Dinner Dating Debunked
Talking with your mouth full is the biggest food ick in Britain
Culinary dating can be pretty daunting. In a close, intimate setting, everything you do is subject to scrutiny. Our research has uncovered that almost half the UK (49%) think that talking with your mouth full is the biggest ick on a date.
A further 48% say loud slurping is their number one irritation, while a quarter (25%) say their date spilling food down themselves is extremely offputting.
If you’re thinking of sharing food, this is another big red flag, as one in five Brits (19%) get the ick from their date stealing food off their plate or playing with their food (15%).
For 27% of Brits, getting food stuck in facial hair or their teeth is the worst thing their date could do. A further one in five people (20%) get the ick from their date picking up dropped food & then eating it.
Over half of Brits (52%) avoid eating sushi on a date
When deciding what to eat on a date, many Brits avoid messy foods such as spaghetti Bolognese (26%) and fajitas (25%).
Strong-smelling foods are also a no-go, with almost a third of Brits (30%) avoiding any seafood, 25% avoiding garlic bread and 24% avoiding curry.
With 14% of people getting the ick from their date using their hands to pick up food, it’s no surprise that 39% of Brits avoid eating corn on the cob, and 38% wouldn’t order ribs. Chopstick foods are also causing some grief with over half of Brits (52%) avoiding sushi for a first date.
At the other end of the scale, over three-quarters of Brits (78%) would eat a burger on a date, while 84% would opt for pizza. Pasta closely follows at 83%, and steak also ranks highly, with 75% choosing this dish.
Two in five (40%) Brits would not be comfortable eating a meal on a first date
While a romantic meal might sound like the ideal date for some, 40% of Brits think it would be an uncomfortable experience.
Over half of 16–24-year-olds (60%) would not be comfortable eating on a first date, and 6% would never feel comfortable eating in front of their date.
Our research shows that, on average, Brits need to have two dates with someone before they feel comfortable going for a sit-down meal.
For most Brits, different dietary requirements don’t affect their dating opinions
Pescatarians have the most freedom with dating, as only 17% of Brits would be put off by their restricted diet. Similarly, it’s good news for those following a keto diet, as only one in five Brits (20%) are put off by this.
Vegetarians closely follow behind, with 21% of Brits being put off dating someone who doesn’t eat meat or fish. Surprisingly, almost a third of Brits (30%) are not willing to date a vegan. Although plant-based diets have increased in recent years, only 3% of the UK population identify as strictly vegan, equating to roughly 2 million people.
16% of vegetarians say they would not date somebody who is vegan, yet only 12% of vegans would not date a vegetarian.
Half the UK would not change their eating habits for someone
While the majority of Brits (66%) are not put off by their partner’s dietary requirements, if they were asked to change their diet, 50% say they would be unwilling.
While an increased number of Brits (12%) identify as flexitarian (only occasionally eating meat), most Brits (59%) do not follow any specific dietary rules.
Meanwhile, over a quarter of Brits (28%) would not date a fussy eater, with almost one in five people aged 16 to 34 (19%) being critical of this.
43% of Brits would be put off if their date couldn’t cook
When looking for compatible partners, Brits value culinary skills. Just under half the population (43%) would be put off a potential partner if they couldn’t cook.
At the other end of the scale, almost a quarter of Brits (23%) have bought a pre-cooked meal and passed it off as homemade to impress a date. And when cooking for a potential partner, just under half of Brits (44%) are nervous about the outcome.
