Research published this week has concluded that solicitors are among the worst nourished professions in the country, with almost 80% of lawyers stating they have gone a whole day without eating a single meal, surviving on bars of chocolate and biscuits instead.

And almost a quarter of the lawyers questioned as part of a survey of 2000 respondents said they eat sweets instead of a proper breakfast, over three times the national average. Lawyers are also twice as likely to snack on the go – including in the gym.

Nutritionist Fiona Hunter says: ‘’It’s extremely worrying to find that so many people are relying on a diet of crisps and chocolate to get them through the day. Sugary and high fat snacks are meant to be treats, to be enjoyed alongside healthy, balanced meals but it seems many busy Brits are choosing these foods because they haven’t got time to cook a proper meal."

‘’Most nutritionists agree that the best way to balance blood sugar levels is to eat three small meals plus a couple of healthy snacks such as fruit, yogurt, meat or cheese in between.

“If you are going to snack, it’s important to snack sensibly and choose foods that contribute vitamins and minerals to the diet rather than just calories.

The research was undertaken by a snack food company.