Brits spend a total of 37 hours a year – nearly a full working week – trying to make up their minds on what to eat, a study has found. A poll, of 2,000 adults, found the typical person spends 43 minutes each week deliberating what to have – with dinner being the most challenging decision, for 57 percent.
The top reasons for this indecision include a lack of inspiration, a struggle to find the right recipes – and the problem of too much choice. Meanwhile, 30 percent have even decided on a meal, only to find they didn’t have the necessary ingredients to make it happen.
Decisions at dinner-time have become a real bone of contention for 10 percent, who admit they have daily debates with their partner about what to serve up.
And it would appear “food-min” is taking over our lives, as 42 percent of indecisive Brits find themselves staring into the fridge for dinner ideas, while 48 percent raid the cupboards for inspiration.
The research was commissioned by Dolmio, as the brand launches a Drive-Thru at Sandbach Services on the M6 – the UK’s busiest service station – as well as Dinner Collection Points in London’s busiest train stations.
Each location will dish out ready-to-cook meals to commuters and travellers, to help settle dinner debates by arming them with the right ingredients.
Opening the doors to the Drive-Thru, TV and radio personality, Sam Thompson, said: “When it comes to that final meal of the day, I know the struggle is real. But pasta is my go-to comfort meal whenever I’m feeling unsure. If you’re a penne fiend like me, carbonara is the one.”
The study also found that, when it comes to indecision, 21 percent believe their own lack of time to plan a meal is to blame – while 11 percent struggle to find appealing recipes.
And the average adult starts to deliberate about what to eat at 15:10 each day, when “dinnertime doom” kicks in – the confusion over what to put on your evening plate. As a result, almost half (47 percent) have forced down a meal they didn’t really want, just to save making a decision.
The study, conducted via OnePoll, also revealed other things the nation spends hours mulling over – including what TV series to watch, whether to have a second cup of tea, and if it’s a “hair wash day”.
In general, nearly three in 10 (28 percent) would describe themselves as indecisive, with 30 percent saying it gets more difficult to make a choice, the later in the day it is.
Sian Galvin, spokeswoman for Dolmio, added: “Day-to-day life can be hectic, and we’re forever having to make decisions – so choosing what to have for dinner is just another thing added to our plate (pardon the pun). We look forward to inspiring our drive-thru customers this week.”
