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Over a third of Brits (35%) say dinnertime is the only time they properly connect with loved ones
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Nearly half (46%) say busy schedules stop them eating together
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1 in 2 (50%) Millennials say the only time they have to connect is at dinnertime
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Poll of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Lamb Weston who is encouraging people back to the dinner table
More than one in three Brits say dinnertime is the only time of the day they properly talk to loved ones, as busy routines increasingly squeeze out everyday conversation.
According to a new nationwide poll of 2,000 UK adults from frozen chip brand Lamb Weston, 35% say sitting down for a meal is the only time they connect as a household.
That figure rises to 50% among 35–44-year-olds, many of whom are Millennials juggling work and family life, highlighting the growing pressure to protect time together despite busy schedules and emphasising the need of convenient meals and recipes to help them achieve this.
In London, 46% say dinnertime is their only proper chance to talk, making the capital the least connected UK city outside mealtimes. Meanwhile York could be the most connected city in the UK as they are the least reliant (19%) on dinnertime for conversation.
Older Brits are the only age group sticking with tradition, the data shows, with just 15% of over-65s saying dinnertime is the only time they properly talk to loved ones.
Busy modern routines are driving the decline in shared mealtimes, the figures suggest.
Nearly half of Brits (46%) say conflicting work or school schedules regularly prevent them from sitting down together, while 24% blame differing food preferences and 18% say they’re simply too tired.
As a result, daily family dinners are becoming less common, with fewer than three in ten (29%) saying they eat together every day.
The figures are even more stark among younger adults, with four in ten (40%) 18-24-year-olds saying they eat together less often than they did five years ago.
In response to the time pressures UK households are facing, people are increasingly adapting their approach to evening meals.
More than half of adults (52%) say they regularly choose simpler, quicker dinners during the week, reflecting a growing need for meals that fit around busy routines.
This shift suggests that while the importance of dinnertime remains, the way that people approach it is changing, with flexibility and ease becoming more important than ever.
As a result, delicious and convenient options such as Lamb Weston’s awarding-winning range of frozen chipsare playing an increasingly important role in bringing families together.
Making meals that are quick to prepare but still full of flavour can help households have those shared moments around the table, even when time is limited.
Alecia Brown, Marketing Manager at Lamb Weston, said: “Dinnertime still plays a hugely important role in bringing people together, but for many households it’s becoming harder to protect that time.
“Our research shows that while people value sitting down together, busy schedules often get in the way.
“That’s why meals that are easy to prepare but still feel satisfying are so important, as they help families make the most of the time they do have together.”
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