If you think healthy elevenses still involves a dainty slice of Victoria sponge and a spot of tea, you might be in for a shock. These days, a fair number of Britons—particularly younger generations—are polishing off everything from Greek yoghurt to entire roast chickens before midday.
Yes, you read that right: chicken at 11 am. Here I take a closer look at why elevenses, once the home of choccie biscuits and iced buns, is now all about hitting protein goals and staying fuller for longer.
HARD BOILED EGGS WITH YOUR MORNING CUPPA – HOW MODERN BRITS HAVE KILLED OFF TRADITIONAL ELEVENSES FAVOURITES, SUCH AS CHOCCIE BISCUITS, ICED BUNS AND EVEN THE CLASSIC VICTORIA SPONGE
According to a new study, “A third (31 percent) of health-conscious Gen Z and Millennials have a daily protein goal to hit – and while 32 percent still enjoy a morning and afternoon snack every day, it’s more likely to be Greek yoghurt (35 percent), two hard-boiled eggs (32 percent), or a protein shake (21 percent).” That’s not your grandmother’s elevenses menu.
Clearly, protein has turned into the mid-morning superstar, with folks even taking on half a roast chicken for a quick pick-me-up.
The research states, “One in ten (11 percent) even eat half a roast chicken mid-morning, while slices of ham (12 percent) and omelettes (21 percent) are other snacks Brits consume, in a bid to hit their protein goals.”
This cultural shift is also evident in attitudes toward what once defined a classic cuppa break. “In fact, almost a third (29 percent) of modern Brits think that the idea of a cup of tea and a slice of cake is outdated and old fashioned, with four in ten (45 percent) insisting they would only eat protein as a snack.”
And while many still consider elevenses a beloved British tradition—“Even though over half (54 percent) of Gen Z and Millennials agree that elevenses are a classic British thing and 11 am is still considered the perfect time for a mid-morning pick-me-up”—the reality is that sweet indulgences have fallen out of favour.
“Don’t expect to see modern Brits tucking into a slice of chocolate cake (31 percent) or Victoria sponge (30 percent) as they say it is too unhealthy.” Iced buns, cream buns, and even biscuits are increasingly shunned.
Iced buns (30 percent), cream buns (29 percent), chocolate bars (24 percent), crisps (18 percent) and biscuits (16 percent) are also considered a no-no, while a quarter (25 percent) EVEN think that a cup of tea with two sugars is too unhealthy, according to the poll by British Lion Eggs.
BRITS GO-TO HEALTHY ELEVENSES SNACKS… 🍎🥑
| Snack | Percentage |
|---|---|
| An apple 🍏 | 38% |
| A banana 🍌 | 37% |
| Greek yoghurt 🍦 | 35% |
| Hard-boiled eggs 🥚 | 32% |
| A protein bar 🍫 | 26% |
| Avocado 🥑 | 24% |
| An omelette 🍳 | 24% |
| Oat cakes 🍘 | 21% |
| A protein shake 🥤 | 21% |
| Scrambled eggs with salmon 🍳🐟 | 20% |
| A handful of nuts 🌰 | 19% |
| Smoked salmon 🍣 | 18% |
| Carrots with houmous 🥕 | 16% |
| A hard-boiled egg and spinach 🥚🍃 | 14% |
| Peanut butter and apple 🥜🍎 | 15% |
| Slices of ham 🍖 | 12% |
| Half a roast chicken 🍗 | 11% |
| Tuna protein pot 🥫 | 9% |
| Homemade protein balls ⚽ | 8% |
| Nut butter on toast 🍞 | 8% |
So, what does a modern snack table look like at 11am? How about nuts, carrots with hummus, or a hard-boiled egg and spinach?
Instead, health-conscious modern Brits can be found enjoying the following alongside their 11am cup of tea: nuts (19 percent), carrots with houmous (16 percent) and a hard-boiled egg and spinach (14 percent).
It appears the days of fluffy pastries are numbered, replaced by lean proteins that help keep the waistline in check.
One in four (24 percent) love snacking on an omelette, while 20 percent prefer to cook scrambled eggs with salmon.
And why this shift? Reasons Brits are opting for protein-rich snacks include that they keep you fuller for longer (55 percent), are good for muscle building and repair (30 percent) and help keep your weight down (23 percent).
Eggs, in particular, have scrambled their way into the spotlight. According to a spokesperson for British Lion Eggs, “It is clear to see from the research that health-conscious Brits are looking to change up their snack routine and increase their protein each day so that they can stay fuller for longer, manage their weight and stay strong, with eggs one of the most nutritious, natural, cost-effective and versatile ways to do this.”
Delving deeper into the nation’s newfound obsession with health: “It’s no surprise half (49 percent) of the 18- to 44-year-olds surveyed describe themselves as health conscious, with 48 percent going a step further and admitting they try to avoid cakes and biscuits in the office as much as they can.”
ELEVENSES FAVES, YOUNG BRITS FEEL ARE OUTDATED AND UNHEALTHY
| Snack | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A slice of chocolate cake 🍰 | 31% |
| A slice of Victoria sponge 🍰 | 30% |
| An iced bun 🍩 | 30% |
| A cream bun 🧁 | 29% |
| A custard slice 🍮 | 27% |
| A cup of tea with milk and two sugars ☕ | 25% |
| Chocolate bars 🍫 | 24% |
| A scone with cream and jam 🥐 | 23% |
| Crisps 🍟 | 18% |
| A biscuit 🍪 | 16% |
| A toasted teacake 🍞 | 15% |
| A flapjack 🥞 | 13% |
| A muffin 🧁 | 12% |
| A sandwich 🥪 | 11% |
| Toast and jam 🍞 | 10% |
That doesn’t mean they’re simply skipping snacks or beverages altogether. Rather, “74 percent prefer to bring their own healthy food into the office, with 27 percent so proud that they regularly post images of their healthy snacks to Instagram and TikTok, using the hashtags #healthy (33 percent), #healthysnacking (19 percent) and #protein (16 percent).”
It seems younger people are firmly planting their flags in the land of nutritious choices. “More than half (52 percent) believe that younger Brits are more health conscious than previous generations, with 50 percent saying that modern Brits are more likely to choose healthier snacks than other generations.”
Looking at the data on Brits’ go-to snacks for healthy elevenses—apples, bananas, Greek yoghurt, and of course, hard-boiled eggs—one thing is clear: the typical sugar-laden break is losing its crown.
Meanwhile, outdated favourites like iced buns, cream buns, and chocolate cake are gathering dust in the corner.
Maybe it’s not all doom and gloom for the sweet-toothed among us, but it’s certainly a new era for 11am snacking. So, next time you spot a colleague tucking into an omelette at their desk, don’t be surprised.
Elevenses have evolved—and for the modern Brit, the name of the game is protein, not pastries.
