Roast Turkey and Brussel Sprouts: Traditional Foods Dominate Christmas Dinner

Festive Feasts With The Family Still Tops

Survey reveals traditional foods continue to be integral in Yuletide celebrations

The UK’s appetite for old-fashioned family values round the Christmas dining table is as strong as ever according to research carried out by insurer Congregational & General to support the launch of its fundraising cookbook, Loaves, fishes and more.

Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of respondents stated it is still important to celebrate traditional or religious festivals – including Christmas – with friends and family. Then, when asked to rate the importance of food synonymous to these events, 81 per cent regarded Christmas dinner as the most significant meal of the year.

Aside from the traditional festive favourite – roast turkey – there continues to be a tremendous taste for traditional Yuletide fare. Coming out tops were Christmas puddings (35 per cent) followed by mince pies (24 per cent), whilst the humble ‘love them or hate them’ Brussels sprouts made up the top three (13 per cent).

However, the survey suggests that despite traditional food items like Christmas puddings remaining popular with older people, their popularity with younger generations could be declining – twice as many over 65s (52 per cent) compared to the 18-24 age group (26 per cent) classified the puddings as the festival’s most iconic food.

Margaret Slater, Marketing Manager at Congregational & General, said: “Christmas and eating go hand in hand and we thought it would be interesting to gauge whether people’s opinions of traditional food has changed over the years, or indeed across generations.

“Despite many people living busier and more independently these days, the survey clearly shows that when it comes to festive celebrations, people still love to get together with their families and pull a cracker with Granny or enjoy a mince pie with Mum and Dad.”

The survey commissioned to coincide with the launch of the insurer’s fundraising church cookbook, Loaves, fishes and more, also assessed people’s attitudes towards the use of cookbooks in their own cooking.

“Produced on a purely not-for-profit basis to raise funds for worthy causes and with Christmas just round the corner it will make an ideal gift for all home cooks.

Margaret continued: “It was interesting to find that nearly 90 per cent of respondents owned at least one cookbook, whilst around a quarter (24 per cent) actually had more than ten in their kitchen – demonstrating the popularity for using other cook’s recipes, whether they are professional chefs or fellow amateurs.”

The findings also revealed that men aren’t just restricted to ‘off-the-cuff’ summer barbeque cooking. 27 per cent of those surveyed were nearly twice as likely as women (16 per cent) to use a cookbook when cooking for themselves, showing their enthusiasm for a more formulaic method of cookery.

Loaves, fishes and more is a unique 128-page fundraising cookbook devised by insurer Congregational & General and endorsed by celebrity chef Kevin Woodford, features over 70 delicious recipes ranging from a traditional game pie to Spanish style fish stew and a delicious citrus tart.

Available now from independent booksellers and high street bookshops including Waterstones, it is the first publication of its kind involving some of the UK’s key church leaders. For every book sold a donation is made to Christian Aid.

Discounts are available to churches and charity groups wishing to sell the book for their own fundraising. Prices are available upon quotation. For more details, please visit www.loavesfishesandmore.com or call 01274 700762 (Monday-Friday 9.00am- 4.45pm)

Research was carried out in October 2009 by YourSayPays, a research panel operated by The Leadership Factor. A national sample of 1,000 people were polled.