British food culture
英国的饮食文化
Today people in the UK eat a more varied diet than ever before. As well as the regional diets of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland the many immigrant communities have introduced their cuisines to the previously unadventurousBritons: Chinese, Greek, Indian, Italian, Thai, American fast foods such as pizza, hamburgers and fried chicken have to some extent displaced the traditional fast food of fish and chips.
今天，英国人的饮食比以往更加多样化。除了英国地方性饮食习惯诸如英格兰，苏格兰，威尔士和北爱尔兰，许多移民社区也将他们的饮食带到了英国：中国，希腊，印度，意大利，泰国，美国快餐食品，如比萨饼，汉堡包和炸鸡已在一定程度上取代传统的快餐店的炸鱼和薯条。
Because of the climate and the Germanic origins of many of its early people, the UK has been a traditionally beer drinking rather than a wine drinking country. Nevertheless, in recent years, vineyards in the south of England have proved successful. In the west of England the traditional drink is cider, rather than beer. Over Britain as a whole, however, the traditional drink is tea.
由于气候和日耳曼起源，英国人在传统上一直是喝啤酒，而不是葡萄酒的饮用国。然而，近年来，葡萄园在英格兰南部的栽培已证明是成功的。英格兰西部的传统饮料是苹果酒，而不是啤酒。然而从总体而言，英国的传统饮品却是茶。
今天我们要介绍的是英国的午餐。
What is a typical English lunch?
什么是典型的英国午餐？
Many children at school and adults at work will have a 'packed lunch'. This typically consists of a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a piece of fruit and a drink. The 'packed lunch' is kept in a plastic container.
在学校和工作中的成年人许多儿童有一个“打包午餐”。这通常包括一个三明治，一包薯片，水果和饮料片。“打包午餐”装在一个塑料容器。
Sandwiches are also known as a 'butty' or 'sarnie' in some parts of the UK.
在英国某些地区，三明治也被称为“butty”或“sarnie”。
在英国的午餐中，三明治扮演着一个重要的角色。为什么呢？
首先，通常英国的午餐时间是比较短的，一般在一个小时左右，所以不会吃得很隆重。做学生的时候，有很多人可能就是几个chocolate bar，一袋薯片，一个苹果，香蕉啥的就凑合了。勤快点的，自己做了sandwich 带过来，有点钱就到学校的canteen或cafeteria 花个三镑左右吃点薯条，pizza，pasta（意面）之类的。上班的，情况和现在的大城市也差不多，自己带，在外面的 pub，Cafe & Restaurant 吃个简餐，或是公司的食堂。
其次，sandwich作为午餐比较快捷（做起来快，吃起来也快），便利（边走边吃，还可以不洗碗），实惠（即本1，2镑就搞定），非常适合现代人的快节奏，午餐舍它其谁？
英国上班族午餐仅用3分半钟
The traditional lunch break is disappearing, with workers spending only 3.5 minutes a day eating their midday meal, according to new research.
最新调查表明，英国现代的上班族们花在午餐上的时间只有3分半钟，因为大家都挤出大量休息时间办理私事。
While people used to take their break with a leisurely meal or stroll, they now spend their time shopping, making personal calls or checking their online bank account.
据《每日电讯报》5月19日报道，上班族在午间漫不经心地享用美食甚至饭后漫步的情景已经不多见了，越来越多的人都在利用午餐时间去购物、打电话或是查询网络银行帐户等。
来源：
