New study reveals public’s unrivalled loyalty to the fat-free potato
People in Plymouth would rather go without alcohol or dessert at dinner time than miss out on their fix of potatoes according to new research. Almost half (41%) of people in Plymouth confessed that they would banish the booze, 40% would happily ditch a dessert and 23% would rather wave goodbye to water than forego a healthy potato with their dinner (20%).
The poll, commissioned by the new Potatoes: More Than A Bit On The Side campaign, discovered Plymouth's unquestionable love for the classic spud; as an overwhelming 88% of respondents were defiant that potatoes should be present on their plates at least once a day. On the extreme end of the scale, nearly half (45%) in Plymouth would even opt to have potatoes on their death bed and one quarter (25%) would choose potatoes as part of their one desert island dinner.
In fact, more than two in five Plymouth adults (41%) claimed that they would be disappointed and upset if a restaurant or loved one served up a dish that didn’t feature a trusty potato. Potatoes are shown to be Plymouth's favourite main meal carb (64%) beating pasta (19%), rice (10%) and noodles (3%).
With a huge majority (97%) of Plymouth based potato fans seeing them as versatile, the public think certain meals should always be paired with certain potatoes. A mouth-watering 94% of the public believe it would be a crime not to partner potatoes with a roast dinner and nearly three quarters of respondents (73%) admit to having high expectations of seeing 'tatties on the table' for certain occasions such as a Sunday lunch (55%). However, despite being very fond of them, 45% of people don’t see potatoes as a fashionable food, particularly women.
Kate Cox, Marketing Manager from AHDB Potatoes, said: "In 2015, it's clear that the Plymouth public still has a love affair with potatoes and there are some meals where we expect them to be served on a regular basis. However, this nostalgic affection also brings a reputation, particularly amongst young women, that potatoes are a traditional food and not relevant in modern cooking, which is a real challenge.
"As well as enjoying potatoes in the way we always have, consumers in Plymouth should experiment with them and be more adventurous by having a go at cooking recipes such as Indian-inspired Potato and Chickpea Masala or Jamaican Jerk Haddock, Prawn and Potato Cakes. Potatoes are so versatile and can form the basis of lots of different meal ideas, but we do need to break out of our potato-cooking comfort zones."
Almost half (47%) of people confessed to sticking to what they know with their potato dishes, pairing the same kind of spud with the same meal time and again. This explains why the most sought after food pairings include fish and chips (28%), followed by sausage and mash (14%).
The campaign, run on behalf of industry by AHDB and Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board), is geared towards making potatoes more relevant to a younger audience and encouraging the public to try new and exciting ways of incorporating them into their cooking routines. Currently 62% of people view potatoes as the 'bit on the side', something the campaign is looking to combat.
Kate Cox continued: "Healthy eating is paramount in today's food market and potatoes can sometimes be forgotten in modern and 'on trend' recipes. They are the original superfood and it would be fantastic to see more people in Plymouth creating different meals with them. Potatoes are naturally fat-free and nutritious, as well as being quick and easy to prepare and cook with."
There’s no doubt that potatoes will always have a place on the dinner table. When asked about the main reasons for missing potatoes on their plates, over half (57%) of respondents said it was because they love the taste, a third stated that potatoes keep them satisfied between meals without needing to snack and over one quarter don’t feel their meal would be complete without potatoes.
For more information on the campaign and lots of tasty recipe ideas visit: www.lovepotatoes.co.uk / www.potato.ie.
