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TV Diners:
New research shows that half of UK families spend mealtimes on the couch
in front of the TV
 New
research launched shows that nearly half (47 percent) of UK families eat their
evening meal on the sofa in front of the TV. Brand new insight from Wimpy
Restaurants shows that UK parents have good intentions when it comes to
mealtimes but they are plagued by bad habits.
Family dining can aid the development of a child’s behaviour and social skills,
and research shows that parents do understand the importance of family
mealtimes, with many saying that they would like to try and change their bad
habits.
Over half of the parents surveyed (68 percent) want to spend more time eating
together as a family at the dining/kitchen table. Out of these it is the younger
generation of parents (under the age of 35) who would particularly like to put
this into action (74 percent).
Predictably, 52 percent of respondents said that work commitments are one of the
main barriers to eating together as a family. More surprisingly, a significant
number of families (32 percent) find that children’s commitments have an impact
on the routine of family mealtimes.
Nearly 100 percent of the parents asked believe that the evening meal is the
best mealtime to catch up as a family and the majority consider their mealtimes
to be an important part of the family routine (86 percent). Over three quarters
of respondents use their mealtimes as an opportunity to spend time together as a
family and just under two thirds say that it is a good opportunity to catch up
on the day’s events.
Regionally, parents in Scotland, North East and London are most likely to want
to spend more time eating as a family around the table (73 percent, 76 percent
and 75 percent respectively). London families eat out more often compared to
other regions, 18 percent eat out more than once a week.
Parenting and child behavioural expert Eileen Hayes, says: “This piece of
research highlights the importance of eating together as a family which can very
often get forgotten day-to-day when we are all rushing around leading our busy
lives.
“I had underestimated the large percentage of people who spend their
mealtimes on the sofa in front of the TV and was shocked that so many people eat
their meals in this way. For many families the evening meal is the best
opportunity to spend quality time together. Eating the meal on the sofa in front
of the TV can reduce the opportunities for communication between family members
and impact on the development of children's social skills and good family
relationships.
“Making small changes in the family routine can have a big impact. Even treating
the family to a meal out can help to overcome the barriers to eating together.
The family can meet at a restaurant after work and leisure activities, the
household’s chef can have the night off, everyone gets to choose their favourite
dish without the house looking like a bomb site, and most importantly everyone
gets the chance to concentrate on spending time together.”
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