Only a third of Brits believe they follow a healthy, balanced diet, according to a new survey conducted by GoNutrition. The study, which polled 2,394 adults across a variety of regions in the UK, revealed that 61% considered their diet unhealthy. The top reasons cited for this belief was that they consumed too much fat (63%), neglected key food groups (52%), consumed too much sugar (41%), took in too many calories (33%) and consumed too many carbohydrates (18%).
These findings arrive on the back of a recent survey of ours which revealed that indulgent dining is a firm part of the British psyche - we found an overwhelming majority of diners (91%) would choose to eat unhealthily at the weekend and that respondents demonstrated a clear tendency to switch from a saintly diet to a sinful one throughout the week.
However, the survey from GoNutrition also reveals a desire from guests to introduce healthier options into their diet. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents had tried to cut an entire food group out of their diets in the past. This should come as no surprise to hospitality operators who have noted the increase in vegetarian and gluten free dining over the past few years, or the desire for a healthier range of options in children's food.
If businesses wish to get involved in the recent trend for healthy, clean eating, the survey offers some suggestions on which dishes guests are most likely to avoid. Giving up carbs to lose weight was the number one reason cited for cutting out a food group with 44% of the votes. Other popular choices included giving up dairy to improve digestive health issues (28%), giving up fats to lose weight (27%), and giving up sugar to prevent diabetes (14%).
However, it seems it's better to simply serve these less healthy options in small portions, rather than taking them off your menu completely. As managing director at GoNutrition, Ross Beagrie, commented: "Ensuring your body is provided with a full and balanced diet is key for your long-term health and well-being. Unless you have been specifically told to do so by a medical professional, fad diets or cutting out crucial food groups entirely will only have negative consequences in the long-term."
