Curry, Chinese and cottage pie are among the nation’s favourite comfort foods, it has been revealed.
Other favourites to feature in the top 40 include bangers and mash, lasagne and spaghetti Bolognese.
It also emerged the average Brit will tuck into comfort food nine times a month – typically spending £277 on it every year.
And for 31 per cent, the key factor in deciding what feel-good meal to eat is how filling it is.
Three in 10 will simply opt for something hot and 27 per cent want a meal which requires minimal effort to prepare.
The research of 2,000 UK adults was commissioned by Iceland, which has expanded its exclusive Slimming World range.
Bev Mitchell, trading director for Iceland, said: “Our research has shown that as the cold weather approaches, people are turning to comfort foods and seven in 10 people admitted that their favourite comfort foods often aren’t the healthiest choices.
“However, it is possible to enjoy lots of our autumnal favourites in a healthier way thanks to our Slimming World range.”
When it comes to sweet or savoury, four in 10 tend to opt for the latter with just 28 per cent going for sweeter dishes.
And the list appears to reflect this, with the top 40 dominated by savoury dishes.
However sticky toffee pudding and fruit crumble appear too.
The research also found 59 per cent of people also don’t give a moment’s thought to nutritional benefits when choosing a pick-me-up meal.
And seven in 10 admit their favourite comfort foods tend to be bad for them, with 43 per cent saying they indulge in comfort foods ‘more than they should’.
However, 57 per cent agree ‘healthy’ and ‘comfort foods’ don’t have to be mutually exclusive – arguing both are possible.
And half wish there were more comfort food options available which are better for you.
Carried out through OnePoll, the research also found six in 10 are most likely to turn to comfort foods during autumn and winter.
A third said they tend to eat comfort foods to reward themselves, 23 per cent tuck into them when they are stressed and almost a fifth indulge when they’re under the weather.
When choosing their morale boosting meal, 36 per cent turn to dishes they enjoyed as kids and one in 10 plump for something prepared by someone else.
Bev Mitchell added: “To even better support our customers through the cooler months this year, all Slimming World members will receive an Iceland Bonus Card pre-loaded with 10 per cent discount.
“If they register their card by 12th October they will receive 10 per cent discount in Iceland stores from 9th October until 4th November.”
TOP 40 COMFORT FOODS:
- Chocolate
- Fish and chips
- Bacon sandwich
- Roast dinner
- Crisps
- Pizza
- Cake
- Full English breakfast
- Ice cream
- Biscuits
- Crusty bread
- Cheese
- Curry
- Chip butty
- Chinese
- Shepherd's/cottage pie
- Burger and chips
- Mashed potatoes
- Beans on toast
- Sausage sandwich
- Lasagne
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Toastie
- Bangers and mash
- Fruit Crumble
- Jacket potato
- Sticky toffee pudding
- Fried chicken
- Beef stew and dumplings
- Yorkshire pudding
- Pasta dish
- Steak
- Scrambled eggs on toast
- Macaroni and cheese
- Custard
- Ham, egg and chips
- Rice pudding
- Cauliflower cheese
- Cornish pasty
- Cereal