Italian workers have rejected a suggestion by cabinet minister Gianfranco Rotondi that they should skip the traditional full sit-down Italian lunch to  protect both their waistlines and the Italian economy.

I’ve always wondered why the 2 hour siesta period is so strictly observed in all the Italian companies I know, in both summer and winter, when it means that workers get home so late each evening.

But I must agree with the nutritionist who commented that if Italians did not have a full lunch they would probably keel over in the afternoon, as they are notorious for their skimpy – or non-existent – breakfast. Often it’s just a double espresso standing in a bar/cafe, on which they will keep going until 1pm.

Read the full Reuters story here.

One Stop Italy