English meals today and the British diet.
In common with other European countries the British diet has changed over the last twenty years. In general, people are responding to recent medical advice and are cutting down on fatty food, heavy puddings and stodgy cakes. Food such as pizza, pasta and baked potatoes are now commonly served in English homes in preference to heavy evening meals during the week. People are more prepared to experiment with different styles of cooking.
At breakfast time it is usual to expect cereal and toast or rolls with butter and jam instead of the "traditional English breakfast". This is because of healthy reasons, the time needed for preparation and the cost.
The main family meal of the week tends to be on Sunday lunch at which, typically, a roast joint of meat will be served with different vegetables. You may also be served a pudding such as an apple pie with cream. This is an occasion for the family to talk and relax in comfortable, friendly atmosphere.
Nowadays many people are becoming anxious about their health. This is what one of the experts in dietetics said:
"Over the last fifteen years many of us have changed from full fat to skimmed milk. We also eat less meat and more poultry.
High-fibre vegetables like parships, cabbage and carrots arc not getting any more popular. The consumption of potatoes has risen - we cat more crisps an increase of 39% between 1980 and today to I 1 kg per head.
We eat less butter and fewer eggs but surprisingly, more cheese which is high in fat. We still eat a lot of sugar. We don't buy more but we cat the same amount in food like cakes and biscuits. Tinned foods - soup and beans, for example, often contain sugar. We are drinking 55% more fruit juice than in 1980 and we are still eating a lot of fruit. But we are not eating more apples, oranges and pears. Instead we are buying more bananas and exotic fruit. More people are eating out and surveys show more fresh vegetables and salads on menus".
Although the English do not eat out as much as other Europeans do, there are many kinds of restaurants in England. Some of them are traditional restaurants where a waiter serves customers and others are self-service restaurants. But the most popular place "for a drink and chat" has been and still is a famous English pub with its cozy and friendly atmosphere.
New American fast-food chains are being opened in Britain. The menu is usually limited to a variety of hamburgers and prices are very reasonable. These kinds of establishments obviously cater for young people in hurry and tourists.

1. What has happened to the British diet?
2. Why are people cutting down on fatty food?
3. Do you know what "traditional English breakfast" means?
4. Can you explain why people have cereal and toast more often then "traditional English breakfast"?
5. When and what is the main family meal of the week?
6. What do people prefer to eat nowadays?
7. Where can people eat out?
8. What about you? how often do you eat out?