HAS FUSSINESS RUINED THE FAMILY DINNER?
More than half of Brits eat different or altered dishes while dining together, of which Millennials are the biggest group with 57% saying they tend to alter dishes or eat entirely different dishes (20%) to the rest of the household,
a new report by YouGov and Fieldfare loose frozen foods reveals.
While nearly two-thirds of us (64%) eat our main meal with other people, keeping the family dinner alive and well, a new poll by YouGov, on behalf of Fieldfare premium loose frozen foods, reveals that almost half (49%) of Brits will often make a few alterations to the meal on offer, to cater for personal tastes or needs. Almost a fifth (17%) said that they often eat entirely different dishes at the table while dining together.
So, why is dining together, but plates apart, becoming the new norm? 13% of those who eat different or altered dishes cited allergies and intolerances or different diets such as vegan or vegetarian (15%) but what it really comes down to is personal choice – with nearly half (45%) saying that they simply don’t like the same things. Brought up during the 90s rise of the celebrity chef and aspirational Michelin-starred restaurants, households with people aged 35 – 44 years old (Millennials) seem to be the most particular, with 57% of this group admitting to altering dishes to their personal requirements and 55% of this group saying they like different things from the rest of their household. For Gen Z on the other hand, it’s all about asserting their right to make their own decisions, with 37% of 18 – 24-year-olds surveyed stating that they want a choice and do not want to be forced to have what everyone else is eating. This is also the group that is most likely to dine alone with 56% stating that they mostly eat their main meal alone.
This celebration of individual choice also seems to play a large part when shopping for food and planning meals, no doubt contributing to the shift in how Brits are shopping[1] for food now versus just a few years ago:
- Taste is king, with more than two-thirds (69%) of UK Adults stating that taste is their top priority when choosing what goes in their basket and ultimately onto their plate
- Half (51%) will seek out products that they consider to be high quality
- More than a third (38%) felt that having the freedom to choose the right amount or portion of food, rather than pre-packed amounts, is a priority for them
- British company, Fieldfare, also found that a quarter (25%) prefer to support small or local businesses over big brands and large nationwide stores, and nearly a third (32%) said that choosing British brands is important to them
- 35% have bought “posh” or premium frozen foods from farm shops or food halls in the past
“It is encouraging that around two-thirds of people do find time to enjoy their main meal together but priorities and lifestyles continue to evolve and so will our mealtimes. A few years ago, we may have said that tweaking dishes to everyone’s taste or needs, or even having to prepare different dishes for the same dinner table would be very frustrating for whomever is doing the cooking. However, the availability of better quality prepared foods and increased popularity of loose or portioned foods, especially the rise of premium frozen foods, has made it easier to please everyone”, states Matt Whelan MD of Fieldfare.
The report by YouGov, on behalf of Fieldfare also found that over a third (35%) of UK adults eat alone, and 56% of 18 – 24-year-olds eat their main meal on their own. 37% state that they eat together as couples.
“With one in three (32%) UK households being single-person households[2] and both parents in full-time employment in over 50% of British families[3], it’s time that we start thinking about household mealtimes differently and that is why we champion choice with high-quality loose frozen foods that people can pick as much as they want or as little as they need,” Matt continues.
So, whether you see it as fussiness, or the right to have a choice, the UK family dinner is alive and well, just not as you might know it.
ENDS
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,150 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th – 15th February 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
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ABOUT FIELDFARE
Multiple award-winning business, Fieldfare, sells mouth-watering loose and individually portioned premium frozen food which is easy to prepare straight from the freezer. What makes Fieldfare unique is that the entire range is frozen and sold loose or in individual portions, so consumers can scoop as much as they want and not more than they need. Fieldfare also encourages customers to “bring your own” containers or use the provided compostable bags, so packaging is kept to an absolute minimum.
It all started over 46 years ago in a barn in Kent, when Richard and Ann Cryer had the idea of ‘scoop-your-own’ frozen food as a way of providing the very best quality produce all year round and in the exact quantity the shopper required. Still owned by the Cryer family to this day, the idea has grown over the years with the range now including over 100 frozen products such as fruit, vegetables, pastries, , plus meat, fish and vegetarian meal makers, entertainment solutions and desserts. Fieldfare is continuously working to ensure there is minimal packaging to reduce waste.
[1] The Grocer: How consumers shopped for food in 2023
