REVEALED: WINTER LIFESTYLE MAP OF BRITAIN
Winter is usually associated with eating unhealthy comfort foods and doing very little exercise. But according to a new study examining people’s lifestyle habits for winter 2016/17, the majority of Brits are focusing on a more holistic approach to health this year.
A total of 2,000 people were interviewed for the study commissioned by GLORIOUS! Soups which revealed that two-thirds (66%) are planning to eat a balanced diet over the winter months.* There is also evidence many of us are on a mission to achieve a healthier body and mind, with almost half (46%) saying they have a lifestyle goal for this season.
Using the survey findings, a map of Britain has been created which depicts people’s varying lifestyle and health goals in key cities. For example, people in Southampton are most likely to be practising mindfulness (27%) whilst one-fifth of Londoners will be out jogging (20%). Yoga is most popular north of the border with one-quarter of Glaswegians (25%) practicing this and people in Belfast have shown they are pretty hardcore with one in 10 promising to do a Tough Mudder (10%).
The study’s key findings have been published in a new wide-ranging report, Comfort Eating and our Quest for a Balanced Lifestyle, written by food futurologist Lyndon Gee.
Lyndon Gee commented: “The findings from this study by the people at GLORIOUS! demonstrate that Brits are taking a much more balanced and holistic approach to their health and lifestyle this winter. There is a new dynamic in healthy eating as the quest for a healthy mind and body becomes even sexier. I believe this is being driven by more positive social media images posted by key influencers such as Joe Wicks who focus heavily on a balanced approach to health and the role food plays in fuelling lifestyle and exercise goals. Indeed, the fact that this study shows that only 2% of people are focusing on a ‘fad’ diet this winter is very revealing.”
Despite this evidence that people’s increased knowledge about how certain foods can aid exercise goals, people’s perceptions of healthy food are that it can leave you hungry. Three-fifths of Brits (60%) said that when they buy a healthy lunch they also buy a snack as a backup because they are worried they won’t be full. Furthermore, the study shows that the term ‘comfort food’ still has negative connotations as two-thirds of women (68%) think the main drawback is that it makes you gain weight. Just over half of women (55%) said it makes them feel sluggish and over two-fifths (42%) believe it is generally high in fat.
Lyndon Gee commented: “Clean comfort eating provides an antidote to the perception that comfort foods, although much loved, are stodgy and make you feel slothful. Vegetable-based natural soup counteracts this as it’s the clean comfort food with added health benefits. The best ones to choose are those that are low in sugar and full of slow-releasing carbohydrates and proteins which help you feel full longer and aid endurance during exercise.”
There is evidence people’s shift towards a more balanced diet is actually shaping what they choose for lunch on a cold winter’s day. Soup came out on top as the comfort food of choice for winter with almost half of those choosing this for lunch (48%). Cottage pie or shepherd’s pie came next (33.6%) followed by jacket potato (33.2%) then stew and dumplings (29.2%). (Full top 10 below).
Fiona Lane is 28 years old and lives in Leeds - she said her approach to food and lifestyle has changed since last winter. She commented: “My weight was up and down ever since I left university - I was always a size 10, but never saw myself as being overweight. After a very indulgent Christmas in 2015, I weighed myself mid-January and found I was over a stone heavier than I thought I was. I decided to do something about it, which started with looking at what I was eating and increasing my exercise.
“For breakfast I'd make smoothies, to ensure I was eating lots of fruit. For lunch I would have a fresh soup with fruit and yoghurt and dinner would be a low carb dinner. I also cut out alcohol for a while to help burn more fat. After four months I had dropped a dress size and was in the best shape I'd ever been. I am planning to continue this way of eating over the winter as I think maintaining a balanced diet throughout the colder months is much healthier.”
The Comfort Eating and our Quest for a Balanced Lifestyle report was commissioned by GLORIOUS! to coincide with the launch of its new Super Soups range – a portion of this is the equivalent to two of your five a day. The GLORIOUS! Super Soups pots (600g) are available now in Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Ocado.
ENDS
Notes to editors
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GLORIOUS! is an award-winning range of soups developed by in-house chefs using authentic ingredients and flavours from around the globe. GLORIOUS! delivers soup with bold, international flavours. Since launching in 2008, GLORIOUS! has won a number of prestigious industry awards including the Grocer Food & Drink Awards and the Quality Food Awards.
*2,000 people in the UK were questioned by Censuswide for the survey within the Comfort Eating and our Quest for a Balanced Lifestyle report on behalf of GLORIOUS! Soups. More statistics and regional results are available upon request.
Top 10 winter comfort foods for 2016/17:
Soup (48%)
Cottage pie or shepherd’s pie (33.6%)
Jacket potato (33.2%)
Stew and dumplings (29.2%)
Sausage and mash (28.5%)
Curry (26%)
Pie (23.7%)
Lasagne (22.8%)
Spaghetti Bolognese (22.6%)
Chilli con carne (19.2%)
The Super Soups range - all 2 of your 5 a day per portion
Brazilian Super Grain
Key ingredients: Grains including Quinoa, Millet and Brown rice. Red Lentil, Red Pepper, Black Turtle Beans, Coconut Milk, Coriander, Turmeric and Nutmeg
Vegan, Gluten Free, 163 calories per portion, Low Fat, High in Fibre and High in Protein
Indian Super Spinach & Chickpea
Key ingredients: Spinach, Chickpea, Red Pepper, Red Lentils, Toor Daal Lentils, Garam Masala
Vegan, Gluten Free, 232 calories per portion, Low Fat, High in Fibre and Source of Protein
Vietnamese Super Green
Key ingredients: Petit Pois, Green Lentils, Spinach, Broccoli, Soya beans, lemongrass, lime leaves, quinoa.
Vegan, Gluten Free, 117 calories per portion, High in Fibre, Low Fat, High in Protein
Mexican Super Bean & Sweet Potato
Key ingredients: A super 3 bean mix of Black eye, Red kidney and Black turtle beans, Basmati rice, sweet potato, paprika and ancho chilli
Vegetarian, Gluten Free, 137 calories per portion, Source of Fibre, Low Fat, Source of Protein