The poll of 2,000 people found that there are several reasons why people envy the French: food, style and work-life balance are all reasons to praise them.
Survey shows British people respect the French
A surprising new survey suggests Brits are secretly obsessed with the French lifestyle.
A survey of 2,000 people revealed our yearning for France’s fine cuisine, hip fashion sense and coveted work-life balance.
A staggering four in ten Brits profess to “adore” all things French, with a massive 66% keen to incorporate a bit of France into their everyday lives.
The survey, commissioned by St-Pierre as part of a campaign encouraging Brits to “dine with respect”, even highlights our envy of the French working habits of people who leave work on time or don’t hesitate to strike for their rights.
When it comes to fashion, 43% admire the effortless French style, while 39% are impressed by how she manages to strike the perfect balance between work and personal life.
A spokesman for St-Pierre said: “The French lifestyle is often admired and romanticised around the world, and with good reason – it’s characterised by a balance between work, leisure and enjoying the finer things in life, something that doesn’t always work out so well in the UK.”
When it comes to food, the French never rush a meal and take pride in every bite, from the flavor to the presentation.
This isn’t just wishful thinking: 32% of those surveyed have considered packing their bags and moving to France, attracted by the country’s reputation for being “stylish” (48%), “relaxed” (41%) and “balanced” (36%).
Three in ten believe that the world would be a happier place if everyone adopted some aspects of the French way of life, and the survey also revealed that 27% of people are influenced in some way by their French friends or colleagues in their lifestyle.
Embracing fresher ingredients, embracing doing nothing, and enjoying your surroundings instead of rushing are some of the aspects that those who admire the French incorporate into their daily lives.
However, cutting out processed foods, making time for hobbies and interests, and being more romantic were listed as things they would like to adopt but have not yet been able to do.
According to data from OnePoll.com, 43% of people believe that the French respect food and mealtimes more than the British.
The average UK adult spends just 47 minutes combined eating breakfast, lunch and dinner, yet 24% of people believe taking the time to have a good lunch at work would make them feel better.
Dinner is the dish people are most likely to cook from scratch, but 26% admit they only cook this way up to three times a week due to a lack of time, skill or motivation.
When it comes to well-known British dishes, roast dinner, afternoon tea and jacket potatoes were the dishes survey respondents were most likely to want to “French” – while dishes they were most proud of included Sunday roast, full English breakfast and beef Wellington.
The spokesman added: “British and French eating habits have their own unique characteristics, but also reflect wider cultural values.”
“The British tend to value hearty, hearty meals, while the French value culinary tradition, quality ingredients and the social aspect of dining.”
“But regardless of culture, food is the great equalizer because it’s more than just food on a plate; it’s a shared experience and memory-making that connects us all across diverse influences and ever-changing culinary trends.”
Top 30 things we admire about the French:
Eating fresh produce 52% Making time to enjoy food 48% Having good taste 43% Tasting fine cuisine 41% Taking time to cook 40% An ideal work-life balance 39% Taking long lunch breaks 38% Eating better than the British in general 38% Being a romantic 35% Enjoying the best moments in life 33% Making every meal special 33% A love of art 32% Enjoying my surroundings instead of rushing around town 31% Knowledge and taste for wine 31% Avoiding processed foods 28% Good etiquette skills 28% Proud that my country’s cuisine is world renowned 27% Working only contracted hours 26% Proud to be French 26% Being authentic 25% Making time for hobbies and interests 25% Being passionate about my interests 25% Accepting doing nothing 24% Willingness to protest 24% Living humbly 23% Traditionally, they drink an aperitif before dinner 21% They have heated discussions rather than small talk 19% They drink small but strong cups of coffee 15% They are interested in philosophy 15% They don’t talk about money 10%