Three in 10 people see not being able to cook as a ‘dealbreaker’ when considering whether they would date someone.
This comes as a poll of 2,000 adults found 65 per cent of the nation view food as a love language, showing that mealtimes remain one of the nation’s favourite ways to show they care.
While a homemade meal may be considered the ultimate expression of affection, not everyone is an expert at showing their love through cuisine.
When it comes to food as the language of love, the highest proportion (35 per cent) described themselves as merely ‘conversational’.
And 13 per cent still consider themselves a beginner, while things are still very much lost in translation for 11 per cent, according to the research commissioned by Waitrose.
Even though not everyone is fluent in the language of food, the highest number (37 per cent) will still attempt to speak it in order to tell someone ‘I love you’.
Spending time and effort on a homemade meal was identified as the gold standard of romance for 36 per cent, just beating the traditional candlelit dinner (35 per cent).
Christmas is also clearly a big time to communicate love through food, and even after the big celebrations are wrapped up, 73 per cent of people will use it to make Twixmas feel special and keep the festive spirit alive.
Three in 10 (31 per cent) will choose to do this by transforming their heaps of leftovers into something surprisingly delicious.
Whereas 15 per cent will even revisit favourite festive dishes they’ve already eaten, to relive the feelings it gave them the first time around.
Chris Wynn, at Waitrose, said: “Food is a love language all of its own. It helps us show how much we care on a deeper, more thoughtful level, and perhaps say something that words just can't.
“Different dishes, settings and intentions can each say something unique, but nothing says it better than food."
A cosy breakfast in bed (23 per cent) or an easy-going picnic in the park (22 per cent) were also some of the top methods of displaying affection, proving more casual and spontaneous moments have their role in strengthening a relationship.
The study, undertaken by OnePoll.com, also explored how different dishes speak to people, as 30 per cent shared their experience of using edible treats to make amends – which successfully led to forgiveness for 77 per cent of this group.
Utilising either their knowledge of that person’s favourite meal to win them over (21 per cent) or otherwise relying on something sugary, like a chocolate cake, to sweeten the deal (14 per cent).
Whereas if they wanted to let someone know “we’re basically family now”, they would choose something hearty like a roast dinner (22 per cent), full English breakfast (15 per cent), or fish and chips (13 per cent).
People are most likely to show their proficiency in saying it with food using homemade bakes, like cake or cookies (21 per cent), followed by chocolate (21 per cent) or a steak dinner (19 per cent).
On the flipside, foods they would never cook for a date included hot wings (26 per cent), fish pie (24 per cent), or anything involving anchovies or sardines as an ingredient (38 per cent).
Cooking someone’s favourite meal came out on top as the clearest sign of care (52 per cent), but nostalgia also plays a role for 22 per cent, who want to reminisce through recreating a meal they had on a trip with a loved one.
The same number (22 per cent) voted for a simple cup of tea and biscuits in bed to show someone thought, proving a small but considered gesture to start the day still speaks volumes.
Chris Wynn continued: “Christmas is about togetherness, and food is central to bringing people together and creating culinary memories - whether it's cooking for someone or enjoying a shared meal.
“And it’s not just about Christmas Day itself; many are getting creative in the kitchen in the days that follow to show family, friends and loved ones they care.
“We are here to help food lovers say it with food during the festive period and beyond.”
TOP 10 FOODS THAT SAY ‘I LOVE YOU’:
1. A homemade bake (e.g., cake, cookies etc.)
2. Chocolate
3. Breakfast in bed
4. Steak dinner
5. Roast dinner
6. Chocolate cake
7. Strawberries
8. Full English breakfast
9. Pizza
10. Pasta
