The Family Dining Survey commissioned by Bisto has revealed that less than a third (29%) of the British working public eat together as a family more than once a week.

The survey also found that family meals are declining in quality as well as quantity even when families do eat together more than three quarters (77%) watch TV instead of chatting.

Several scientific studies have found a link between regular family meals and a range of social and psychological benefits.  The family meal not only provides an opportunity for family members to bond, plan and connect, but helps build strong relationships by fostering warmth security and love by taking to each other.  Evidence also suggests that those who eat together eat better.

Top psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulous states that “children and teenagers who eat with their family on a regular basis tend to do better at school, have better mental health and show evidence of greater social interaction and adjustment”.

A hectic lifestyle is the main obstacle to family meals. Many parents have such busy schedules they don’t have time to cook.  In the last 10 years meal preparation times have fallen 37% to just 19 minutes with the number of people cooking from scratch falling by 32% to just 12%.