J Sainsbury plc : Top 10 dishes that bring the UK's families to the dinner table

• Sainsbury's reveals the top ten dishes that bring UK families together
• Sunday roast is still number one but iconic international dishes are on the rise and seen as better for conversation and fun at the table
• 32 per cent of Britain's families are eating together 7-days-a-week, spending an average of 30.4 minutes at the dinner table per meal and eating together 4.4 per week
• Sainsbury's new Facebook app launched to encourage people to share their favourite Live Well for Less moments

New research released today by Sainsbury's reveals the top ten dishes that bring the UK's families to the dinner table and also uncovers that although the Sunday roast remains the firm favourite, international dishes are on the rise.

The research, coinciding with the launch of Sainsbury's new Live Well for Less Facebook app, ranks the top ten dishes that are most likely to bring UK families together, as well as ranking those that encourage conversation and inject a degree of fun into dinner time.

Sunday is still the most popular day for the family to sit around the table with 71 per cent of respondents coming together on a weekly basis on this day. Although the Sunday roast is still the firm favourite, dishes that require families to assemble meals with their fingers, play around with sauces and garnishes and pass numerous bowls across the tables, were deemed better for creating conversation and injecting fun for all the family. Chinese (37%), Curry (35%) and Fajitas (31%) ranked in the top five dishes that bring the fun factor to the dinner table.

The research also showed that frugal times mean UK families are dining together more often and resisting the restaurants. 32 per cent of those questioned are now eating together as a family 7-days-a-week with the average family coming together 4.4 times and spending an average of 134 minutes at the table together each week - that's 6,955 minutes each year.

Although the majority of families are spending more time together, London falls behind the rest of the UK when it comes to family time spent around the table. Of those polled, London families blamed hectic lifestyles for the decline in time spent at the table chatting as a family.

However, eating together as a family more often is obviously a priority for some as almost a quarter of respondents (23%) stated that their New Year's resolution is to eat together more frequently.

Sainsbury's new Facebook app is encouraging people across the UK to share their favourite Live Well for Less moments, be it family or food related. Whether it's fighting over the last fortune cookie, or a family stroll through the park, Sainsbury's wants to hear them. Visit  and share yours.

Britain's top 10 family favourites

1. Roast dinner 71%
2. Spaghetti bolognese 35%
3. Fish and chips 35%
4. Chinese 33%
5. Curry 33%
6. Sausage and mash 30%
7. Shepherd's pie 29%
8. English breakfast 28%
9. Fajitas 23%
10. Chilli con carne 20%

A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "It's great to see that families are spending more time together at the dinner table. It's also refreshing to find that dishes we've adopted in the UK, such as curry and Chinese, are inviting conversation and instilling a degree of fun into dinner time. We've launched this new app to try and encourage people across the UK to share their family's favourite moments and give each other tips on how to Live Well for Less. Whether it's a Sunday roast, or a simple picnic in the park, it doesn't have to cost the earth to have fun as a family."

The launch of the new Facebook app reflects Sainsbury's promise to help customers Live Well for Less, a commitment to enable shoppers to bag the best deals on their everyday staples, without compromising on quality.

Family Favourites is just one of the six themes that Sainsbury's is encouraging people to get involved with via their Facebook page. Go online and share your most romantic moments or where you get your half term happiness from.

Notes to editors

• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov. Total sample size was 2,000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 06.01.12 - 10.01.12. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
• At Sainsbury's we believe everyone should be able to Live Well For Less, which is why we're committed to bringing you ideas, initiatives and offers which help you to enjoy life and get the most out of all your everyday experiences for less than you thought possible.