Mothers put family dining on the menu

Jan 8 2010 By Francesca Craggs, Taste

SPAGHETTI Bolognaise has topped the polls as the most common dish cooked by British mums. But are traditional family meal times still high on our agenda? FRANCESCA CRAGGS finds out.

GONE are the days when ‘Mother’ spent her day preparing the perfect family meal.

While some modern mums have preserved the role of domestic goddess, it seems others are finding themselves somewhat stuck in a rut when it comes to dinner time.

A recent survey by Merchant Gourmet found that the average British mother relies on just nine different meals to feed her family. Hectic modern-day lifestyles, fussy children and spouses who work long hours have all contributed to a lack of experimentation when it comes to planning a family meal.

Of the 4,000 Britons polled, as many as nine in 10 mothers admitted to cooking the same meals over and over again, while one in four made the same meals on the same day of the week. The most common dish was good old Spaghetti Bolognese, followed by roast dinners, shepherd’s pie and pasta.

A massive 81 % of respondents claimed they have to make two or more meals every night, while 23% said they stick to the same meals because their children are fussy eaters.

Like two-thirds of people surveyed, the demands of modern family life meant that mum-of-three Melanie Barton didn’t have time to experiment with new foods. Sitting down for a meal together with children Caitlin, 10, Poppy, six, and Luke, three, also proved difficult due to the nature of husband Andy’s job. News of his redundancy two years ago, however, prompted them to re-evaluate their lifestyle.

The couple from Gosforth embarked on a new business venture which has improved every aspect of their family life.

Their veg-box franchise, Riverford Home Delivery, has not only allowed them to spend more time together as a family, but try some exciting new foods in the process.

Melanie, 37, who works part-time in the business, said: “We probably sit down to a meal around five or six days a week. We didn’t used to though. It was a conscious lifestyle change we made ourselves.

“Andy used to work until 7pm at night and it was a case of bathe the children and put them to bed. Now the business gives us the flexibility of sitting down as a family to eat and spend quality time together.”

The veg-box scheme has forced Melanie to think about creating more exciting family meals.

“When you have kids you tend to shop for the same things. The veg box scheme makes you think more about what you are cooking and forces you to try new things. We had beetroot in our last box which is something I would never normally buy.

“I made a beetroot risotto and the kids loved it. They called it red rice and it was a real novelty!”

The Merchant Gourmet survey also found that dinner time takes the average mother 35 minutes from start to finish, and four in 10 mothers play it safe by choosing meals they know their family like.

Food enjoyment was the most important factor for 30% of modern mothers and fathers when choosing what to cook, followed by taste (24%), while health came in at third at just 23%. Over half surveyed (55%) cook at least two meals to keep everyone happy.

Melanie said: “I do tend to have more time than a lot of people now. I cook from scratch most nights, but like any busy family we do have fish fingers and chips on the odd night.

“I tend to cook lots of pasta and traditional dishes like sausage and mash. I definitely have core meals which I cook as I know everybody likes them.

“The most tricky thing is probably catering for all of the children at the same time.”