- Busy Dubliners think there aren’t enough hours in the day -
According to a recent nationwide survey commissioned by O’Briens Sandwich Bars on the lunchtime eating habits of Irish people, 50% of people skip lunch at least once a week, with a massive 38% of Dubliners admitting to missing lunch twice a week! Most of us agree on the importance of eating a filling and healthy lunch, but it is vital that healthy eating habits are put into practice. This is particularly important in relation to the classroom, and as children all over the country pack their bags for the start of another academic year, it would appear that many Irish adults are not setting them a particularly good example!
 
According to the survey, it would appear that some of us are just too busy for lunch, with 29% of those surveyed admitting to eating their lunch at their desks! Dubliners came out the busiest, with 39% of those surveyed owning up to eating their lunch at their desks. However, some of us do find the time to relax and enjoy a substantial lunch, with a further 29% choosing their favourite sandwich bar as their preferred lunchtime destination.
 
The humble sandwich and trusty roll are the two most popular lunchtime food choices (28% and 27% respectively). 16% of Dubliners surveyed went for the more cosmopolitan option of a wrap, with a very low percentage from Cork and Galway selecting this lighter option. 66% of those surveyed believe they are getting their recommended daily allowance of fruit and vegetables. 41% said they eat 2-4 pieces of fruit and vegetables daily, with just 16% eating 5-10 pieces. Limerick had the highest percentage of people eating 5-10 pieces of fruit a day (28%), whilst Galway had the lowest, with just 4%.
 
Other interesting results from the survey include:
 
• It seems we are not a nation of healthy eaters when it comes to snacking – just 13% said that they would snack on ‘something healthy like a flapjack, dried fruit and nuts’. 26% chose chocolate and 24% prefer ‘something sweet like a cake or a pastry’.
 
• 60% of those surveyed spend €5-€10 a day on their lunch.
 
 
• Overall the favourite lunchtime activity is ‘chatting with friends’ (46%).
 
• When asked which Irish celebrity they’d most like to share a sandwich with, Glenda Gilson topped the poll among the males surveyed (41%) and Brian O’Driscoll proved most popular among females (42%).
 
• When asked which international celebrity they would most like to share a sandwich with, participants chose Angelina Jolie, Matthew McConaghey and George Clooney. George Clooney was the most popular, with 25% of all votes.
 
While the focus for O’Briens has always been on healthier choices, the company constantly strives to introduce a more ethical way of doing business with organic snacks, a wide variety of gourmet coffees, (where a growing percentage of beans come direct from the grower), and Fairtrade and organic tea.  O’Briens has a greater variety within its tossed salads and healthy Wrappo® ranges, which are perfect for lighter meals. There is also a great selection of traditional and speciality soups and a wide range of toasted sandwiches on offer.
 
This nationwide survey was carried out by Tradewins.