A poll of 2,000 adults found that a quarter think deciding what to have for dinner is the most stressful decision of the day. The top source of household arguments was found to be one person having a different food craving to the other (37%), while 35% bemoaned repeating the same meals.
How dinner debates unfold
More than half (55%) debate what to eat face-to-face, and 26% over text. Nearly one in 10 even resort to social media chatter to decide on their evening meal plan. Of those who speak over text, an average of four messages are sent – with one in 20 sending at least 11 – before they officially decide what to eat.
Other sources of disagreements were found to be after one person claimed not to know what they wanted or claiming they ‘don’t mind’ (34%), someone not wanting to cook (30%) or trying to decide between a homecooked meal or getting a takeaway (21%).
Stress and lack of inspiration
The study found that more than a third (37%) of all adults find deciding what to have for dinner generally stressful, with a lack of inspiration and ideas the main reason for disliking the task (35%). A third are also put off by the effort required to cook – while 31% struggle to cook after a long day at work. More than one in 10 (12%) even went as far as to say they feel overwhelmed when it comes to making decisions about what to eat.
As a result, 48% admit they often end up having their go-to easy meal while 41% have even resorted to eating the same thing as the night before. The study, carried out via OnePoll, also revealed just 17% typically map out meals at the weekend, with 28% leaving it until the last minute to decide their meal plans. It also emerged only 14% of adults cook from scratch every day.
Convenience over quality
More than half of those who don’t cook from scratch (54%) are put off if a recipe takes too long, while 39% give up on the idea altogether when it involves too much preparation. This is leaving 35% falling back on the same meals each time – with staples like pasta (53%), curries (24%) and jacket potatoes (20%) topping the list. On the whole, almost half (48%) just want something quick and easy when it comes to cooking during the week.
Jeremy Gibson, spokesperson for Napolina, which commissioned the research to launch its first Pasta Stir Ins, said: “By the time dinner comes around, many households have already spent the day making decisions. When you then add different tastes, tiredness, and a lack of inspiration, with ‘what’s for dinner’ it can become a difficult question. The research shows that people still want to enjoy a satisfying meal at home, but they do not always have the time or energy for a long recipe and lots of preparation. Having a quick way to bring flavour to the table is exactly what you need for those nights.”
Gibson added: “Convenience does not have to mean settling for something uninspiring or compromising on quality. Having a few simple options in the cupboard can help households escape the same-meal cycle and spend less time debating dinner and more time enjoying it with friends or family.”
