How long does the typical family dinner last?

While the past year has changed people’s routines, eating habits and more, one question remains on the table. How long does the typical family dinner last? The findings are not what many people expected.

Gathering the family around the dinner table might seem like a chore. From after school activities to homework to just not wanting to cook, the obstacles in front of that meal seem almost insurmountable.

Even though the past year saw some families turn breakfast into a family meal, the reality is that dinnertime is more than just a moment to curb that grumbling stomach. Although no one really wants to debate politics or discuss religion, it can be a time to put down the screen and have a face to face conversation with the person sitting in front of you.

The typical family dinner lasts longer than you think.

According to a recent study by Gold Peak Real Brewed Tea, the typical American household spends 85 minutes at the dinner table. That duration is 15 minutes longer than previous studies found. Although the specific reasoning for this increase was not specified, part of the change was due to being home more often.

For example, more than half of the respondents showed an uptick in family dinners after the start of the pandemic. Again, the closeness to the dining room allowed that change.

More importantly, the dinner hour was the break from the “other” activities at home. Instead of being glued to a keyboard to express a thought, people were interacting with others. Without that moment to walk down the hall at work to take a mental break, the dinner table offered that respite.

What started as a circumstance changed into a habit. Whether people found it relaxing or a necessity wasn’t necessarily the point. Now 55% of parents said that cooking with the kids is part of that family mealtime routine. As many parents have learned, getting kids to be more open with the conversation can involve a change of scenery. Sometimes that “friend” question is less bothersome when putting together a salad versus asking it while passing the potatoes.

Although this Gold Peak Real Brewed Tea study captured the current sentiments, the hope is that this dining trend continues. Even though big holidays and special occasions have people gathering around the table, it shouldn’t be limited to just those particular moments. Sometimes the best memories are the ones that are unplanned.

What are your dinnertime traditions? Have your food habits changed in the past year?