Italians spent a total of 2.8 billion euros on food and drinks for Christmas lunch and dinner, preferring traditional and domestically sourced products, while spending less time preparing dishes. Nearly nine out of ten citizens (88 percent) chose to spend the holidays in their own homes or those of relatives and friends, while the rest turned to restaurants, agritourisms or last-minute solutions. (*)
The average number of diners remained stable from last year, hovering around eight per table. Nevertheless, time spent at the stove decreased in many regions, varying between 2.2 and 2.7 hours, with the exception of the Islands, where the average reached 3 hours. Of note, 9 percent of people who chose to eat at home opted for take-out dishes or preferred to consume what they brought from friends and relatives. Restaurants and agritourisms welcomed about 4.5 million Italians.
Among the must-have products on tables, sparkling wine confirmed its centrality, present in 83 percent of menus, as did seasonal fruit, chosen by 88 percent of families. Panettone, with 77 percent of preferences, clearly surpassed pandoro, which stopped at 55 percent, while 56 percent of Italians did not give up typical local sweets. Also interesting is the figure for those who tried their hand at cooking: 47 percent chose to personally prepare holiday desserts.
Families favored menus based on Italian products and ingredients, with a breakdown of spending estimated as follows: 920 million for fish, meats, and cold cuts; 600 million for sparkling wine, wine, and other beverages; 300 million for desserts, such as panettone, pandoro, and baked goods; 580 million for vegetables, preserves, fresh and dried fruits; and 200 million for both pasta and bread and cheese and eggs.
The Christmas season is also confirmed as a time to rediscover traditional recipes made with natural ingredients. These dishes represent an alternative to the consumption of ultra-processed foods that characterize the rest of the year and have a negative impact on health, the environment and biodiversity.
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