A recent study reveals that pizza is the favorite meal for nearly half of children in the UK. The research, which surveyed 1,000 parents of children aged six to 16, found that 44 percent named the Italian dish as their kids’ top choice.
Coming in second, albeit with a significant drop, were burgers and chips, along with chicken nuggets, both at 28 percent. Fish and chips followed closely at 26 percent. Other popular meals in the top 20 included curry, fajita wraps, frankfurter hot dogs, and cheese on toast.
Gemma Serdet, from the frankfurter brand Herta, which commissioned the research and developed a ‘dinner spinner’ to help parents with meal ideas, noted, “There’s always going to be a dish that is a hit, and your little one will be happy to have it no matter what.”
“Our research shows how many classic meals are popular among children, but it can often make it hard to mix things up. It can also be a challenge when you have multiple members of the family to please, and you’ve got to become inventive to find something everyone enjoys,” she added.
The study also highlighted that 78 percent of parents enjoy cooking for their children, especially when it’s their favorite dish (41 percent) or when the meal is quick and easy to prepare (37 percent). However, 40 percent of parents admitted to serving the same meal multiple times a week, with 69 percent believing their kids would happily eat the same thing repeatedly.
Additionally, a third of parents find it easier to serve familiar meals when they’re busy, and 30 percent believe it’s less wasteful since the food is likely to be eaten. Despite this, 71 percent of parents reported that their child refuses a meal nearly every week, with 10 percent experiencing this on four or more occasions within the same period. As a result, 78 percent of parents end up cooking different meals to satisfy everyone in the family, averaging three times a week.
The research, conducted via OnePoll, also found that 48 percent of parents emphasize the importance of not wasting food due to the cost of living. To avoid waste, 21 percent opt for cheaper ingredients, knowing their child might reject a dish. However, 73 percent still struggle to get their kids to eat, with 55 percent describing their child as a ‘fussy eater.’ This leads to 43 percent of parents having difficulty finding suitable snacks and meals on the go.
Moreover, 41 percent of parents struggle to get their children to eat their recommended five-a-day, while 24 percent face challenges in getting them to consume protein-rich foods.
Gemma Serdet added, “For many families, mealtimes are one of the only times when everyone comes together and shares their news from the day. That’s why we want to help parents find fun and simple ways to make tasty dishes that are well received by the whole family, as well as come up with creative ways to take popular dishes and make them a little more exciting.”
Top 20 Favorite Meals Among UK Children:
Pizza (44%)
Burger and chips (28%)
Chicken nuggets and chips (28%)
Fish and chips (26%)
Spaghetti Bolognese (24%)
Roast dinner (24%)
Mac and cheese (19%)
Fish fingers and chips (16%)
Sausage and chips (15%)
Spaghetti and meatballs (15%)
Sausage and mashed potato (14%)
Hot dog with a frankfurter sausage (14%)
Curry (13%)
Fajita wraps (13%)
Lasagne (12%)
Jacket potato with baked beans and cheese (10%)
Chicken pasta bake (10%)
Cheese on toast (10%)
Pesto pasta (9%)
Beef stew (8%)