London - The days of sitting down to a family meal have long been on the wane as our busy lifestyles take over.
Now more than a quarter of Britons eat their main meal alone most days, according to a study of eating habits.
Researchers also found that skipping main meals is increasingly common, while snacking is also on the rise.
As many as 89 percent of the 5 000 adults surveyed for BBC Good Food said they regularly miss one main meal most of the time, and 88 percent said they grab a quick bite to eat between meals.
Meanwhile 27 percent said they eat alone more often than not, and 78 percent they rarely or never invite friends or family over at mealtimes.
This could be the reason why one in three of respondents said they don’t bother to have breakfast, 19 percent always miss lunch and 14 percent miss dinner every day.
Meal skipping is particularly pronounced among 18 to 24-year-olds, with 42 percent skipping breakfast, 26 percent missing lunch and 23 percent ditching dinner.
The poll also found that 77 percent of respondents are not getting their recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day, and almost a tenth eat none at all. However, 38 percent average three or four portions.
Daily Mail