seudah shlishis during winter

Question

I find that many people especially women are lax about eating Seudash Shilishis/Shalosh Seudos during the winter months. Does halochoh obligate a person to eat the lunch meal earlier in the day or to eat less so that one can wash later in the day without feeling bloated from lunch? Oruch Hashulchan says to wash for lunch before Chatzos, but I don't think we hold like him.