When moving to France, many expats are surprised by one cultural habit at work: the sacred French lunch break. If you come from a country where eating a sandwich in front of your computer is the norm, you might feel out of place in France — where this practice is often seen as impolite, unhealthy, and even a little sad.

In this post, we’ll explore why eating at your desk is frowned upon, what lunch means to the French, and how you can adapt without feeling like the odd one out.