Valentine’s Day is well known in lots of international locations around the globe as a day to honor love and connection.
Past flowers and heartfelt gestures, meals performs an enormous half in how individuals get pleasure from at the present time collectively.
From chocolate treats to fancy meals, completely different elements of the world rejoice Valentine’s Day in their very own distinctive methods.
This weblog dives into meals tendencies present in MyFitnessPal meals log knowledge, displaying how individuals from completely different cultures rejoice love with meals.
How We Collected the Information
Our Enterprise Intelligence group at MyFitnessPal checked out meals entries from January 2020 to immediately.
They targeted on international locations the place February 14 is extensively celebrated and in contrast meals logs to common day by day entries.* This helped establish the meals that see the largest spikes throughout Valentine’s celebrations.
Based mostly on this knowledge, listed here are the international locations the place we discovered noteworthy Valentine’s Day meals tendencies.
What Folks Ate By Nation
United States: Candy Treats and Luxurious Dishes
Unsurprisingly, U.S. Valentine’s Day meals logs confirmed a concentrate on indulgence.
Chocolate-covered strawberries stole the highlight. These beloved treats noticed an astounding 4,612% spike on February 14, making them a key characteristic of American Valentine’s celebrations.
Peanut butter hearts and brownie batter donuts adopted, every seeing a rise of two,400% in meals logs.
Nevertheless it wasn’t simply sweets that noticed an increase in consumption on Valentine’s Day.
Luxurious meals additionally ranked extremely, notably lobster tail dishes, which noticed a surge of over 1,000% on February 14 in comparison with another day.
This dear shellfish is commonly thought of a delicacy. It exhibits that People will indulge their family members on particular events, like Valentine’s Day.
Within the U.S., heart-shaped treats are nonetheless a basic image of affection, with gadgets like chocolate hearts and dialog hearts additionally climbing the ranks.
Canada: A Coronary heart-Formed Celebration
Canada’s Valentine’s Day tendencies mirror these of its southern neighbor. Chocolate-covered strawberries led entries with a 3,418% improve on the day of affection in accordance with our knowledge.
Moreover, many Canadians celebrated February 14 with heart-shaped sweets—a timeless image of affection and romance.
These treats are among the many most logged Valentine’s Day indulgences within the nation:
- Chocolate hearts (+3,250%)
- Cinnamon coronary heart candies (+1,500%)
- Coronary heart-shaped sugar cookies (+1,200%)
Lobster tails had been additionally closely featured. Logs for this shellfish elevated over 1,000%, signifying Canadians’ shared appreciation for an upscale Valentine’s dinner.
United Kingdom: Luxurious Flavors and Impressed Indulgences
Throughout the pond, the U.Ok. additionally embraces the Valentine’s Day staple of chocolate-covered strawberries, with a 3,133% improve in logs.
However Brits additionally confirmed their love for savory indulgences, with potato Dauphinoise logging 2,675% extra on Valentine’s Day.
Like potatoes au gratin and scalloped potatoes, potato Dauphinoise is a wealthy, comforting facet dish. It’s made with sliced potatoes, cheese, and cream.
This facet is probably going paired with Beef Wellington, which emerged as the highest fundamental dish, experiencing a 1,940% improve in meals logs. Recognized for its wealthy, high-quality lower of beef, this dish is commonly reserved for particular events.
Clearly, individuals within the U.Ok. additionally get pleasure from eating in luxurious on Valentine’s Day.
Different notable tendencies in accordance with our knowledge included profiterole stacks, a tower of French pastries crammed with cream and lined in chocolate sauce, and the tarte au citron, a tangy lemon tart.
These fashionable French and Italian desserts showcase the affect of different European cultures on Valentine’s Day celebrations within the U.Ok.
Eire: Candy and Well being-Aware Indulgences
In Eire, Valentine’s Day indulgences took an fascinating flip, mixing basic romantic favorites with fashionable, health-conscious treats.
In response to our knowledge, a candy carrot facet dish stole the present, with an enormous 2,550% improve in reputation on February 14.
Nonetheless, chocolate remained a high contender. Chocolate-covered treats surged 2,200%, together with chocolate-covered strawberries, which noticed an 1,800% improve in meals logs.
Spicy hearts and chocolate truffles had been additionally among the many nation’s favourite romantic treats.
Surprisingly, protein-packed snacks had notable rises in reputation on Valentine’s Day, too.
Salted caramel protein yogurt, high-protein chocolate pudding with a topping, and a peach-orange high-protein yogurt drink rose sharply. This exhibits a shift towards more healthy indulgences.
Australia: Fashionable Twist on a Conventional Favourite
Australia’s meals logging tendencies round Valentine’s Day weren’t as pronounced as in another international locations, however a few treats stood out as celebratory.
The highest indulgent meals was scorching cross buns, that are spiced candy buns that originated within the U.Ok.
However this standout meals had an Australian twist. These scorching cross buns had been crammed with the caramelized taste of Biscoff unfold.
This contemporary tackle conventional scorching cross buns noticed an enormous leap in reputation, with a 1133% spike in logs on February 14.
So, whereas Biscoff-filled scorching cross buns are sometimes an Easter deal with in Australia, they seem to have develop into a Valentine’s Day favourite as nicely.
Additionally, like in different international locations, chocolate-covered strawberries had been a well-liked Valentine’s deal with in Australia. Consumption on at the present time surged by 967%, including a recent contact to their romantic celebrations.
South Africa: Indulgent Marshmallow Treats
In South Africa, marshmallow treats appear to be integral to Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Marshmallow pies took the highlight with a 1,586% surge in accordance with our knowledge, making them the highest logged indulgence of the day.
Different favorites that logged a 1,000% or extra improve included mallow-filled chocolate hearts and Sweetie or Cutie Pies. These “pies” are iconic desserts made from wafer, marshmallow, and chocolate.
South Africans additionally embraced basic Valentine’s Day treats. These embody chocolate-covered strawberries (+1,500%) and purple velvet cupcakes (+824%).
Italy: Wealthy Sweets and Deep Fried Delights
In Italy, the mugcake dominated Valentine’s Day celebrations. Meals logs for this single-serving dessert confirmed an astounding 4,200% improve on at the present time.
Carnival-inspired deep-fried treats had been one other spotlight, combining festive traditions with romantic celebrations.
These crispy confections had been among the many hottest indulgences:
- Fried chiacchiere (fried pastry strips) (+1,467%)
- Castagnole (fried dough balls) (+1,279%)
- Frappe di Carnevale (fried pastry ribbons) (+1,200%)
Basic Italian favorites additionally held their place. On Valentine’s Day, sanguinaccio (candy blood chocolate pudding) was up 1,350% and Baci Perugina Fondentissimo (darkish chocolate kisses) rose 1,200%.
Chocolate seems to stay an emblem of affection in Italy, together with fried pastries and wealthy desserts.
Different Notable International locations (A-Z)
- Algeria: Chocolate crème brûlée (3800%)
- American Samoa: Iced apple cake (23,200%)
- Argentina: Pink velvet (1167%)
- Austria: Wonderful hearts (1,833%), I really like Milka pralines (1,400%), Macarons (1,300%), I really like Milka pralines strawberry cream (1,200%)
- Bulgaria: Wonderful coronary heart chocolate (3,450%), Herb-cooked ham (2,050%), Ferrero Rocher balls (1,667%), Scitec chocolate peanut (1,500%)
- Denmark: Fastelavn bun (pastry cream crammed with cardamom) (2,350%), Praline nougat hearts (1,443%)
- Indonesia: Gentle cheesecake (1,250%)
- Malaysia: German cookies (1,050%), Luxurious chocolate cake (1,050%)
- Netherlands: Hazelnut creme pralines (1,600%), Nonnevot (doughnut within the form of a bow) (950%)
- New Zealand: Raffaello (coconut-almond truffle) (925%), Choc cross bun block (900%), Caramel squares (880%)
- Norway: Shrovetide bun (jam-filled bun with whipped cream) (6,867%), Semla (Swedish cream bun) (4,900%), Rum cake (1,657%), Whipped cream, (1,191%), Menuett marzipan cake (1,150%)
- Pakistan: Chocolate lined sweets (4,900%)
- Peru: Chardonnay wine (2,750%), Marshmallow (2,750%)
- Philippines: Toblerone (chocolate) (1,750%)
- Poland: Lindor truffle field or bag (4,900%), Wild boar (3,773%), Belgian chocolate sea shells (2,350%), Salted caramel cake (1,540%)
- Portugal: Malassadas (Portuguese doughnuts) (1,414%), I really like Milka pralines (1,150%), Darkish chocolate rings (1,150%)
- Spain: Cod (3,600%), White chocolate wafer bar (Bueno White) (3,100%), Carnival ears (fried pastries) (1,600%)
- Sweden: Golden jelly hearts (10,150%), Lindor irresistibly clean milk (7,750%), Pink jelly hearts (7,600%), Noblesse hearts (4,050%)
- Switzerland: Pisco bitter (2,233%), Chocolate coronary heart (1,950%), Lindor milk balls (1,150%)
- Thailand: Mint chocolate (2,550%)
- Turkey: Chocolate-covered strawberries (3,750%), Chocolate pretzels (1,250%), Chocolate chip mini-cookies (1,250%)
Meals: A Common Language of Love
Chocolate-covered strawberries and splendid dinners could also be fashionable worldwide, however Valentine’s Day meals traditions are as various because the cultures that commemorate them.
From Canada’s heart-shaped confections to Italy’s deep-fried desserts or the U.Ok.’s fantastic eating fare, each nation brings its distinctive taste to the desk.
These traditions mirror every tradition’s distinctive id, which is formed by life-style preferences and ever-changing international meals tendencies.
One factor is evident throughout cultures and international locations: On Valentine’s Day, meals is a common language of affection and connection, whether or not you like elegant indulgences or easy heartfelt expressions.
Interested by what your Valentine’s Day meals logs reveal about you? Begin exploring and monitoring by way of the MyFitnessPal app immediately.
*Notice: Brazil doesn’t rejoice Valentine’s Day on February 14; international locations together with India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, France, Chile, Belgium, Romania, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Morocco, Vietnam, and Hong Kong don’t seem to eat in a different way on February 14; international locations together with Russia, China, Egypt, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, Ukraine, and Greece logged of their respective languages and weren’t translated for this text.
The publish What People Eat Around the World on Valentine’s Day appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.
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