Busy office workers are managing to squeeze in a meagre 16 minutes a day for lunch, a study has found.
Researchers found despite having a full hour to enjoy a much-deserved break, many take a quarter of this period to eat, and nearly half will typically dine ‘al-desko’ at precisely 12.43pm.
One in 10 admitted eating the same meal for lunch EVERY day, with the most popular reoccurring choices being a plain cheese sandwich or a meaty ham sandwich.
And after using their desk as a lap tray, just 15 per cent will go for a walk every day, stretching their legs for just 16 minutes at a time.
The research was commissioned by Quorn, who are encouraging the UK to change their ways with the launch of nine new products, which can be eaten “on the go” as healthy lunch options that are also healthy for the planet.
Jennifer Shepherd of Quorn said: “There are much better ways to eat lunch, than the same cheese or ham sarnie at your desk every lunch time.
“A third of lunchers are looking for more variety and 40% said they are looking for no compromise healthy meat-free options.”
The study also found the average office worker has just two meat-free work lunches a week, with a fifth NEVER going without meat.
And 38 per cent were unaware that simply reducing their intake of meat could have a positive impact on the planet.
It comes as no surprise hard-working adults would like to give themselves an additional 15 minutes downtime to enjoy their lunch break as three quarters will work AND eat at the same time .
Three quarters agreed taking a break from their desk and getting outside will make them feel better, yet many are getting stuck in a rut.
A third of office workers admitted they are too busy to get the much-needed break they deserve, and a quarter said they spend most of their lunch getting their personal errands and admin out of the way.
Overall one in eight don’t get as much time to enjoy their break because they spend most of the time buying or prepping their lunch.
It also emerged, 47 per cent are bored of what they have for lunch, with more than a third craving more variety in the options available to them.
The study, conducted via OnePoll, also found a fifth would like a more environmentally friendly lunch and an equal percentage desire more meat-free options which are healthy and ready to eat.