Tesco’s annual Christmas report has revealed that more and more Britons are forgoing the iconic Christmas turkey dinner as almost a quarter will be eating something else this year. The report also revealed that younger generations are more likely to try something new, as only 30% of 18-34 year olds will eat turkey this year, compared to 58% in 2021.
Many people have decided to switch to chicken for their holiday roast, but others will eat something less traditional, such as curry, pasta, pizza or frittatas.
The number of young people aged 18 to 24 who decided to try a dish inspired by different cuisines from around the world also more than doubled.
Other changes Gen Z will bring this year are the rise of “Friendmas” celebrations, where Christmas is celebrated with friends rather than loved ones.
The trend, which started during lockdown, has led more than one in ten young people aged 18-34 to plan to spend the holidays with friends, with 5% of Britons overall opting to share Christmas with friends.
Although young people have decided to ditch the turkey, other Christmas favorites are making a comeback.
Brussels sprouts, once considered the worst Christmas dish, have grown in popularity with younger generations, with the number of 18 to 24 year olds who say they “like” them rising by 69%.
The pâté as a starter for Christmas has also been revived thanks to Generation Z – as 8% of 18-24 year olds will eat it this year, compared to 4% last year.
The Christmas pudding is growing in popularity among all generations of Britons, but the number of young people taking the traditional dessert this year has more than doubled, from 8% in 2021 to 17% in 2022.
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Some households will not be as happy as other holidays this year as the number of Brits identifying as teetotalers has increased.
Two in five Gen Z Britons said they would drink less alcohol over the holiday season, compared to 21% of all adults.
Some drinks have also become less popular, as the number of people drinking red wine has fallen from 28% to 7% over the past five years.
Prosecco proved to be the drink of choice for the country this Christmas at 16%, followed by Champagne at 12%.
The Scots in particular loved the fizzy drink, as 24% of Edinburgh residents said they would have a glass of Prosecco.
