Men and women have very different eating habits

There is a strong gender divide in the eating habits of UK adults, research has revealed.

In the week that an Office of National Statistics (ONS) survey revealed that Britons now spend more on eating out than they do at home - £87.5b compared with £85.8b - analysis of 1,000 adults by food research consultancy Him highlighted marked differences in the behaviour of men and women.

The survey, conducted between March and June, showed that 63% of male respondents ate in a workplace restaurant every week, compared with just 37% of women.

And while 71% of women ate in a food court every week, only 29% of men did. Men were also heavier users of sandwich shops (67%) and pubs (62%).

Other notable differences included 70% of respondents from the ABC1 social group eating in a sandwich shop every week, compared with 30% from C2DE (lower earners).

The ONS survey of changing trends between 1992 and 2004 revealed that the amount spent on food consumed outside the home soared by 102.2% to £85.7b. Expenditure on food eaten at home grew at half that rate, rising by 53.4% to £85.8b.

By Daniel Thomas

Brits spend more on eating out than they do on meals at home>>

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