Put down your fork and step away from that sad desk salad. According to a study by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, more than 60 percent of us are dining “al desko” on a regular basis. Seattleites, we are here to tell you there’s a better way. Grab that container of last night’s leftovers and make the most of your lunch hour. May we suggest:

Out to Lunch Summer Concert Series. Organized by the Downtown Seattle Association, these free events take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. several times a week starting on July 7 at locations throughout the city, including Occidental Square, City Hall Plaza and Westlake Park, and feature a range of local acts across all genres of music. This year’s lineup boasts indie folk band Vaudeville Etiquette, pop-punk quartet Tacocat and avant-jazz quartet Industrial Revelation, among many others. Visit summerinseattle.com for the full schedule.

 

The Coloring Project. It’s therapeutic, creative and fun—and thanks to these weekly sessions, coloring can also be an opportunity to socialize.Every Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m., life and career coach Andrea Koehler hosts free drop-in creativity breaks at Pioneer Square’s Impact Hub coworking space. Bring your own coloring book (or take a page from one of Koehler’s) and something tosnack on, and spend time unwinding and chatting with other colorful characters. For more details, search Facebook, “The Coloring Project Seattle.”

Thrilling Tales. Packed lunches are welcome at Seattle Public Library’s “story time for adults,” where live readings of spooky or suspenseful short stories take place two Mondays a month. The free readings, in the Microsoft Auditorium at the Central Library location, start at 12:05 p.m. and last just 45 minutes, giving you plenty to time to get back to the grind. Check spl.org for dates and descriptions of upcoming readings.