(around)1 p. m.

When compared with the people in neighboring continental counties, the English are not exactly famed for their love of food. Families today rarely eat together but consume junk food instead, often in front of the television. The English diet in increasing numbers of families, though not all, consists mainly of salty and sweet snack foods: chips, crisps, chocolate bars, ready meals, microwave pizzas and other such delights. The English have three main meals a day. The breakfast is between 8 and 9 a. m. : Lunch is a light meal or snack between noon and 1: 30 p. m. : Dinner is the main meal of the day between 6: 30 and 8 p. m. On Sunday: the main meal of the day is often eaten around 1 p. m. instead of in the evening. This meal usually consists of roasted meat, a sweet dish, and two kinds of vegetables. Most overseas visitors think of English breakfast as the typical version of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms and baked beans, all accompanied with a cup of tea or coffee. Today, however, a typical English breakfast is normally a slice of toast, orange juice and tea or coffee. During the week as many people often work a long distance from home, they have a packed lunch or sandwiches for lunch with a pack of crisps, food and drink. Sunday lunch is a different affair, and it’ s the time when the family sits together for a traditional Sunday roast. Traditionally, dinner was similar to Sunday lunch, but today this is rarely eaten on ordinary days. Today, most people in Britain prefer foods like rice or Italian noodles for dinner. Fresh vegetables grown in England are also popular, such as peas, carrots, cabbages , onions and potatoes.