A meating of minds: how roast dinners reveal secrets about your personality
A person’s roast dinner choice can predict their personality type, their lifestyle and even their job, researchers have revealed.
Using sophisticated maths and a process known as data mining, scientists have uncovered a statistical relationship between character, lifestyle habits as well as career path and a person’s favourite roast dinner meat.
The research team found:
Roast turkey dinner eaters are organised, reserved and conscientious
Roast chicken dinner eaters are sympathetic, kind and affectionate
Fans of roast beef dinners take part in sporting activities in their spare time
Those with a penchant for roast pork dinners are more likely to be couch-potatoes
Roast gammon-goers are more likely to be retired
Students are more likely to be lovers of roast lamb
The investigation also found that those who like to mix it up with more than one meat making it onto their roast dinner plate are more likely to make impulsive decisions.
The study commissioned by national restaurant group Toby Carvery marks British Roast Dinner Week (30 September to 6 October) and celebrates all that’s great about a roast dinner.
Even the humble spud came under the spotlight. Mashed potatoes were revealed as the preference for those who are more outgoing, enthusiastic and energetic. Roast potato lovers are more likely to be sensitive and intellectually curious with music playing an important role in their day-to-day life. However, boiled potatoes are the top choice for people who are more likely to watch sport than take part.
Pea-people are generous and open to new experiences, while cauliflower cheese aficionados are conservative and less amenable to change. Those partial to a parsnip are more likely to be optimistic, laid-back, calm and less vulnerable to stress, whereas red cabbage eaters are more likely to be self-absorbed and spontaneous with a tendency for unpredictable behaviour.
People who enjoy more than one Yorkshire pudding typically rate watching TV as the favourite thing to do in their free time, whereas carrot-crunchers are more likely to enjoy reading.
Rachel Westwood at Toby Carvery said: “The meat chosen for a family roast is such a personal choice that as the experts in roast dinners we have often wondered why people opt for the selections that they do.
“It’s amazing to think that just by knowing someone’s favourite choice of roast dinner it’s possible to identify a large amount about who they are, where they live, how they spend their leisure time and their personality traits. We call it a ‘meating of the minds’. You can find out yours at tobycarvery.co.uk.”
The researchers quizzed 1,000 adults across the UK, aged 18+, who answered in-depth questions about their personality and their roast dinner preferences.
Rachel added: “British Roast Dinner Week champions the humble roast dinner as the must-eat family meal, so we’re sure this research will strike a chord with millions of men and women all over the UK as they seek to find the perfect meat choice for the whole family this week.
“Plus, as Roast Dinner Week is one of our favourite times of the year we’re offering all diners a free upgrade to a king-sized carvery in celebration between Monday 30th September and Saturday 12th October when they present the on-line voucher. And, as we offer a four roast carvery every day, we’re sure there is something on offer to suit everyone’s personality.”
The study was carried out for Toby Carvery by Mindlab, an organisation which undertakes specialist research into the psychology and neuroscience of consumer choice and preference.
The results of the survey utilised a mathematical framework called the Generalised Linear Regression Model. Variables from the survey – such as how a person scored on a number of personality type factors – were then put into the model in order to predict character from a person’s preferred roast dinner choice.
For more information on Toby Carvery and to download the voucher for the free carvery upgrade please visit: tobycarvery.co.uk.
Roast dinner meat and personality results
Roast Chicken Dinners
Roast chicken dinner eaters are found all over the UK, but are mostly enjoyed by those in the North East. They work in casual employment. They are most likely to be eaten by men. Generally the average roast chicken dinner eater is also more sympathetic, affectionate and helpful to others. They are also willing to compromise in an argument.
Roast Turkey Dinners
Roast turkey dinner eaters are organised and conscientious. They are also disciplined and more resistant to change. They typically wear more practical, comfortable clothing over anything decorative. They are reserved and reflective. The research found that skilled manual workers – such as carpenters, plumbers, mechanics and electricians – are more likely to enjoy turkey. A taste for turkey also increases as one gets older.
Beef Dinners
The beef dinner eater is a firm favourite for those that live in the South West and engage in sport in their spare time. It is the preferred choice for men aged 45 to 54.
Pork Dinners
Roast pork dinner eaters are most likely to live in the North East and will be in the C2 social demographic. It is the most popular choice for men and women aged 55 to 65. When it comes to sport, pork fans are the least likely to take part. They are also more likely to work as full time carers rather than any other employment.
Roast Lamb Dinners
A student favourite, roast lamb dinner eaters are most likely to live in the North West. They also have a slight tendency to be more extroverted than other meat eaters.
Roast Gammon Dinners
Roast gammon dinners are a firm favourite with the retired, in particular men in their later years. They live all over the UK but are most-heavily concentrated in the East Midlands.
