How normal are your eating habits? Do you eat anything strange? Read on to check out what SmartShape subscribers told us in my most recent online survey.Take the current survey | Past survey results | Subscribe
The good news is that SmartShape subscribers' eating habits are mostly normal with a few unusual exceptions. One survey participant reported dipping their choc-top movie ice-cream in the popcorn to make a hedgehog?!
Varied eating styles
Not surprisingly, people differed in their eating styles. Over a quarter (27%) of survey respondents said they had no set style. Just less than one fifth (18%) are eating low-fat and around 16% say they have an erratic style. The other styles below rated at lower percentages:
13% - High-protein
6% - Low-calorie
5% - Low-carbohydrate
4% - Vegetarian
3% - Natural
2% - Organic
4% - Balanced
4% - High -carbohydrate
If “no set style” for eating indicates flexibility in food intake from day-to-day then this is a good thing. You can't expect to fit perfectly within a set style every day. An eating style may merely be a guideline or target you aim for most days.
The high-protein group at 13% may be influenced by the broad exposure of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet. Even so, low-fat eating is still one of the best ways to cut calories.
I'm guessing that the high-carbohydrate group is comprised of active people who need extra carbs to fuel their fitness routines.
Strange foods
The survey did uncover some weird eating habits. For example, unusual combinations which, depending on your preferences, may turn you off or give you a new list of snack ideas?
- Rock melon with pepper and salt
- Rice with ketchup
- Peanut butter and ice-cream
- Vegemite and honey sandwiches
- Peanut butter and sweet chili sauce on rice cakes
- Apple, cheese and mayonnaise
- Cheese and jam sandwiches
- And… A choc-top at the cinema - I eat the chocolate off the top and then dip the ice-cream in popcorn to make a hedgehog.
Most of these foods are pretty healthy, so although a little weird, there's no nutritional problem with being adventurous with food. In fact, one person said they were afraid of trying new foods. So, adopting the dietary mantra of “Try something new every week!” may be just what you need to expand your food choices and improve the variety in your diet. Meal time habits
These were mostly middle of the road. Half of the survey didn't have a particular order for eating parts of their meals. Half drink throughout their meal. Half eat icing and cake together and half eat crisps one-at-a-time.
Divided on dessert
We also asked how people eat their ice-cream - hard or soft? The results were split even with 35.5% each reporting eating ice-cream hard and eating it soft/melted. Personally I'm a softy when it comes to ice-cream, so I will have the casting vote to tip the results in favour of those who only eat ice-cream after its been in the microwave for ten seconds.
The take-home message from this survey is to be adventurous, take risks with new colours, flavours and tastes and enjoy the adventure of food in your next supermarket expedition.
Who responded to the survey?
123 people of which 89% were female
A big thank you to all who completed the survey!
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