Bord Bia has released the results of a study into the evening eating habits of people across Ireland.
The study found the classic meat and two veg dinner was the most popular dinner in Irish households accounting for 11% of all meals across a seven day period.
Among children, Spaghetti Bolognese is the meal the most eat with 14% of children eating it for their evening meal.
While there may be a lot of talk about cutting back on our meat intake, 29% of all adult meals in Ireland include red meat according to the study, with 21% including chicken.
Health and wellness considerations are driving consumer behaviour, with over 80% of people placing a high level of importance on eating a balanced diet.
Busier lives and seeking convenience solutions are all influencing Irish evening mealtime habits.
Smaller meals and snacks are changing evening meal dynamics, with 17% of all evening meals no longer the main meal of the day.
There has been a 12% decline in regular scratch cooking among Irish adults, from just over four in ten adults in 2011 to three in ten in 2019.
Top 10 adult meal types:
• Meat & Two Vegetables
• Chicken Dish (for example Roast Chicken)
• Pasta with Sauce (for example Spaghetti Bolognese)
• Italian Foods (for example Pizza & Lasagne)
• Diner Style Favourites (for example Burger or Steak & Chips)
• Fish Dish (for example Fish Bake or Fish & Chips)
• Light Meal (for example Toasted Sandwich or Beans on Toast)
• Chinese / Oriental meal
• Stew or Casserole
• Indian Dish (for example Chicken Tikka Masala, Korma, Curry)
Top 10 children’s meal types:
- Pasta with Sauce (for example Spaghetti Bolognaise)
- Chicken Dish (for example Roast Chicken)
- Meat & Two Vegetables
- Italian Foods (for example Pizza & Lasagne)
- Diner-Style Favourites (for example Burger or Steak & Chips)
- Stew or Casserole
- Fish Dish (for example a Fish Bake or Fish & Chips)
- Chinese / Oriental Meal
- Indian Dish (for example Chicken Tikka Marsala, Korma, Curry)
- Light Meal (for example Toasted Sandwich or Beans on Toast)
“Over the past decade Ireland has experienced huge social, economic and technological changes which have significantly impacted consumer attitudes," Bord Bia Consumer Insight Specialist, Grace Binchy said.
"Manufacturers should consider how they can deliver healthy products while creating convenience in people’s lives and addressing their changing demands around sustainability," she said.
