FOUR in 10 families cook at least three separate meals at dinnertime, as parents juggle different tastes, routines and dietary preferences under one roof.
The average family chef spends 30 extra minutes in the kitchen each week trying to meet everyone’s needs, leaving 60 per cent feeling pressured to make dinnertime work for the whole household.
But they do it to keep everyone happy (32 per cent), to accommodate flavour preferences (29 per cent) and because younger children want different foods (30 per cent).
Research of 2,000 parents with children aged 0 to 18 found that, overall, more than half (53 per cent) find mealtimes stressful.
However, 93 per cent think it’s important their family spends time together at dinnertime – even if everyone isn’t eating the same meal.
The research was commissioned by Dolmio, which has teamed up with podcaster and mum, Giovanna Fletcher, to celebrate its 40th anniversary and the return of Mama and Papa to our screens after more than a decade.
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Giovanna said: “Mama and Papa Dolmio, and the whole Dolmio family, have been such iconic characters since I was a child, so I loved being part of their return.
“As a mum myself, I know how precious dinnertime can be – it’s often one of the few moments in the day when everyone can come together, catch up and connect.
“As Dolmio celebrates its 40th anniversary, it feels like the perfect opportunity to celebrate those simple family moments that make dinnertime so special.”
The research, from OnePoll.com, found perceptions of dinnertime have shifted across generations with 72 per cent agreeing dinnertime at home has become more flexible and less fixed than it was when they were growing up.
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More than a third of Boomers (34 per cent) believe family mealtimes have changed significantly since they were parents of young children, with almost half (48 per cent) saying families eat together less often than before.
Meanwhile, Millennials pointed to families enjoying a wider variety of cuisines and dishes today compared with when they were growing up (39 per cent).
The study also found the average family eats the same meal together just four times a week with a quarter regularly having to cater to fussy or selective eaters.
Busier household routines (33 per cent), children having more say in what they eat (30 per cent) and parents having less time to cook from scratch (28 per cent) were among the biggest drivers behind the shift.
One quarter of families regularly rely on pre-made sauces (25 per cent), ready meals (19 per cent) and meal kits (16 per cent) to help get dinner on the table.
Overall, 51 per cent believe households are less likely to eat dinner at the same time now compared with 40 years ago.
While over one fifth (22 per cent) want mealtimes to become more about spending time together over the next 40 years, rather than what everyone is eating.
Hana Hutchinson, a spokesperson for Dolmio, said: “While modern mealtimes can sometimes be chaotic, they are still seen as integral – even when I look at my own family, the juggle of daily life and growing children means tastes and favourites change in an instant.
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“But what has remained is the dinner table, the place where, no matter the after-school sport club, friend visit or parent returning from work, it is the one moment to connect.
“That’s why, for 40 years, Dolmio has championed that there is no right way or rulebook to follow when it comes to preparing dinner – instead, it is about doing it your way, whatever is right for your family.”