New research has found that four in 10 parents report having only three or fewer family dinners per week, leaving 42% feeling “worried.”
That’s according to a new poll of 2,000 US parents, which revealed 56% believe that having a shared meal together is one of the best ways to bond with their family, but 54% of which report not getting enough quality time together.
However, when families do sit down for at-home dinners, meals are full of laughter (20%) and good conversation (34%).
Commissioned by The Little Potato Company and conducted by OnePoll, the study found many parents said it would be easier to have more home-cooked family dinners if they meal planned ahead for the week (20%), had quicker, healthier meals to prepare (18%) and if everyone’s schedules coincided (18%).
Parents said that the important factors of a home-cooked dinner are: having a meal using a passed down or favorite family recipe (47%), having good conversations at the table (38%) and having all family members in the household present (34%).
Parents also shared what they want their kids to remember about family dinners — being able to share family time and connection (52%), knowing the importance of spending time with family (41%), the home-cooked meals themselves (40%) and wanting to learn how to cook (35%).
It differed by generation — millennial and Gen X parents want their kids to know the importance of spending time with family (43% and 34%, respectively), while 43% of Gen Z parents want their kids to have a love of food.
To encourage conversation with their kids, 47% of parents said they have a tradition at the dinner table, including 26% who like to share what they are grateful for and 17% who use a game or discussion starter to facilitate conversation during family dinners.
Parents reported spending more time in the kitchen, taking an average of nearly 45 minutes preparing a full meal at home, but only spending an average of about 36 minutes eating together with family.
Sometimes kids need a little encouragement to try different foods — 61% incentive their kids to eat certain foods on their dinner plates with later bedtimes (45%), more screen time after dinner (43%), dessert (42%), a favorite hobby (41%), a second helping of a food they do like (38%) and even cash (27%).
Close to three-quarters (73%) said eating meals together are more enjoyable if they’re also made together, and 18% want their kids to see dinner time as a fun part of the day.
Nearly three in five (59%) let their kids cook with them in the kitchen, so long as they’re at least 12 years old.
7 IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR FAMILY DINNERS
A meal using a passed down or favorite family recipe - 47%
Good conversation - 38%
All family members in the household present - 34%
Everyone can agree on what to eat - 29%
Everyone can eat without complaining - 28%
Everyone asks for seconds - 21%
It is full of laughter - 20%
