Forty years on, the Irish dinner table may look very different but the family meal remains firmly part of everyday life.
As Dolmio celebrates 40 years, new research reveals that more than half (54% ) of Irish households eat dinner together between five and seven evenings a week, including nearly a third (30% ) who sit down together every night.
The study also highlights how Irish culinary tastes and dinnertime habits have evolved across 40 years, with Spaghetti Bolognese cementing its status as the nation's favourite pasta dish even as hectic modern routines put weekday dinners under pressure.
Almost three quarters (74% ) eat together at least three nights a week, suggesting that despite increasingly busy lives, the shared evening meal continues to hold an important place in Irish homes.
The study, by Amárach Research, commissioned by Mars Ireland to mark Dolmio’s 40th anniversary provides a snapshot of how family dining has evolved over four decades from what we eat to the pressures families face getting dinner on the table.
Tastes change, traditions endure
Irish mealtimes have evolved considerably, with households today eating more varied foods and adapting to busier lifestyles.
Compared with the family dinners they remember growing up:
• 29% say they now eat a wider variety of cuisines and flavours.
• 24% say household members are more likely to eat at different times because of work, school or other commitments.
• 20% say they cook from scratch more often.
• 20% say they make healthier food choices.
Traditional favourites continue to hold their own
Pasta remains firmly embedded in Irish mealtimes, with spaghetti bolognese the clear favourite featuring as a top-three favourite meal among 33% of households, ahead of lasagne at 27% and chicken pasta at 14%.
Roast dinner remains Ireland’s number one family meal, appearing in the top three choices of 51% of households and the top five of 57%.
However, the research also shows the generational differences in people’s family favourites:
Among those aged 65 and over, 73% put roast dinner in their top three family meals, compared with just 33% of under-35s.
By contrast, pizza appears in the top three for 46% of under-35s, highlighting how younger generations are reshaping the family dinner table.
Busy lives are the biggest challenge
While people still value eating together, the Mars Ireland research also highlights the realities of getting dinner on the table during a busy week:
• 31% say different work, school or activity schedules are one of the biggest challenges.
• 29% cite deciding what to make or a lack of meal inspiration.
• 26% say trying to make meals healthy and nutritious can be a challenge.
• 22% point to the cost of ingredients and keeping meals affordable - meaning affordability ranks behind scheduling, inspiration and nutrition as a weekday dinnertime pressure.
Harry Kennedy, Trade director for Food and Nutrition says, “Over the past 40 years, so much about the Irish dinner table has changed, from the range of foods we eat to the pace and pressures of everyday life.
"However, what really stands out from this research is how much sharing a meal still matters. Whether it’s a family sitting down together, housemates catching up after a busy day, or someone looking for a quick and comforting dinner at the end of a long one, mealtimes remain an important moment to pause and connect.
“Today’s dinner table may be busier, more varied and more flexible, but our affection for familiar favourites like spaghetti bolognese or a roast dinner remains incredibly strong.
"As Dolmio celebrates its 40th anniversary, we’re proud to celebrate those everyday moments. Dolmio is about helping to make mealtimes easier, taking some of the preparation out of dinner so there is more time to enjoy the people, conversations and moments that matter.”
To celebrate the brand's long-standing place at the heart of family mealtimes across Ireland, Dolmio have also brought back its much-loved characters – Mama, Papa, Carlo, Sophia, Nina and Nico, to celebrate the role of a favourite meal, in bringing families together.
Dolmio products are available in supermarkets and grocery retailers nationwide. For more information, recipe inspiration and the full Dolmio range, visit [www.dolmio.ie] or @dolmio on Instagram. Dolmio is part of the Mars Ireland portfolio of brands.
