Lunch or not to lunch

I have this habit of not eating lunch. That scares people sometimes. Surprising, but I just don't. I eat a hearty breakfast (no. no… no bacon and eggs, but oat porridge, granola, or etc.) and a very good dinner. For years I have lived like this and feel great. I still feel great, but people keep saying that this is not good. I was wondering if that is true. Doctors told me to stick to 3 meals and 2 snacks, but that’s just way too much for me.

Time to time, I have this for lunch – as in the picture. Rye bread, avocado and something in season. When there’s nothing in season and snow is the only option to add to the bread and avocado, I use canned goods (again, as in the picture – artichokes). That’s it. But that is maybe once a week. And I still feel great.

But then, as a lay on my stomach on the hot-as-a-pan beach in Tuscany, I started to read Tim Spector’s book The Diet Myth. A fantastic book that should be read by everyone who eats – so, everyone – and boom! There it was: the theory that not eating for some bodies is great. Some can fast for 1 to 2 days. Some, like me, faint while doing that, and some like to fast for many hours and that, again in some bodies, is actually very helpful for gut bacteria. Believe me, that man knows what he's talking about as he has made tons of twin studies around the world on gut differences.

So yes, time to time, I have my lunch in as a nicely shaped half-moon, topped with something that my body desires. But most of the time, I do not. Traveling with people who eat lunch is a challenge, as I just feel heavy, like a water filled balloon afterwards. But after eating the same amount in the evening (that goes for wine, too), I just feel fantastic and ready to enjoy life.

What am I saying with this? Sometimes, when everyone knows everything, but actually knows nothing, it is very wise to listen to your body. To live with its pace. The same is for some people who think sweets are so boring: they could work in a chocolate factory and be unhappy about that, but for some – like me – this is something hard to resist. Because again, gut microbes and genetics talk. So, before changing your way of eating just because a lady says so, think and listen. Of course, I am not talking about situations where a diet or strict healing processes are needed.

Recipe and pictures: Signe Meirane
Camera: Sony Alpha 7s