People in Britain are finding the pace of their lives so hectic that they are abandoning family meals.
The tradition of three meals a day is faltering under the pressures of modern life, according to a study by BBC Good Food.
It found that nine out of ten people, out of a poll of 5,000, are giving up the tradition, turning instead to skipping meals or eating snacks.
A total of 89% regularly cut out one main meal a day while more than 25% tuck into their main meal on their own. A full 88% said they snacked between meals, often while on the go.
Younger people, aged between 18 and 24, were most likely to miss meals – 42% avoided breakfast, 26% skipped lunch, and 23% missed dinner.
For the overall survey of all ages, 35% had no breakfast, 19% always skip lunch and 14% miss dinner every day.
Saddest of all, however, was the discovery that some 78% said they rarely or never invite family or friends over to eat and that 27% said they eat alone most days.
Surveys of expat life styles often find that they believe the work-life balance is better achieved in Portugal, Spain or other countries. Surely, the survey results must indicate one reason why.
