A poll of 2,000 adults found screen time in the form of social media and work emails (16 per cent respectively) ranked as the top two factors stopping people enjoying a meal with others.
Games consoles and phone calls (both 15 per cent) were the other major blockers.
Among the main reasons why people don’t get to sit down with friends and family is because schedules don’t match up (28 per cent) and friends and family being too busy (27 per cent).
A third (33 per cent) don’t enjoy eating by themselves and almost half (47 per cent) wish they could dine and share food with loved ones more often than they currently do.
Rachel Cranston, spokesperson for Pukka, which has launched its Just for Two pie range, said: “We know dinner time can often be full of distractions and it’s no surprise that making the time to share meals with friends, family or workmates can be tricky - particularly as nearly half of the nation doesn’t consider sitting down to a meal with someone as part of their daily routine despite wanting to.
“We wanted to take action and help people to make everyday mealtimes more special – by encouraging the nation to spend time together, just because.”
What people most enjoy when it comes to sharing a meal wasn’t the food itself, but the human interactions which comes with it.
Community enhances the meal
The research found the most enjoyable aspects of sharing food include conversation (37 per cent), good company (34 per cent) and having a chance to catch-up with family (31 per cent) – all described as having the ability to bring people closer (30 per cent).
Dinner was the most common meal to enjoy with others – with the most popular foods to share including a Sunday roast (22 per cent), pizza (15 per cent), a Chinese takeaway (15 per cent) and almost one in 10 enjoying sharing pies.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues, 35 per cent will have more meals with friends and family in the coming months.
This is because it can save money, and they value the thought of having a nice conversation over the food.
But currently only half of adults eat together with their partner and a mere 21 per cent eat with their colleagues – making for a lonely lunch break.
Although a third (33 per cent) of those polled via OnePoll don’t enjoy eating by themselves.
And 52 per cent think they prepare better meals when they are cooking for someone else.
Rachel Cranston for Pukka added: “It’s now more important than ever to bring people together, and it’s clear that sharing food does just that.
“Let’s claim back those everyday sharing experiences and make mid-week meals come alive again without letting the little things in life distract us.
“So, set time aside, lock your phones and games consoles away, and make mealtimes more special.”
