Now bring us some figgy pudding! Brits think dads, husbands and boyfriends eat the most on Christmas Day

London (18 December 2018) – Apart from opening presents, an integral part of the British Christmas Day is eating, and new research has found that Brits think certain family members eat more than others on the day.

Give as you Live surveyed 2,000 British consumers about their grocery and eating habits during the festive season and found that more than a quarter of Brits think their husband or boyfriend (27%) is the biggest Christmas eater, while a further 26% say it’s dad.

The nation’s biggest eaters on Christmas Day Husband (or boyfriend) 27% Dad 26% Oldest sibling 15% Youngest sibling 9% Wife (or girlfriend) 8% Mum 7% Middle sibling 5% Grandpa 3% Grandma 1%

The oldest sibling might also be the one to blame for scoffing the last of the pigs in blankets, as 15% of Brits say that they are the ones eating the most on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, grandmas are the ones who will be skipping dessert this year, as only 1% of Brits believe that they eat the most on Christmas Day.

Hungry husbands and feasting fathers

Almost half of women pointed the finger at their husband or boyfriend (42%) as the greediest family member at Christmas, followed by their dad (20%) and oldest siblings (14%).

On the other hand, almost a third (32%) of men decided that their dads are the ones who will be eating all the mince pies on Christmas Day, followed by oldest siblings (16%) and their wife or girlfriend (14%).

For those aged 18 to 24-years-old, dad (43%) is crowned the biggest eater, however more than one in 10 of the age group think their mum and oldest sibling (12% respectively) indulge more than their husband or boyfriend (9%) on Christmas Day.

While it’s clear that the men of the families take the cake for Christmas eating, British families will be prepared, with the research also revealing that Brits will be spending an average of £166 per person on groceries this Christmas, the equivalent to seven times the average weekly food and drink budget*.

Greg Hallett, managing director at Give as you Live, commented, “Eating festive food round the dinner table is a staple activity during Brits’ Christmas Day festivities and we all know a family member that likes to overindulge during the day. Hosting and feeding our family and friends on Christmas Day requires planning, and budgeting for the big day can be supported by all sorts of initiatives including, online deals, bulk buying and pre-paid grocery cards. This ensures that everyone can indulge without worrying about the cost too much.”

Editors notes

*Average food and drink weekly expenditure is £43.18 per person according to ONS figures.

About Give as you Live

Give as you Live is a comprehensive fundraising hub for charities. Give as you Live’s products make it easy for all 220,000 UK charities to generate extra income and increase supporter loyalty through innovate technology.

All Give as you Live products are free for charities and can be managed and accessed via a charity’s own secure admin area. Give as you Live offers: