La Voix from the popular TV show “Strictly Come Dancing” delighted passersby on London’s South Bank near Waterloo station with a unique performance. Accompanied by a band playing instruments crafted from vegetables and kitchen tools, the unusual ensemble featured carrot recorders, potato flutes, and butternut squash horns.
Their lively performance aimed to remind people about the importance of enjoying dinner at home. This initiative was inspired by a survey conducted by a meal-kit brand, revealing that 45% of participants feel they have fewer family dinners now compared to a decade ago.
The survey, which involved 2,000 adults, also highlighted that 35% believe dinner times have shifted later due to meal planning, waiting for family members to return, and work commitments extending into the evening. Surprisingly, only 40% of respondents manage to have dinner at the ideal time of 6:28 pm daily.
The study uncovered that many workers struggle to leave work on time for dinner, with a fifth managing it only two days a week or less. On average, people eat alone twice a week, while families gather around the dinner table four evenings a week.
Mimi Morley, a senior recipe development manager for the meal kit brand, emphasized the importance of a well-cooked meal after a long day. Despite the challenges, 47% of respondents believe that sharing meals can strengthen relationships, while 39% think it makes dining more enjoyable and less routine.
The majority of participants (84%) consider sharing meals with others, whether family, friends, or roommates, important for building connections. Mimi Morley suggested simple strategies like meal planning and preparation to alleviate mealtime stress and enhance the dining experience.
The article also mentioned that Reach and its affiliates use cookies to personalize content and ads based on users’ preferences. Users can opt out of data sharing at any time by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button on the website.