Nearly half the British public (49%) say they will be eating pancakes this Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, which takes place today, with the simple but brilliant lemon and sugar combination topping the poll (65%) as the British pancake eater’s favourite filling. But while the majority is happy to partake in this traditionally pre-Lent ritual, most (73%) say that they will not be giving up anything for the stipulated post-pancake forty days this year.
- 49% said that they were planning to eat pancakes this Pancake Day
- 32% said they might be
- 17% were adamant they wouldn’t be
- But just 2% said they never eat pancakes anyway
Favourite fillings
It seems that Brits like their pancakes nice and sweet, as 64% of pancake eaters chose sweet over savoury, while 10% picked savoury over sweet. An easy-going 21% said they liked both equally. But when it comes to pancake fillings, opinions divide.
- The classic lemon and sugar came out top with 65%
- Maple syrup came next on 27%, with pale treacle, such as Golden Syrup, third with 15%
- Other sweet treats like ice cream (13%), jam (11%), chocolate spread such as Nutella (11%), honey (10%) and fruit (6%) were firm favourites with the public
- While a less sugary bunch chose savoury tastes like cheese (4%), ham (2%), smoked salmon with cream cheese (2%), mushrooms (1%) and spinach (1%).
Giving things up
But although many people planning to eat pancakes on Pancake Day thought they’d be eating between 1 and 5 pancakes (89%), a substantial 73% of all Brits said that they weren’t planning on giving up anything for Lent, the Christian period of forty days’ abstinence, in which people traditionally ‘give up’ something pleasurable, usually something food- or drink-related, for the duration.
- Perhaps predictably, chocolate was the ‘treat’ most said they’d forsake, with 8%
- 7% went further, banning all junk food
- 6% apiece said they were intending to do without sweets or alcohol
- 3% said smoking
- 2% will try to go without coffee, and 1% each said tea and all caffeine was off limits
- A penitent 3% said food aside, they’d actually be trying not to swear.
Happy Pancake Day, everyone!
