To think it's pretty normal not to have a lunch break?

[IdaClair]

I work for myself at the moment, and most days the first chance I have to eat is dinner time. Sometimes I have breakfast, sometimes I don't. Friends and family have said to me that I should have a 'lunch break ' and seem appalled by the idea that I don't have one, saying I should 'make sure' I do.

I have what is essentially a shop and there is maybe 5 minutes a day where I am not serving customers directly, and there is often a queue. Breaking for lunch is not an option! To me it seems perfectly normal not to have a lunch break, I have only ever had one in an office job. Every other job I have had in customer facing stuff like event management, catering, customer service, caring roles, even waitstaff and barwork -there wasn't a lunch break. There were a few that did a strict 15 mins every 4 hours type of system, but nothing longer than that and most things were on a 'grab two minutes if you can where there is time ' basis - and there was never normally any time! I would often do a 12 hour shift doing something like a wedding and no-one would stop the proceedings so the staff could have a break, and in some remote country hotel you've never been to before with a kitchen busy with 200 guests, unless you brought a pack up there isn't exactly any food available even if you wanted it.

I am sure there are many professions which are so busy and unpredictable you don't get a 'lunch hour'.

AIBU to think that there is no such thing as a lunch break in many roles and it's not exactly a shocking thing or some kind of deprivation?

however annie the rule is 20 minutes not 30 but you are right it can not be skipped to finish early unless you work less than 6 hours then if your employer says 1-2 is lunch i do not pay he does not have to let you go early because you decided to work half of it, that may be negotiated but that is different

and those that do not go to the loo are really storing up health problems it is really bad for you

Yes, there's never 'nothing to do' if you've got a book/newspaper/iPad/knitting and your lunch to eat. I don't get that.

Put a sign up at the door and on the counter saying closed from 12-12:30. Have a book customers can sign in, write the times beside them, tell whoever signs in for 12: that they will be served at 12:30 when you return from lunch. Have a ticket machine if you think it will help customers know who is next.
No need to be a slave to your business.

I work 3 long days in a row, 7.15-8-.30. I like a latish lunch break, usually at around 3pm and have a little nap. That works well for me!