During the industrial revolution in the 19th century when Brits were introduced to a working day, the habit of having both breakfast and lunch developed, as a pre-working meal, plus a break at half day, became the norm.
Britain is now a nation of all-day-eaters, with just 41% of modern Brits still consuming three square meals. Breakfast is now the most common meal skipped (61%), due to a rise in popularity of intermittent fasting and new hybrid working roles. While as many as 34% now regularly skip lunch and just 6% forgo their evening meal.
Eleanor McClelland, head of food at Graze, said: “Everyone’s eating habits have dramatically shifted over the past few years. From eating less meat, to moving away from the traditional meal-based diet that’s been a staple of our culture for generations. More people are eating little and often as a way to stave off unhealthy cravings and eat a more balanced diet, making us a nation of 'snackers'.
“But many people are confused about what constitutes a healthy snack, with millions reaching for the wrong choices as a ‘quick and easy’ fix and people not believing taste and health can coexist, when in fact they can. For instance, snacks such as nuts which are both nutritionally balanced and delicious, can fulfil cravings and are a great way to include healthy fats in your diet.”
One in four (28%) admit to snacking more than last year, with as many as 12 million Brits (18%) claiming that typically ‘healthy’ snacks aren’t tasty so they don’t seek them out. A quarter (23%) believe that snacking little and often can form a healthy part of a balanced diet.
Crisps (56%), biscuits (52%), milk chocolate (38%) and fruit (35%) are top choices when it comes to snacking, followed by sweets (33%), nuts (28%) and cake (28%). Almost two thirds of the people surveyed (63%) admit they don’t have enough of an understanding about nutritional content to select a healthy snack.