B. Lorenzo Buckinchere
Mar 1, 2026
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, most people can hardly find the time to enjoy a decent meal. It’s just grab and go! Pizza? Sandwiches? Wraps? You name it! Anything that can be eaten on the go. And don’t even mention breakfast. Outside of the south, breakfast is just one giant sugar rush.
But did you know that if you don’t take the time to signal to your brain that it’s time to eat, it may lead to anxiety, and indigestion, among other complications? That is because your stomach is trying to digest while you are still working, so it’s going into overdrive.
That is one of the main problems with the status quo of the modern American workforce, and the work schedules of most blue-collar employees, even entry-level white-collar.
I was not shocked, though still amazed to learn that two-hour lunch breaks are customary in Paris. They have enough time for some wine and croissants with a four-course meal, then maybe go for a walk before returning to the office.
Two hours lunch breaks in Paris, but only a 30 minute unpaid break in California. And even then, they literally had to charge companies a penalty if the employee’s break is cut short by even a minute.
Ever since we started prioritizing productivity over things such as, health, family, and community, art and elegance has been scornfully discarded, and our health and palate both suffer because of it.
We have been so deeply conditioned to accept things that are ugly; ugly cities, ugly buildings, ugly cars (have you seen the stupid, rectangular Tesla trucks?), ugly language, and now, ugly food, that we don’t even know what’s good anymore.
And anyone who threatens the order by calling this shit out, is ostracized for it, and labeled a heretic. Or in modern terms, a weirdo “Quit being a sore loser, dude!”
Men in particular get the worst of it. We are expected to be the rock of an ungrateful civilization, bearing all of the burden, yet we have no moral support whenever we do burn out, and you wonder why our wives often live longer than us.
Can you imagine eating a sandwich and a beer for dinner? Yet there are many who do exactly that, so long as their bellies are full.
As we collectively raise the consciousness of this plain, and transcend from employment to creativity, I invite you to eat your lunch as you would your dinner.
Slow down to a walk. Sit around the table versus sitting on a couch in front of the television. Put on some jazz and pour yourself a glass of wine. I know you’re probably hungry, but don’t forget to shift the drapes, or turn on the lamp if it’s cloudy.
Choose steak or salmon over a hamburger. Choose spaghetti over pizza. Choose roast potatoes over a sandwich, or anything gluten related. Plate it to artisan standards, and drizzle some pan drippings over the sliced meat. No heavy gravies necessary unless that truly fits your palate.
Chew thirty-two times before swallowing. Pause and give your brain a minute to catch up. Then you can take-in another forkful versus shoveling grub like you’re in a military mess hall.
Sip your wine, not chug it. Even if it’s beer, still sip it. It’s ok to indulge in slow mornings. Speaking of mornings, have your lunch a little earlier than your boss would allow. I would say 11 instead of 12. What say you?
By the way, I’m not French, I’m Jamaican. But manners and elegance transcends national boundaries. So does health and comfort. The French may have invented elegance, but why let them monopolize it?
The world is brutal enough as it is without you adding to it with some brutality of your own. I understand that this article may not be for everyone, but I invite you to share with someone you know, and consider the premise of my message for some future time when you are finally ready to take care of yourself.
It will reduce stress and add years to your life. Take care of yourself, because no one else will.
Until next time, bon appetite!
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