January 2018 marks the second time we’ve questioned the nation in a bid to figure out just how much the average person loves food. Last year’s results uncovered some very interesting statistics, so this time around we’ve made it bigger and better. We surveyed a nationally representative group of 3,000 people from across the UK, then asked 5,000 Great British Chefs users to see how the two groups compared.

The most obvious thing that stood out was that the British food revolution is clearly continuing to gather momentum. While there are those that describe their food as homely and simple, it’s the growing number of people who describe their food as adventurous and international that is interesting to see. An ever-increasing range of cuisines are being cooked and unusual ingredients are finding their way into shopping baskets more often.

We’re hosting more dinner parties, too. Kitchens continue to be renovated leading to an increase in homes now having modern features such as induction hobs. And we’re heading to the butcher, fishmonger and delicatessen to track down the finest ingredients to prepare in our kitchens when hosting friends and family.

As food continues to become a more important part of our national identity, so does what we choose to avoid eating. While the vegan movement remains relatively small (5%) it is on the rise, and a large number of people are trying to eat less meat and follow more of a plant-based diet. Over 70% of people still claim to eat everything, but 45% also eat protein substitutes like Quorn alongside meat and fish – an interesting development.