Twenty-year trends of workplace lunches in Finland

The aim of this study was to examine the trend of workplace cafeteria use among Finnish adults between 1979 and 2001. Data from annually collected cross-sectional surveys on health behaviour, conducted since 1978, were used. Subjects were 24 292 employed men and 24 746 women aged 25–64. Frequency of workplace cafeteria use has been stable in Finland over the two decades under study. Women used the cafeterias more often than men. Differences by years of education and place of residence have remained relatively stable. People living in the capital area and having more years of education used the cafeterias more often. The Finnish habit of having a mid-day lunch at the cafeteria of one's respective workplace has resisted major changes in working and living conditions and social structures during the past two decades.