Food envy is most likely to strike this pay day weekend, as a month of New year’s resolutions and spending cut backs have led to nearly half of Edinburgh adults falling victim to jealousy of other people’s dishes. Edinburgh folk suffer from food envy three times a month – with cheesy garlic bread, pizza and sticky toffee pudding the most likely dishes to bring on the green-eyed monster, a study has found.
According to the report of January eating habits commissioned by Just Eat, nearly half of Edinburgh adults have fallen victim to ‘food envy’, which refers to feelings of regret about a food choice and wishing they were eating what’s on someone else’s plate instead.
It seems the cold days, dark nights and discipline required to stick to New Year’s resolutions may be contributing to feelings of jealousy. Almost a third admit they are more likely to suffer from food envy in January than at any other time of the year, as they abstain from eating certain foods, or cut back by ordering cheaper dishes, rather than the food they really want.
To tackle the issue, many develop coping strategies to keep food envy at bay. One in three said they usually order the same food as other people simply to avoid feeling jealous, while 38 per cent have changed their order altogether after seeing a friend’s choice.
Graham Corfield of Just Eat, commented: “When ordering a takeaway or dining with friends, there is nothing worse than feeling like you made the wrong choice when the person next to you has something you want more.
“With many trying to cut back during January, food envy is rife, particularly as we battle to make it to pay day after the long month of having little or no money. With thousands of restaurants on Just Eat serving over 100 different cuisines, there’s plenty to choose from to hopefully help keep food envy at bay.”
The study of 100 adults from Edinburgh found cheesy garlic bread is the biggest food envy-inducing starter, followed by nachos, crispy duck pancakes, ribs and lamb shish kebabs.
When it comes to the main course, pizza is most likely to leave fellow diners battling the green-eyed-monster along with fish and chips, steak, a hearty cheeseburger and a juicy mixed grill.
Sticky toffee pudding is the most enviable dessert, followed by cheesecake, an ice cream sundae, melting chocolate pudding and apple crumble.
When food envy strikes, it’s seems loved ones bear the brunt. Almost one in four of those surveyed, via OnePoll.com, admit food envy has led to rows, with 72 per cent revealing the disagreements are usually between them and their partner. Falling outs have happened because someone tried to take food from their plate, while others admit they have argued with their partner after they ordered something knowing they loved it but couldn’t eat it.
Almost one in five have even stolen food from another person’s plate when they weren’t looking, while around one in twenty have switched meals with someone altogether.
Top 10 starter dishes most likely to cause food envy:
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Cheesy garlic bread
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Nachos
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Crispy duck pancakes
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Sticky ribs
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Lamb shish kebab
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Duck spring rolls
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Calamari
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Bruschetta
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Chicken satay skewers
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Onion rings
Top 10 main course dishes most likely to cause food envy:
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Pizza
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Fish and Chips
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Sirloin steak
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Cheeseburger
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Mixed grill
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Thai curry
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Burritos
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Doner kebab
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Pad Thai
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Rack of ribs
Top 10 dessert dishes most likely to cause food envy:
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Sticky toffee pudding
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Cheesecake
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Ice cream sundae
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Melting chocolate pudding
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Apple crumble
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Chocolate fudge cake
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Chocolate brownie
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Chocolate chip cookie dough
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Creme brulee
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Churros
To order, download the Just Eat smartphone app today or go to www.just-eat.co.uk.
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