Don’t forget a mince pie for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. Leaving food out on Christmas Eve has been a long-standing tradition as a thank you gesture for the gifts he brings.
A new survey by food box delivery service HelloFresh reveals how many Brits leave food out, and the festive treats they’re offering for Santa and his reindeer.
Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh, comments on the beloved tradition, saying it’s a meaningful way to show that giving is as important as receiving.
“Leaving mince pies, some cookies and milk or a glass of sherry is a great gesture to teach kids to show appreciation for the goodies Santa brings,” she says. “It’s a simple way to help children understand gratitude, turning their festive treats into a heartfelt thank you.”
The results show that around 7.3 million Brits are still keeping the Christmas magic alive by leaving food out for Santa, representing approximately 29% of UK households.
For those who do leave out a festive treat, mince pies are the top choice, with just over half (53%) opting for this classic. This equates to roughly 3.9 million mince and 929 million calories if each household contributed just one pie.
If they left a typical plateful of three pies each, that total would soar to nearly 2.8 billion calories.
Alongside mince pies, 39% of Brits leave out milk and cookies, the second most common option. This equates to around 2.85 million UK households offering milk and cookies to Santa, totalling roughly 1.23 billion calories.
The survey also showed approximately 1.68 million UK households leave out alcohol (sherry) for Santa, adding another 176.5 million calories, and over 1 million units of alcohol, which is about 72,000 times the UK limit.
When it comes to Rudolph, 36% or approximately 2.63 million households leave out carrots, equating to 65.7 million calories.
In total, approximately 4.27 billion calories will be left out for Santa and his reindeer this Christmas.
To take the stress out of festive cooking, visit HelloFresh.
