Love at first bite - why food choices are crucial for many Brits when it comes to dating

It has long been said that a man’s stomach is the way to his heart but, as it turns out, the same could probably be said for women.

Since lockdown restrictions eased a few months ago, thousands of Brits have been firing back-up the dating apps, eager to end the dating drought.

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And a new study of 2,000 adults has unveiled that it is a case of ‘love at first bite’ for more than one in five Brits, who admit they decide whether to continue dating someone based on their food preferences.

The poll revealed that 22 per cent would only consider a future with someone if they shared the same taste in cuisine as them and are considered ‘food compatible’.

In fact, 14 per cent admitted they would end a budding romance if the person in question had completely different tastes to them.

And 11 per cent have, or would, decide against a second date based on their prospective lover’s food order.

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Dr Christy Fergusson, a food psychologist, said: “It isn’t surprising to hear that food plays such an important role when searching for a partner. 

“What someone eats and the food choices they make can give important insights into who they are.

“It’s clear that we don’t only make decisions about compatibility with our head and our heart but our taste buds too.”

The research also found that a quarter said the person being food compatible has a strong bearing on whether a date is going well with 12 per cent admitting they would consider walking out on a date purely because of what the other person ordered.

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Chicken was crowned the most popular dish to tuck into when on a date – with a whopping 46 per cent of men and women having a passion for poultry.

By contrast, foods which Brits think should be avoided on an initial date include anything with lots of onion (23 per cent), garlic (36 per cent) or fish (ten per cent).

Ribs (14 per cent), corn on the cob (12 per cent) and sushi (10 per cent) should also be dodged.

On the other hand, foods considered ‘safe’ on a first date included chicken and chips (39 per cent), pizza (39 per cent) and steak (39 per cent).

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Italian was found to be the go-to cuisine according to 46 per cent, followed by British (43 per cent) and Chinese (24 per cent).

A third even admitted they would prefer a home-cooked dinner made for them rather than going to a fancy restaurant for a first date.

The study, commissioned by Peperami Chicken Bites, also found that for two in five it takes a mere five minutes to make a judgement of someone on a first meeting.

But of those currently in a relationship, just 55 per cent feel they are compatible with their partner when it comes to their food tastes.