A French woman has sparked debate after revealing her confusion about British lunch culture, prompting both criticism and agreement from viewers.
The TikTok creator, known by her handle @alizeecharet, shared a video suggesting that workers in the UK could benefit from taking more substantial lunch breaks rather than quickly grabbing sandwiches from stores like M&S, Sainsbury’s or Tesco.
Her video received over 7,660 likes, but not everyone agreed with her views. In the clip, Alizee said: "Okay, so someone needs to explain to me this culture in the UK, where for lunch people go to M&S, Sainsbury's [or] Tesco, and they just get a lunch deal [for example] a quick sandwich."
She continued: "I just don't get it, because I know you guys don't have time, and I know you guys are trying to grab a quick lunch."
Alizee argued that workers have enough time to choose something more satisfying, saying: "30 minutes is enough for you to get something nicer. I don't see you want to escape the matrix. You want to escape this rat race, but you are in it.
"You feed on it. It's like you have 30 minutes and you stress about it. It's like you're giving your life to a workplace."
She emphasised the importance of setting boundaries at work, adding: "Three minutes is three minutes, and if you arrive, like, one or two minutes after that, you're not gonna die for it."
Alizee suggested people should take time to "find something nice to eat, to switch up some from time to time," rather than constantly and mindlessly consuming sandwiches or crisps, which she described as "not alive".
She also raised concerns about physical health, noting: "You sit the whole day, for eight hours in front of a desktop, and you wonder, 'how did I gain so much weight?'" attributing weight gain to "the bread [and] the lack of exercise."
She said feeling sluggish after these meals often leads people to rely on caffeine to boost their energy. "I'm not saying don't do that," Alizee clarified. "I'm saying look for other alternative and be conscious of the actions you're taking [...] Those are the small actions you can start doing."
Many viewers disagreed, arguing cost and personal preference as key reasons for their meal choices. One commented: "Respectfully it's absolutely not this deep I genuinely like Tesco meal deals."
Another viewer stated cost was the main factor, writing: "Honestly you're missing so much nuance here we are over worked and underpaid and we are TIRED a lot of the things you're talking about is a privilege to a majority of us also 1 hour is not infinite time a lot of us use that hour to do personal tasks too."
Echoing this sentiment, someone else said: "Totally cost related not time related. If you want something other than a meal deal you're easily spending a tenner."
"Gurl in this economy I can't afford a nice lunch everyday, its bc of money not time," another viewer added.
One person simply responded: "Babe it's literally a sandwich."
However, some agreed with Alizee’s perspective. One supporter wrote: "You have a point! Just to clarify - some workplaces are brutal, with 1 or 2 minutes late there are consequences."
Another viewer shared their experience: "I know what you mean. I stopped with the meal deals years ago, I bring my own lunch to work now and with the nice weather I go walk around town for 30 mins then go back and eat my lunch it's nicer."
A third added simply: "I know exactly what you mean don't worry."
"I completely agree!! I always appreciate how much my European colleagues take time for a proper lunch," another commented.
Similarly, another TikTok user wrote: "Agree! Even on weeks low on cash, make a delightful packed lunch that you have to assemble yourself. Sit in the park, breathe in the air."
