Speaking from a European perspective, lunch and dinner are not just about eating; they're also a time for socializing and conversation. Typically, lunch is shorter due to our two-shift workdays, with four hours in the morning and four in the afternoon. Dinners are overwhelmingly family affairs, while lunches are usually with colleagues. In addition to lunch and dinner, we also have breakfast, a mid-morning snack, and an afternoon snack. Some people even have supper. An interesting fact about France is that it's considered rude to talk about business during meals.
I don't think that kind of cultural difference is actually relevant. The chart is (I assume) from the US. So the important thing is that the total time is changing. Not the exact amount of that time.
If EU data also showed a long term increase in total time spent eating and drinking, I'd be worried too.
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Wait, no, I totally misunderstood that chart... never mind.
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