BRITS FAVOUR GOOD FOOD & FAMILY OVER PRESENTS THIS XMAS
Belt-tightening Brits are cutting back their present spending this Christmas but putting more emphasis on the main meal, according to research by BBC Good Food magazine. A survey of more than 2,400 BBC Magazines readers found that 30 per cent of readers plan to spend less money on Christmas presents this year than last year, with just 10 per cent spending more. 58 per cent say their gift budget will stay the same.
The findings indicate that food is playing an increasingly important role in the Christmas festivities with one in five people planning to spend more on making the main Christmas meal a special event. Only one in ten are reducing their spending, with 58 per cent spending the same. In addition, more than half those polled also plan to make or bake food gifts this year.
Some of the other findings include:
• Turkey is still the most popular centrepiece and 23 per cent of those polled plan to pay more for their main centrepiece this year;
• While roast potatoes are our favourite side dish, Brussels sprouts continue to divide the nation. Many singled them out as their most hated festive dish, yet they also came fourth in the list of favourites;
• Our biggest guilty pleasure at Christmas is picking at leftovers in the evening, followed by drinking alcohol in the morning;
• Asked to list their biggest gripe, readers said people interfering in the kitchen while they cooked, followed by food going to waste;
• The most important things about Christmas are spending time with family, according to 79 per cent of readers, followed by giving presents (51 per cent) and eating good food (45 per cent.)
• Less than one in ten believe receiving presents is important.
Gillian Carter, editor of Good Food magazine, said: “The credit crunch has had an upside, with more people choosing to spend time with their nearest and dearest rather than spending more money on them. However it is encouraging that people aren’t prepared to cut back on the main meal, sharing quality time and great food as they celebrate after a difficult year.”
The December issue of Good Food magazine, on sale now, has everything you need for the perfect Christmas – 120 triple-tested recipes, with classic favourites as well as fresh ideas for sides and sauces, puddings and party food. It also features festive homemade goodies that make great gifts.
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- MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FOOD & DRINK INNOVATION NETWORK
- FROZEN FOOD A GOOD CREDIT CRUNCH CHOICE FOR CONSUMERS.
- TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS FOOD WINS OVER RECESSION GLOOM
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- AMOST 11 MILLION BRITS SET FOR OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTIES
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