A poll of 2,000 adults found the social events people find hard to skip when trying to eat healthily include birthday meals and takeaway nights as ice cream and brunch are among the most-missed treats
Half of health-conscious Brits have skipped social occasions while they were trying to stick to strict dietary rules. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that birthday dinners and takeaway evenings were among the social occasions people struggled to avoid when pursuing healthier habits.
Meanwhile, four in ten longed to eat ice cream in the summer and a quarter missed being able to indulge in a brunch on the weekend. For others, they simply missed being able to comfort eat after a bad day. The study showed younger demographics were most inclined to decline food-centred social invitations than any other generation.
According to the study, the majority of Millennials and Gen Z have turned down a gathering in the past because they were trying to commit to eating healthily. But seven in ten said skipping social occasions was the hardest part and suggested eating well shouldn’t have to mean going without their favourite foods and drinks.
The research was commissioned by Arla LactoFREE which recently launched a Sky Shakes pop-up in collaboration with experiential food pioneers Bompas & Parr, aiming to show that a lactose-free diet doesn’t have to mean compromising on taste.
Laura Butler, strategic brand manager for the company, commented: “Wellness no longer has to mean going without. It’s important to find food and drink options which can be enjoyed no matter what your dietary requirements are, without having to miss out on the taste and flavour.
“While it’s important to many people to eat well, they also want food which feels exciting and worth sharing, which is what we hoped to deliver with the sky themed shakes made using lactose free milk and cream and crafted to be flavoursome.
“Certain foods and drinks become a part of our routine and habits, be it a tea and biscuit break or an evening snack on the sofa, it’s hard to stop these altogether so it’s important to find alternatives.”
The study also revealed that treats are difficult to live without because people miss the taste and the comfort they provide. Others said the fact some foods and drinks feel like a reward (33 percent), are easy and convenient (41 percent) and are enjoyed socially (26 percent) make them tricky to give up.
When it comes to eating well, half feel it’s a balance between what they enjoy, and what they feel they ‘should’ be eating. As a result, most people said it’s important for a healthy swap to still feel like a treat.
Looks matter too, especially for younger generations, as 52 percent of Millennials and 47 percent of Gen Z admitted they’re more likely to buy a food or drink purely based on it being ‘Instagram worthy’.
But people would be more inclined to see a healthy food or drink as a treat rather than a chore, if it tastes indulgent (51 percent), is full of flavour (44 percent) and feels comforting (38 percent).
Laura Butler remarked: “Finding food and drink which can be enjoyed no matter what your dietary requirements are, without having to miss out of the taste and flavour, shouldn’t mean having to compromise.
“Everyone deserves to enjoy things which boost their moods and enable them to share the fun with others, from birthday meals to ice creams and milkshakes on a hot day.”