Some families feel they’ve benefited from more time at home during lockdown, with a huge rise in meal times spent together around the dinner table.
Daily meals around the dinner table have increased by more than 20 per cent, instead of the living room, leading to a number of positive outcomes for families.
Research by Holland’s Pies, has shown that since lockdown, households have had the chance to enjoy more time spent with family (45 per cent), talking to each other more (34 per cent) and enjoying more home cooked meals (32 per cent).
The top five benefits according to Brits are:
- Having more time for conversation (74 per cent)
- Listening to what others have to say (55 per cent)
- The effort in the food that’s being served (35 per cent)
- Time away from a screen (31 per cent)
- Less distractions (31 per cent)
Besides new meal time routines, the research also looked at how families have adapted to a new way of life, with over half still avoiding public transport, and 41 per cent not going to restaurants and bars, seven months on from the first day of lockdown.
However, 32 per cent reported they had forgotten about social distancing, and 13 per cent had mistakenly tried to hug someone or forgotten they were wearing a mask when reaching for their food or drink.
Despite these challenges, Brits have a sunny outlook when it comes to a post-Covid world, with more than a third stating they’ll be less negative and almost the same number saying they’ll try to worry less.
A surprising 19 per cent stated they’d actually vow to go out less, showing the appreciation the nation now has for home comforts. Nine per cent of those polled also vowed to stop eating in front of the TV – so it looks like family mealtimes around the table are set to continue well into the future.
Leanne Holcroft, brand manager at Holland’s Pies, said: “It’s been a really challenging year for families, but our research really does show how many have benefited from spending more time together at mealtimes.
"While there are still uncertain times ahead, we hope that families can continue their positive outlook and reap the benefits of gathering around the dinner table each day.”
To address this new-found love for meal time get-togethers, Holland’s Pies has launched a new family version, available in both frozen and chilled in its bestselling flavours: Potato & Meat, Minced Beef & Onion, and Vegetarian Society-approved Cheese & Onion.
The frozen Family Pie range can be found in selected Farmfoods, Iceland and Heron Food stores from November 23, followed by Tesco on January 11.
