sprouts

Sprouts: Not always the Christmas staple

Carrots have topped sprouts as the nation’s favourite vegetable for Christmas lunch, according to a new consumer survey.

The poll of 500 online respondents, commissioned by vegetable supplier Freshtime and conducted by Gorkana, found that 73 per cent of those asked said carrots were their favourite vegetable, followed by parsnips (61.4 per cent) and sprouts (54.8 per cent).

Just over seven out of ten (70.6 per cent) of respondents will eat sprouts over Christmas, while 73 per cent will eat carrots.

The survey into Christmas vegetables was commissioned this month.

“December is a very busy month for winter vegetables, especially Brussels sprouts in the run-up to Christmas, and we’re not surprised to hear that sprouts are as popular as ever,” said Mark Newton, Freshtime managing director.

“Some people may have been put off sprouts as a child when they were served mushy and overcooked, but a crisp sprout steamed and sautéed with chestnuts or pancetta is a fantastic side dish at Christmas.”

Freshtime said that the idea that sprout consumption peaks at Christmas is untrue – the company claimed that two thirds of total UK sprout consumption happens outside of the festive season.