1.🔊 TOKYO — As people in Japan are increasingly working from home due to the effects of the coronavirus, they are eating more irregularly.

2.🔊 According to a survey by a major food company, more than 50% of respondents said they eat at least four times per day, and more people are starting to eat multiple times a day without distinguishing between their meals and snacks.

3.🔊 Food companies are making efforts to develop new products in accordance with the changing lifestyles, and food products to tackle overeating and a lack of exercise are selling well.

4.🔊 Major food and beverage company Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd. conducted an online survey in April, asking the eating habits of 337 people ranging from their 20s to 40s, who were working from home at least four days a week.

5.🔊 To a question that asked how many times they eat meals or snacks per day, 24% of respondents said they eat four times a day, 17.8% said they eat five times, 4.5% said six times and 5.6% said at least seven times. Compared to the 48.1% of respondents who chose “three times or less,” 51.9% said they eat at least four times a day.

6.🔊 Pokka Sapporo analyzed that people are increasingly consuming food at a time that is convenient for them, without the presence of others while working at home. It also says that over 40% of respondents are eating something similar to meals during their snack times.

7.🔊 Based on the results of the survey, on Aug. 17 the company launched two instant food products that are more filling than usual snacks and easy to eat. “Torori’s” and “Jyaganeru” both come in cups, and the former is a combination of rice and rich sauce, while the latter is similar to mashed potatoes.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200819/p2a/00m/0na/009000c

Discussion

1.🔊 How many times do you eat meals and snacks in a day?

2.🔊 Did the coronavirus change your eating habit?