When asked about our own eating habits, a lot of us like to think that we are healthy eaters. But how does this compare with our actual dietary habits? And how do British diets differ from American diets? Let’s take a look at what Mintel’s research can tell us about what healthy eating in Britain looks like vs. healthy eating in America as we uncover dietary habits, intentions, and trends.
Healthy Eating in Britain
For most people living in the UK, eating healthily is considered to be important – in fact, most make a conscious effort to eat healthily. Mintel’s latest research examines how the dietary habits of British and American people compare with their healthy intentions, by uncovering what they purchase and order. For most, it means choosing grocery items that promote a healthy diet rather than removing treats from their lifestyle. Let’s dive into how Brits make dietary choices eating out and dining at home.
Dining Out in the UK
When it comes to dining out and ordering takeaway in the UK, finding a restaurant that suits dietary preferences is not a priority for most. Many restaurants offer options catering to a low-calorie, vegetarian, vegan, or halal diet; but only 1 in 10 British diners report finding these menu options as a key factor in choosing a restaurant. Instead, it seems that healthy eating takes priority in home cooking, whereas many Brits see dining out as a treat in which they need not worry about the healthiness of their order.
Given that almost two-thirds of Brits consider all-you-can-eat deals at restaurants to be good value for money, calorie counting and portion control do not appear to factor into how they choose where to eat and what to order.
Home Cooking in the UK
Attitudes towards healthy eating more generally in the UK are overwhelmingly positive. In Mintel’s study on Attitudes towards Healthy Eating in the UK, half of the sample reported trying to eat healthily most of the time. For more than 50% of people, this includes buying ‘better for you’ food and drink items, such as those with lower sugar levels; and avoiding ultra-processed foods.
However, even though we are living in an age of constant technological development, Mintel has found that some Smart Nutrition brands like Huel are failing to actually offer products that add nutritional functionality. Furthermore, there are some concerns that meal replacement options contain ultra-processed food ingredients that may be harmful to health, such as artificial preservatives and sweeteners. For those Brits concerned with eating healthily, sticking to your balanced diet and five-a-day may still be a better option than innovative foods claiming health benefits.
Healthy Eating in the US
Despite the fact that around 3 in 5 Americans consider eating healthily to be important, less than 1 in 5 consider it to be easy. In fact, although healthy eating is valued highly by most, less than half of Americans rated it in their top three health priorities. So, with healthy eating appearing to be an intentional, but not practical, priority for many Americans, how does this translate into their dining choices when eating out compared with at home?
Dining Out in the US
Similarly to British diners, American dietary habits when eating in restaurants are focused more around enjoyment than health; more than half of diners are inclined to order dishes they can’t easily make at home. By comparison, less than a third report ordering dishes with functional health benefits. Though this does not necessarily mean that American diners are not interested in healthy options, it does highlight that health benefits are not a priority when ordering in restaurants.
This trend applies not only to ordering in restaurants, but to takeout too, as almost two-thirds of Americans order takeout as a treat or to avoid cooking. Less than 1 in 5 people order takeout as part of their routine. This suggests that a more significant reason for ordering takeout is not wanting to cook, rather than because takeout suits their dietary preferences.
Home Cooking in the US
In the last year, around 2 in 5 Americans reported buying more food and beverage products with organic or ‘all natural’ claims. Furthermore, the prevailing factor in motivating American shoppers to purchase organic products is that they are viewed as healthy. In fact, well over half of Americans consider natural and organic groceries to be healthier than those without the same claims. With most considering organic and natural groceries to be better for your health, and a large group of Americans purchasing organic and natural groceries at an increasing rate, it appears that home cooking in America is taking on a healthier intention.
However, when asked about the factors that contribute to meal planning, almost 20% more Americans reported they choose meals that are easy to prepare than healthy. With convenience groceries often containing processed ingredients, perhaps the intention towards healthy meal prep does not always translate into preparing healthy meals when cooking at home.
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FAQs
On average, items on U.S. menus had more calories, sugar, fat, and saturated fat than their U.K. counterparts.
What are the dietary guidelines for the UK? ›
eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, choosing wholegrain versions where possible. have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as fortified soya drinks), choosing lower fat and lower sugar options.
Is the UK diet healthy? ›
Most people in the UK eat and drink too many calories, too much saturated fat, sugar and salt, and not enough fruit, vegetables, oily fish or fibre. The Eatwell Guide does not apply to children under the age of 2 because they have different nutritional needs.
What are the barriers to eating healthy in the UK? ›
In particular, the report focuses on three barriers to healthy eating in the UK: food affordability, food prices and access to food stores selling healthy groceries at a good price. The key findings of the study are that: Food is a key component of household budgets in the UK.
Are Brits healthier than Americans? ›
People living in England enjoy better health than Americans, despite less investment in healthcare, research published in the US has revealed. Across all ages, US residents tend to fare worse in terms of diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease markers, data on over 100,000 people show.
Which country eats the healthiest in the world? ›
1/ Okinawan diet – Japan
So much so that Japan has the lowest obesity rates and second longest life expectancy of any developed country. The Okinawan diet is centred around fish, seafood, tofu, and other nutrient-rich ingredients. It's also extremely low in processed foods.
How many meals do the British eat a day? ›
What do people normally eat nowadays in England, and how many mealtimes do they have (tea, high tea, supper)? It's usual for English people (as well as everyone else in the U.K.) to have three meals a day: breakfast in the morning, a light meal in the middle of the day, and a main meal in the evening.
What is the standard British diet? ›
Traditionally, the UK boasts a very meat-and-potatoes kind of meal. Some traditional meals that the United Kingdom offers includes: Sunday roast, which is roast beef, potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding; Shepherd's Pie, which is literally just meat and potatoes; and other pastry-and-meat assorted dishes.
What are the meal habits in the UK? ›
Lunch: The British generally give little time to lunch and prefer to opt for a sandwich accompanied by chips, a fruit and a drink, or for a Fish and Chips or a burger eaten in haste. With the exception of Sunday, the opportunity to gather together around the table and the famous Sunday Roast.
Is the British diet still unhealthy? ›
Ultra-processed food — meaning a packaged product, generally high in calories and low in nutrients, containing unfamiliar ingredients that have been through multiple stages of industrial processing — makes up 57 per cent of the British diet. We eat more of this stuff than any other European nation.
Starchy foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in our diet. These foods are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals. Pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils, are good alternatives to meat because they're low in fat and they're a good source of fibre and protein, too.
What is the dietary pattern in the UK? ›
As of January 2019, just under 79 percent of the population identified themselves as meat-eaters in the United Kingdom (UK). Approximately nine percent described themselves as flexitarian or semi-vegetarian. The third most popular dietary choice, with around three percent, was lacto-ovo-vegetarianism.
Why do low-income families eat unhealthy in the UK? ›
One explanation is simply that eating more healthily costs more. A study by the Food Commission compared the cost of a basket of regular food with that of healthier equivalents, such as low‐fat, reduced‐salt and wholegrain versions.
Is unhealthy food cheaper in the UK? ›
In 2023, bread, rice, potatoes and pasta was cheapest (£0.12/100 kcal) and fruit and vegetables most expensive (£1.01/100 kcal). Less healthy food was cheaper than more healthy food (£0.33/100 kcal versus £0.81/100 kcal).
What is the health problem in the UK? ›
The four most common chronic conditions in the UK for men and women were allergy, high blood pressure, low back disorder and depression; allergy was the most common reported chronic health condition in both men and women (30.4% and 36.0%, respectively).
Is food healthier in Europe than in the US? ›
Europeans tend to have diets that are less reliant on processed foods, high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and lower in sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Portion sizes in Europe are generally smaller, reducing the probability of overeating.
Which is better, the US or the UK? ›
If you want a life where you feel in control of your world and have stability - then the UK is by far the better place to be. If you want a life where you could be the next president, a billionaire or living on the streets with the flip of a coin then the US is great for that.
Is UK beef better than US? ›
British Beef is considered to be some of the best meat in the world due to the use of the grass grazing systems in the UK. Rotational Grass Grazing Systems provide a range of benefits including: Increased grass production. Longer grazing season.
Is food cheaper in UK or USA? ›
One of the biggest differences between the US and UK in terms of cost of living is the cost of food. According to a 2021 analysis by Numbeo, the average UK family grocery bill is £253 per week (roughly $346). That's a 20.8% increase on the average US family grocery bill of $287 per week.
