France isn't known as a nation of snackers – they're more used to enjoying three meals a day. In fact, French people spend an average of 130 minutes eating each day – 50 minutes more than Britons. But new research suggests that they're feeling peckish for a mid afternoon treat.

The customs of mealtime have long cemented bonds within families and communities. But in UK households, the average dinner prep time is down to just 34 minutes. As cultures overlap and the pace of life increases, how are the traditions of mealtime being reshaped to keep up?

With obesity at the forefront of many consumers’ minds, they are looking for healthier snacking options. In response, snack and beverage brands are implementing new strategies, including reducing portion sizes, ‘premiumising’ their products and using clearer labelling.

According to two of Instagram’s employees, users of the image-based social network are tiring of picture-perfect posts. Instead of the highly curated feeds that have become the norm, people are increasingly drawn to imperfection – which is one of the drivers behind the success of Instagram Stories.