Brits bolt lunch in just 25 minutes while Italians savour a full hour

Brits bolt lunch in just 25 minutes while Italians savour a full hourA new international lunchtime study has exposed British eating habits - with Brits wolfing down lunch in just 25 minutes compared to Italy's hour-long dining cultureCommentsFeaturesPiers Eady06:00, 22 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesBrits are a nation of wolfers gobbling down lunch in 25 minutes flat, a survey has found(Image: Getty)Brits are a nation of speed-eaters - demolishing lunch in a mere 25 minutes. Meanwhile, relaxed Italians are still savouring their pasta an hour later.‌Fresh international research comparing Brits and Italians exposes the UK's hurried eating culture - with many scarcely pausing to appreciate what's on their plate.‌A third of Brits confess they're rapid eaters. One in four acknowledge they completely wolf their food down. And nearly a quarter view meals as nothing more than fuel before getting on with things.‌In contrast, Italians are champions of the leisurely lunch - transforming meals into a proper social occasion, filled with conversation, laughter and absolutely no rushing.READ MORE: Who is Anna Haugh? Meet new MasterChef judgeREAD MORE: MasterChef 2026 line-up in full from 'picky eater' to BBC superfanView 3 ImagesA third of Brits say they are fast eaters in a new studySo why are Brits constantly in such a hurry? Experts blame our tea-drinking heritage - swift cuppas and light snacks squeezed into hectic days. Factor in the Industrial Revolution, when labourers grabbed meals between exhausting shifts, and the hurried culture begins to make sense.‌Fast-forward to the present day and little has altered. Around half of Brits consume lunch at their desk. Nearly one in five are balancing bites with emails. Talk about a portion of pressure.Dinner's no different. The "sit-down meal" has become more of a sofa snack, with a staggering 87% eating in front of the telly around five nights weekly.And the interruptions don't end there. Brit...