manager of the Upper West Side and Five Towns locations. Nutrition by Tanya offers personalized and practical weight management and nutrition counseling for children, men and women. Nutrition by Tanya has locations in Boro Park Flatbush, Williamsburg, Monsey, Monroe, Crown Height,s, Five Towns and most recently, the Upper West Side. The office can be reached at 844 TANYA DIET.