The study shows fascinating changes in the role of food and cooking in modern lifestyles, including a lack of confidence in the kitchen, an increasing reliance on convenience food, and a significant minority of people who are too busy for breakfast and who skip lunch at work.
The research has found that some things don't change, however, with women still doing most of the work in the kitchen, most families still sitting down together for Sunday lunch, and the great majority still cooking the nation's favourite meal - the traditional Christmas lunch.
Cooking has become a star-studded occupation. There are dozens of celebrity chefs, but who actually influences the way people cook? And where do they look for recipes? The survey found that 20% of respondents claim Jamie Oliver has influenced their cooking. He is particularly popular among people with children under five, with no fewer than 30% in this group naming Jamie as an influence. Jamie is equally popular in the North and the South of the country.
Ainsley Harriott comes second with 15% saying he has influenced their cooking - and he is the most influential of all among ethnic minorities. Delia is third in the poll, despite her years as the UK's leading TV cook, while Gary Rhodes comes fourth - but is considerably more popular in the North (11%) than in the South (4%). However, over half (55%) of respondents say celebrity chefs have not influenced their cooking at all - with no fewer than 66% of people over 55 in this category.
Traditional gender roles still persist in cooking though. The survey found that most men still don't pull their weight in the kitchen Two in five (39%) of respondents who are married or co-habiting say that the woman in the partnership does all the cooking. However, women and men don't seem to agree about this tricky subject. Half of women say they do all the cooking compared to only 30% of men who say their wife or partner does!
Interestingly, MORI has unearthed several new food 'types' in their study:
All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.
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