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We are told breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and dinner the most enjoyable. It is an occasion to socialize and spend time with the family. But what about lunch?
我們被教導說早餐是一天中最重要的一餐，而晚餐則是最愉快的一餐，它是一次進行社交聯誼或與家人歡聚的良機。但是午餐呢？
In today's fast-paced society, few people take time to enjoy this midday meal. Most of us just rush right through it.
在當今快節奏的社會中，很少有人花時間去享受午餐。我們中的大多數人只是湊合一下而已。
We grab a quick salad, or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers. Sometimes, if there is a deadline around the corner, we just skip lunch.
我們隨便吃幾口速食沙拉，或是買個三明治，然后在電腦前解決掉。有時，一旦工作大限將至，我們甚至都顧不上吃午飯。
The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either. We are constantly distracted by e-mail, social media, and 24-hour news.
科技的發展也沒有對我們的飲食習慣起到什么好作用。我們不斷被電子郵件、社交媒體和24小時新聞所煩擾。
Even when we do sit down for lunch, we are more connected to our hand-held electronic devices than ourselves.
甚至當坐下來吃午飯時，我們也無暇顧及自身，而是將更多的精力花在手持電子設備上了。
Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems, and many developed countries have put in place labor laws specifically regarding the lunch break. These regulations give employees the right to take a break during a long work shift, but it's up to them whether they do so or not.
超長的工作時間能夠引發各種健康問題，許多發達國家已經實施具體保障員工午休時間的勞動法規。盡管這些法規賦予員工們在長時間工作間隙休息的權利，但是否選擇享用這樣的權利還要看員工個人。
Frank Partnoy, a former Wall Street trader, says that employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch. This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both individuals and society.
曾在華爾街擔任操盤手的弗蘭克•帕特諾伊說，老板們應該鼓勵員工抽出時間享用午餐。因為較長的午休時間對于員工個人和整個社會來說可謂益處多多。
Writing in The Guardian, Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective. A break from work allows us to think strategically and outside the box. It also puts our daily tasks into a broader context.
帕特諾伊在《衛報》上寫道，午休的一個顯而易見的好處是人們可以慢下來，獲得一些新想法。工作之余的休息可以讓我們打破常規、打開戰略性思維；同時還可以將我們的日常工作納入到更為開放的環境中。
What we eat at lunch is also important. In Partnoy's opinion, a fast food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all. And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food. Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think.
午餐吃什么也同樣重要。帕特諾伊認為，午餐吃快餐比什么都不吃更有害。這不僅僅是卡路里和垃圾食品的事。最新研究表明，快餐對我們的思考方式也存在不良影響。
Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada have shown that merely being exposed to a fast food logo speeds up our reactions.
加拿大多倫多大學研究人員已經證明，僅僅看到快餐店標志，就足以加快我們的的反應。
However, if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues, we are more likely to slow down, something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and over-packed fast food chain.
而如果我們坐在一間真正的餐廳里，與同事們悠閑地聊天，我們更容易放松下來。這在喧鬧擁擠的快餐連鎖店里是無法做到的。
A long lunch also benefits single people, as it frees up time for them to go on a date.
一份悠長的午餐對于單身男女也是大有裨益，因為他們可以有更充足時間去約會。
The two factors that matter most at the early stages of a relationship are chemistry and compatibility. Love at first sight rarely happens in real life, but an hour-long lunch is enough to get a sense of those factors. Furthermore, embarrassment and awkwardness can be avoided when both parties know the lunch will end in an hour.
戀愛初期最至關重要的兩個因素便是相互吸引以及情投意合。盡管一見鐘情在現實中很少見，但一小時的午餐時光足以感受到上述因素的存在與否。另外，如果約會雙方知道這頓午餐只有一小時，便能避免尷尬和難堪了。
Despite these benefits, some employees might still be reluctant to take time off for lunch. Partnoy's suggestion? Make skipping lunch difficult: Employers could ask workers to fill out a form stating their reasons for skipping the meal.
盡管益處多多，一些員工也許仍舍不得抽時間享用午餐。對此帕特諾伊給出哪些建議呢？讓不吃午餐變得更費事：用人單位可以要求員工填表，說明自己不吃午餐的理由。
