Half of B.C. residents skip lunch once a week

No time for lunch? You’re not alone.

About half of British Columbians say they skip lunch at least once a week because of work or other commitments, according to a new Insights West poll.

A third of respondents (33 per cent) skip breakfast at home at least two times a week, while another 42 per cent say they miss dinner at home at least once a week.

Those between the ages of 18 to 34 are most likely to skip breakfast at home than those aged 35 to 54 and those 55 and up. The poll also found that B.C. residents of South Asian descent are more likely to eat breakfast at home every day (27 per cent) than those of East Asian (16 per cent) or European (10 per cent background.

Of those who eat breakfast at home, 12 per cent said they eat a full meal with eggs or pancakes, while 12 per cent stick with just cereal. Another 15 per cent do a light meal such as oatmeal, toast or frozen waffles.

Just seven per cent make a smoothie for breakfast, six per cent choose cereal or granola bars, and three per cent pick up something on the way to work.

As for dinner, about 51 per cent eat out at a restaurant once a week, while 56 per cent order takeout or delivery once a week. Only one in five respondents said they prepare dinners from scratch at home every weekday, though that number is higher for those aged 55 and up (24 per cent) or those of South Asian descent (26 per cent).

The poll results were collected through Insights West’s Your Insights online panel where they asked 817 B.C. residents to share their thoughts between Sept. 1 and 6. The data is weighted according to census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.