Almost one in two UK households (48%) admit that they eat their dinner in front of the TV instead of sitting around a table – and one in ten confess to having meals in bed during lockdown - according to new research from Bakkavor a leading provider of fresh prepared foods in the UK. After almost 15 months of mandatory stay-at-home rules, Bakkavor asked a representative sample of 2,000 adults where they had tended to eat their evening meal in the last few months. Only 20% of respondents said they actually sat down together for dinner and had a family conversation most evenings. Sitting on the sofa for dinner proved far more popular (39%) and, despite a year away from the office, many still have their evening meal while working. Overall,10% said they ate dinner at their home desk and a further 10% had it at work. The bedroom has become a popular place for dinner. Whether people have been spending more time working from the bedroom or watching box sets, one in ten people say that bedroom dinners have becoming a habit since lockdown (10%). Top 5 most popular places for Brits to eat their dinner: > In front of the TV 48% > On the sofa 39% > In bed 10% > At my desk/in the study 10% > At work 10% The study also found that family tensions may have been running high for those people that have been living with their parents during lockdown – with people going to extremes to avoid having to talk to each other. People living with their parents were most likely to avoid a sit-down meal and conversation, and most likely to have meals in front of TV (60%), on the sofa (48%) and in bed (25%). Bakkavor also found that for under 35s lockdown burnout may be looming. It seems that this age group were the least likely to be enjoying themselves in front of the TV at mealtimes but are instead most likely to eat at work (18%), at their desk (17%) or even in bed (19%). As life slowly returns to normal and more people can go into their place of work, the study found that people’s jobs had a hand to play in the death of the traditional dinnertime meal. Only 8% of shift workers said they were able to have their family evening meal around the table – and instead are the most likely to have their evening meal at work 24%, in bed 17%, or even whilst doing housework 10%. Peculiar places to eat Interestingly, 10% of parents said they ate their evening meal in the bathroom over the past few months (4% nationally), particularly those with children under 5 in the household, with men most likely than women to eat in the bathroom (5% vs. 2%). Mike Edwards, Chief Operating Officer UK, at Bakkavor commented, “During lockdown and the restrictions we have all been under, whilst homebound Brits have returned to some old habits such as home cooking and family mealtimes, our research suggests that people have actually wanted space from each other for their own personal well-being. 'Even with most people still at home, people still have had different routines, resulting in working, relaxing, studying and eating at different times – and in different places. 'This will only accelerate as the UK re-emerges from lockdown and people return to work and get out to see friends and loved ones. In most households today, family members have conflicting working hours and shift patterns, varying diets, differing tastes and many homes no longer have a kitchen table. 'We are supplying the meal choices that mean people can still enjoy the foods they like wherever and whenever they choose to have them.” (source: Bakkavor, image: pexels)