I enjoy taking my whole 1 hour lunch at one time. It gives my body time to rest and regain strength. When i used to work through my lunch i would be useless when i got home, now i have energy to spend quality time with the kids, even if it is an hour later.
I recently won a new bid, started it two Mondays ago. This is an industrial route with 40 to 50 deliveries for 500 plus pieces out of a 22 footer. The route had a swing driver doing it for for the last month or so. Of course he wouldn't take his lunch and slowly more work was added. A retirement community where you had to deliver to each individual unit. 8 stops would take you at least 45 Min's to walk.
I explained for the 1st week that i could not get this done before pick ups because i want my lunch. After a few days of taking my lunch, barely fitting the 1000 to 1400 pieces that i pick up and bringing the truck back to the building at close to 8pm, and filing 9.5 i haven't seen that work in a week. Which has helped to keep in a baseline route to cover that work.
Taking your lunch during the contratual time frames does help to lighten your load!