Noisy neighbours, queue-jumpers, and bad haircuts are among the many things Brits simply grin and bear, according to research.
A poll of 2,000 adults found 24% have gone to the seaside only for it to rain most of the time, while a third have suffered through a painfully boring conversation at a party.
On average, Brits ‘grin and bear it’ three times a day, revealing a tendency to quietly get on with things rather than make a fuss.
For example, 32% have politely accepted a terrible gift without saying a word, and 35% have stayed silent after being served a disappointing or cold meal in a restaurant.
Brits are particularly reluctant to complain about food – more than a quarter (27%) of all those polled admitted they’ve eaten a meal they didn’t enjoy at a friend’s house rather than risk offence.
One in five (20%) have kept quiet about food they disliked at a wedding, while the same proportion have done so at their partner’s family home, and a further 15% have suffered through an unenjoyable dinner party meal without saying a word.
Pete Rosier, from yfood, which makes nutritionally balanced ready-to-drink meals and commissioned the research, said: “There’s something uniquely British about tolerating the mediocre, saying ‘it’s fine’, and carrying on regardless.
“In fact, putting up with daily compromises has become such a habit that many of us do it several times a day without even thinking about it.”
For working parents in particular, the chaos of busy family mornings means 26% have ended up drinking a cold tea or coffee after being distracted by family demands, while almost half (45%) admitted they’ve started a workday feeling like they haven’t had enough sleep. Meanwhile, 30% have battled through the school run in the rain, according to the OnePoll data.
44% of working parents described their mornings as busy but manageable, but 29% skip breakfast several times a week because they’re short on time.
As a result, half of all working parents regularly settle for food on the go they don’t particularly enjoy, and when it comes to breakfast, 41% have reached for a meal replacement drink.
Pete Rosier added: “The findings highlight just how much working parents, in particular, take in their stride every single morning and how they often put their own needs to one side to keep family life running smoothly.
“When time is tight, convenience often wins out, which is why so many are reaching for food on the go or meal replacement drinks to fuel their mornings.
“But breakfast shouldn’t be something we simply grin and bear – with more convenient and nutritiously balanced options such as yfood available, there’s no excuse to skip it or settle for something you don’t enjoy.”
