Healthy Family dining is back on Britain’s menu

Family gatherings around the dinner table are up 50% on five years ago says new survey

After years of decline comes proof that the traditional family diner table is making a comeback, according to a survey by women's lifestyle website www.allaboutyou.com[1].  Compared to 5 years ago[2] twice as many families are pulling up a chair and eating family meals together.  In 2003 the figure stood at 34.4% which has risen to 60% in 2008. The average family meal time has also doubled from 15 minutes to ½ hour. www.allaboutyou.com questioned over 2,500 females aged 35 and above.

However, there is room for improvement. 1 in 6 (17%) admit watching TV, arguments and lack of time prevents them from having family dinners more often.

www.allaboutyou.com has delved into the archives to analyse how the landscape of family dining has changed in the last five years. They discovered: 

Bernadette Fallon, Editor of www.allaboutyou.com says: "The findings of the study are really encouraging and it is interesting to see what a difference five years can make. Taking the time to re-invest in traditional family meals can only be a good thing, helping to promote happy relationships, healthy eating and quality time together. My advice though, is ban mobiles from the table top otherwise the art of conversation will be reserved for the ear piece!"

[1] www.allaboutyou.com is the partner website for Good Housekeeping, Prima, SHE, Country Living, Coast

and House Beautiful magazines.

[2] Raisingkids.co.uk questioned 2170 families in 2003. 34.4% ate together every day.

[3]Survey by Kwik Save 2003

[4] Survey of 1.000 families at Brewster pubs 2003.

[5] Survey by Kwik Save 2003