MidBritain - Insight into the UK's Superconsumers

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MidBritain panel on Food & Drink

Read what MidBritons had to say about food and drink

  woman checking nutritional content of food in the supermarket  healthy food being cooked in a pan  a dad feeding his young son breakfast  a couple out eating in a restaurant


 

MidBritain is passionate about good food. They savour the food journey - sourcing, shopping, cooking and eating.

  • They enjoy eating out on a regular basis and over a third are passionate ‘foodies’ – they love everything about food.

MidBritons try and maintain a healthy lifestyle of exercise and good food but they also like to treat themselves now and then.

  • Three quarters of them try to eat healthily most of the time.
  • However 9 in 10 MidBritons think exercise is just as important as a good, balanced diet which is more important than calorie counting.
  • 64% have either torn out recipes or kept papers or magazines for their recipes.

MidBritons believe that it is the responsibility of the individuals and parents to improve the nation’s diet.

  • 42% see an unhealthy diet and 27% see lack of exercise as the main cause of obesity in the UK
  • 1 in 4 MidBritons thought that the Jamie Oliver’s school dinner campaign helped change they way children eat. However, the majority still think that parents (53%) or the individual (36%) have the greatest responsibility for healthy eating.

Health conscious MidBritons seek out health information but are still confused by salt and fat guidelines.

  • 6 in 10 MidBritons think food labelling helps them eat more healthily.
  • 72% prefer the traffic light system of labelling compared to the GDA
  • The ‘5 a-day’ message has been extremely successful and almost all MidBritons understand these guidelines
  • Only half of MidBritons are aware of the fat and salt guidelines.

MidBritons regularly buy organic and Fair Trade products

  • Two thirds of MidBritons buy organic and Fair Trade produce every month
  • A third grow their own vegetables.
  • 4 in ten regularly shop at farmers markets because… "You can really tell the difference from non organic produce."

Most MidBritons do not smoke and a significant number agree that they are more likely to go to the pub as a result of the smoking ban.

Favourite Foods: Roast dinner, Italian, Chinese, Chocolate, Indian/Curry

Source: BMRB; Base: 1,591 MidBritain Mail Readers; Survey date: July 07