Is Lunch the Second Meal of the Day? Unpacking Mealtime Traditions

December 24, 2025 •

2 min read

According to a 2012 BBC News Magazine report, the standard pattern of three square meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—is a relatively modern invention. This fact opens the door to questioning whether lunch is the second meal of the day in all cultures and historical contexts, or if the answer is far more complex than we assume.

Quick Summary

The assumption that lunch is always the second meal of the day is influenced by modern Western conventions. Historically, mealtimes shifted dramatically, and many cultures still deviate from this standard, with variations like 'second breakfast,' brunch, or a midday 'dinner' replacing lunch as the day's second eating period.

Key Points

Cultural Relativity: In many cultures, the midday meal is the largest and most significant, often called 'dinner,' shifting the traditional sequence of meals.
Historical Evolution: The modern concept of a light midday 'lunch' evolved from a historical 'dinner' as work patterns shifted, demonstrating that meal timing is not fixed.
Alternative Meal Patterns: Concepts like brunch or 'second breakfast' in other cultures mean that a person's 'second meal' may not be called lunch at all.
Individual Factors: Personal schedules, including shift work or intermittent fasting, can completely redefine the timing and name of a person's second meal.
Modernization and Change: Technological advances like artificial lighting and the Industrial Revolution played a key role in standardizing modern meal patterns, pushing the main meal later in the day.
Focus on Function: Instead of debating terminology, understanding the function of the second meal—providing sustenance between the morning and evening—is more important.

Historical Evolution of the Midday Meal

Historically, the main meal, 'dinner,' was often eaten at midday in Western societies. With advancements like artificial lighting, dinner shifted later, creating a need for a lighter midday meal, now called 'lunch,' a shortened form of 'luncheon'. The Industrial Revolution further standardized this pattern, with workers taking a midday 'lunch' break, solidifying its place as the second meal in many routines. This shows that the concept of lunch as the second meal is a societal and historical development.

The Rise of the Industrial Lunch

The Industrial Revolution significantly impacted when people ate. Factory workers required a midday meal during their shifts, leading to the establishment of the lunch break. This routine solidified breakfast, a midday meal (lunch), and an evening meal (dinner) as the standard, making lunch the second meal for millions.

Cultural Variations and Alternative Second Meals

The concept of the 'second meal' varies significantly across cultures. For a detailed outline of meals across different cultures and traditions, refer to {Link: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_meals}.

The Modern American "Brunch"

Brunch, a combination of breakfast and lunch eaten in the late morning or early afternoon, often replaces both traditional morning meals on weekends, effectively becoming the first or only meal until dinner.

Comparison of Midday Meal Concepts

For a comparison of different midday meal concepts, refer to {Link: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_meals}.

Factors Influencing Your 'Second Meal'

Several factors make defining a universal 'second meal' difficult. These include work/life schedule, intermittent fasting, cultural background, and personal preference.

The Verdict: Context is Key

While lunch is often the second meal in modern Western routines, this is not a universal truth. Historical shifts, global cultural practices, and individual choices mean the concept of the 'second meal' is highly contextual. The second meal is simply the second instance of substantial eating during waking hours, regardless of its name. The identity of the second meal depends on the individual, location, and time.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, lunch is not universally the second meal. Cultural traditions, historical factors, and personal schedules mean that many people and cultures have a different meal sequence, with variations like brunch, 'second breakfast,' or a midday main 'dinner' changing the typical order.

'Second breakfast' is a small meal, typically eaten between breakfast and lunch, which is a common tradition in some cultures like Bavaria, Poland, and Hungary. It serves as a light snack to hold people over until the main midday meal.

No, the pattern of eating three meals a day is a relatively modern convention. Historically, many cultures, such as the Romans, ate only one or two meals a day, and the timing and names of these meals have shifted over centuries.

Brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch and is typically eaten later in the morning. For those who have brunch, it often replaces both the first and second meals, making it their first and only meal until dinner.

For those who practice intermittent fasting, their first meal of the day might be at midday. In this case, what is typically called 'lunch' becomes their first meal, and they might only consume two meals total in their eating window.

Historically, 'dinner' was the largest and most important meal, and it was eaten at midday. While this practice shifted to the evening in many places, some regions and contexts still refer to the midday meal as dinner, such as the traditional 'Sunday dinner' in parts of the UK.

Yes. The standardization of working hours during the Industrial Revolution cemented a predictable breakfast-lunch-dinner sequence for many. Shift workers, however, may have meal patterns that defy this norm, causing the timing of their 'second meal' to change daily or weekly.