The average adult skips one meal every day – with breakfast being the most common. A study of 2,000 Brits found 46 per cent regularly go without the first meal of the day , while 30 per cent miss lunch. 1 Skipping a meal can leave you making rushed, hungry decisions Credit: Getty Lack of appetite (39 per cent), time (34 per cent) and a rushed daily routine (28 per cent) were the top reasons for going without meals.
Busy workloads (24 per cent) and simply forgetting to eat (16 per cent) were other common reasons. The research, commissioned by Arla Protein to mark the launch of the brand’s new Food to Go range, also revealed the foods people confess reaching for when needing something quick. These were a single packet of crisps (35 per cent), a lonely boiled egg (15 per cent) and a plain jacket potato (11 per cent).
Among some of the unsatisfying meals endured were tinned tuna (11 per cent), cold pizza (nine per cent) and a dry baguette or roll (eight per cent). A fifth admitted they often decide on what to eat in a rush and as a result, 30 per cent enjoy them less than the meals they take time to choose. Danny Micklethwaite, for Arla Protein, said: “Brits often find themselves running between work, life and other social commitments, meaning important meals like breakfast and lunch become somewhat of an afterthought.
“We either skip those meals altogether or make rushed choices which can be devoid of flavour and essential vitamins and minerals.” Most read in Health LI.