Latest news with #tastecomau
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Death of the dining table: Why Aussies are choosing to eat elsewhere
The dining table has become a point of contention as more Aussies choose to eat their meals in other places around the home. Only 54 per cent of Australians eat at the dining table most often, Dinner Heroes survey found. Of that, Boomers were most likely to participate in more formal dining, closely followed by families with both young and older children. The survey conducted for Australia's number one online cooking resource found 27 per cent of people eat their dinner while seated on the couch, while 10 per cent don't make it past the kitchen bench. A quarter of people living in share houses, and 19 per cent of those living at home with family, choose to eat in their bedrooms. Senior Lecturer in Public Health Dr Catharine Flemming said young people eating in their bedrooms is a product of their addiction to devices, but also the stage of life they are in where 'independence and autonomy starts to creep in'. 'But then it almost becomes an important teachable moment for parents to say 'hey devices away, this is dinner time, we are all going to have dinner together, we're all going to sit down',' Dr Flemming told 'Because evidence also shows just reaching out from a wellbeing perspective to children in that mealtime is really important to see their mental health, as well as their nutrition. 'It's a moment where we can pause (and say), 'hey, how's your day?' 'We are all busy. It's no one's fault, we are all busy and it's just hard but it might be good for families to say 'not every night but at least three times a week, we are going to have a family meal and sit down together'.' Dr Flemming, from Western Sydney University, said while eating dinner together at a dining table is optimal, reality is not everyone these days has room for a dining table. 'With downsizing, everything is shrinking, so we are losing that connectivity of that family meal time, which is best around a table if possible,' Dr Flemming said. 'But even if you don't have that space, you might be in a small inner-city apartment – at least turn the TV the off. 'You might be sat on the lounge or at the bench … even sit on the floor with cushions if you don't have a space for a table but that coming together is what is important'. Screens have become second nature at dinner, with 76 per cent of respondents watching television or a streaming service while eating. Those who eat alone are the most regular TV watchers at 45 per cent closely followed by Boomers at 43 per cent. One in five young people are the most likely to be scrolling on an electronic device while eating dinner. Leading renovation expert Cherie Barber said the results come as no surprise. 'The dining room is on life support – if not six foot under already,' Ms Barber told '(It) has now become like a museum piece for a couple of reasons: first of all, we just all lead super busy, digital lives these days. 'A lot of people spend a large portion of their time each day on all of those various channels,' she said. 'If you're working a full-time job and then you go home, most people are scrolling, they're checking out what their friends are doing, they might be watching Netflix or looking at the latest thing on TikTok – so this old tradition of sitting around the table with your family has almost died because of the busy digital lives that we lead.' With many Aussies living in smaller homes now due to housing affordability, there has been a rise in multifunctional spaces, Ms Barber said. 'It is a real luxury to have a formal dining room, and so people are not okay to have a dining table sitting in a room that's only used once a week, or potentially never,' she said. 'Those dining room rooms are now being converted for the most part to home offices with a lot more people working from home these days. 'Space is at a premium.' The Space Invaders star believes furniture is another driving force behind the switch. 'The reality is our couches are comfier these days (and) a lot of people have big screen TVs in almost every room,' she said. 'Before we used to sit at the dining table as a family and eat, but these days, because our furniture is so comfortable and more multifunctional it's made the dining table a very redundant piece of furniture in your house. 'A formal dining chair just doesn't compete with a really plush couch or a bed in a lot of cases.' Ms Barber said it was at least 15 to 20 years ago since she last designed a formal dining room in one of her projects. 'There's big design shifts going on as well … it's not unusual to see a big island bench now that has six dining chairs or six stools built under the kitchen island bench,' she added. 'We're definitely a nation that is leaning more towards casual dining rather than formal dining.' Wherever you are eating your dinner, the dinner experts at have teamed up Coles to create 20 brand-new, flavour-packed Dinner Heroes recipes that are quick, simple and delicious.
News.com.au
29-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Taste.com.au survey reveals Aussie shoppers favourite aisles
It's a place every shopper knows all too well – the aisles of their local supermarket. But which one is Australia's favourite? According to Dinner Heroes survey, the fresh fruit and vegetable aisle has come out on top, with almost one in five (16 per cent) of Aussies nominating it as their favourite. Of that, the nation's healthiest eaters (and shoppers) live predominantly in the ACT (20 per cent), followed by Queensland (19 per cent) and WA (17 per cent). Female participants were also more likely to choose that aisle, sitting at 21 per cent, while only 10 per cent of males share the sentiment. The survey conducted by News Corp's Growth Intelligence Centre (GIC) also found clear generational differences between aisle choice. Boomers enjoyed the fresh fruit and vegetable aisle the most, coming in at 24 per cent, closely followed by Gen X at 16 per cent. Popularity declined in the lower age brackets with only 10 and 11 per cent of Gen Z and Millennial shoppers in agreement. The second favourite aisle – as voted for by the younger generation at 13 per cent – was confectionary. Shoppers in the NT had the biggest sweet tooth, with almost a quarter of shoppers declaring their love for the lolly aisle. Consumer behaviour expert Professor Nitika Garg from the University of New South Wales believes the results are explainable due to two main factors: health issues and discretionary income. 'One is that as people get older they have health issues – they might have been told by the doctors take your vitamins, you need to eat more healthy …,' Professor Garg told 'The second is that we know that Baby Boomers or the older generations right now in the current environment have more discretionary income compared to Millennials and Gen Z. When asked why fresh fruit and vegetables topped the charts overall, Professor Garg said the current education in place in schools has encouraged a generation of mindful eaters. 'I think this is a hardening development and indicative of the initiatives that Australian schools and the government have put in place,' she said. 'I remember when my kid was in primary school we had to give (them) one box for the snack – which had to be a fresh fruit or something – and then another (for) lunch. 'I think there is that growing awareness and because kids are growing up with that more and parents are more aware, even across different social economic groups,' Prof Garg said. 'Those differences still exist but they are shrinking a little bit. 'My hunch would be you will not see this pattern replicate in let's say a country like the US where there isn't the same push for information in this regard.' Food Director Michelle Southan said there are simple tips shoppers can follow to ensure they can stretch their dollar farther. 'Embracing recipes that use fresh seasonal produce is one way to ensure balanced meals without exceeding your budget but don't overlook the frozen vegetable aisle either – there are some excellent options that can easily add extra nutrients to your dishes,' Ms Southan told 'Having pantry staples like cannellini beans and lentils readily available is also a great way for boosting the nutritional value of your meals.' Humans aren't the only ones considered in the weekly shopping budget, the survey found, with a third of pet owners feeding their four-legged friends their dinner. This is more common in younger pet owners – 46 per cent of Gen Z and 43 per cent of Millennials – as opposed to only 28 per cent of Boomers. Bondi Vet Owner and veterinarian Dr Kate Adams said she was a big supporter of feeding pets leftovers from the dinner plate. 'I think the biggest plus for me, and for everyone, is not wasting food,' she told 'One of the things that breaks my heart … is wasting meat. There's a lot of people in this world who don't have food and I think we shouldn't be wasting what we're given. 'In terms of the health aspect of this … there has been a real turn in the market, in particular pet food, where people are now looking to wholefoods (which) are a lot more anti-inflammatory than what the processed foods are. 'There's been a real push towards overall preventive health, and the main way that we know how to do that is nutrition.' Dr Adams warned by only feeding our furry friends the same wholefood diets as their owners they can miss out on the balanced diet that animals require. 'Am I pro-dinner feeder? Absolutely,' she said. 'I was taught back in my day when I graduated, I've been a vet for about 20 years, that dry food was the only option for our pets. 'As we know more about nutrition, we know more about the value of food, wholefoods are better than processed foods. 'The only problems that exist here are when pets are not getting a balanced diet, that's when things start to go a bit off the rails.' Several of Dr Adams' clients present with health issues which she boils down to diet. 'I don't want people to throw that their leftovers away (but) I think they have to be conscious of the fact that their dog can't just live on meat and two different types of vegetables.' She believes the stark contrast between generations can be attributed to the 'norm' when Boomer pet owners were younger was feeding the dog off the table – and now, after also being a generation of researchers – have found the perfect balance for their furry friends. Meanwhile, Gen Z and Millennials may be more food waste and cost conscious, Dr Adams theorised.
News.com.au
27-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
How to avoid the $138m mistake Aussie travellers keep making
Aussie travellers have forked out $138 million in avoidable international transaction fees over the last year, new research has revealed. A report by ING found holiday-makers dedicated a hefty 20 per cent of their travel budgets to food and dining purchases – an average of $1,477 per traveller. Of that, $82.28 in transaction could have been saved. 'Our new research shows Aussies are increasingly prioritising food and dining experiences when they travel,' ING's head of daily banking Dina Kotsopoulos said. 'We encourage Aussies to confirm with their banks what fees they might be subject to while on holiday, ahead of time, so they can fully enjoy their global foodadventures without unexpected costs.' Ms Kotsopoulos encouraged those looking to travel internationally to plan ahead, check their bank's fees on overseas purchasing and consider their options to avoid incurring avoidable charges before they leave. The research also found that more travellers are prioritising memorable culinary experiences when holidaying, with 88 per cent of respondents willing to cut back on other aspects of travel, such as shopping and activities, to make room for a good meal. In March this year, Australia's number one cooking resource surveyed more than 2350 Australians from all cultural backgrounds on their food habits for their Taste the World report. It found Millennials were the most domestically adventurous demographic, with 13 per cent of those aged between 29 and 44 expressing a willingness to travel to a different state or region within Australia to try a particular cuisine. In the last year, a collective $12bn has been spent on overseas culinary experiences alone. Japan remains the biggest hotspot for Aussie travellers, with a 60 per cent uptick in visitors compared to pre-Covid levels. The Asian destination is closely followed by New Zealand, with Queenstown seeing a 14 per cent increase, and Bali with a 27 per cent hike since 2019. India, China and South Korea are also rising in popularity, according to MasterCard's 2025 Travel Trends Report. Consumers are increasingly investing more in experiences, naming travel and tourism, outdoor activities and dining as their top three priorities this year. The top foodie destination was Turkey, with its median restaurant in Istanbul hosting tourists from 67 different countries. This was closely followed by France and Switzerland, each hosting a median of 64 tourist countries each.
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
taste.com.au dinner heroes survey reveals Aussies too tired to cook
Move over cost of living – there's one thing keeping us out of the kitchen more than the price of groceries. The simple truth is: We are just too tired to cook. The Dinner Heroes survey conducted by the Growth Intelligence Centre (GIC) found when it comes to cooking dinner, there's one generation more than most who said they are too tired to pick up a pot or pan. More than one in three (34 per cent) Gen Zers said they are too tired to cook most nights, with half blaming work. Almost half of Millennials (48 per cent) – those aged between 29 and 44 – also said they were too tired to cook, while one in three Gen Xers said the same, and just 10 per cent of Boomers. A third of families with young children said they are more likely to be tired most nights, compared with just 16 per cent of adult families with no children. Lack of time came in second with 33 per cent of Aussies using that as an excuse to order take out, while one in four cited cost, and almost the same number blaming a lack of cooking inspiration. Two in five of the 2083 Australians surveyed admitted to resorting to ordering takeout or home delivery, while almost 30 per cent said they'd opt for a frozen meal or microwave dinner. One in five said they'd snack instead of having a full meal, while 13 per cent admitted to skipping dinner all together, with the number jumping to on in five of Gen Zers. 'This is something most of us can relate to, from that stage of life when you're trying to juggle work, study, fitness, sleep and seeing your family and friends,' online youth platform Year13 Co-Founder Will Stubley told 'In the midst of all that grabbing a snack at the end of a long day can feel like the easiest way to reclaim some time for yourself and unwind. It's a common experience for many young people today, but it also highlights the importance of learning essential life skills like healthy eating habits,' Mr Stubley said. 'Cooking for yourself, especially on a budget, isn't just good for you, it can be a good way to socialise and look after both yourself and others too. With so many young people today looking for more real life connections, cooking and eating together can be a great way to make them'. Social researcher, author and Gen Z expert Dr Claire Madden told Gen Z is so accustomed to convenience and ease because of the society they have grown up in with the speed of delivery and ease of accessing things like food with the click of a button,' 'Gen Z have grown up in a boundaryless world, where there is less distinction between work and play, personal life and professional life. Tech blurs those lines,' Dr Madden told 'There's a lot of great things about flexible work options, but for Gen Z it's created this 'always on' mentality,' Dr Madden said. 'Gen Z consistently say they want to be contributors in life and we really need to be helping them disconnect from their 'always on' in the digital world'. Registered Nutritionist Dr Chrissy Freer said 'regularly skipping dinner or replacing it with a snack, especially one that's mostly carbohydrates, can place you at risk of nutrient shortfalls'. 'Dinner is often a key opportunity to meet daily needs for vegetables, fibre and protein which are essential for satiety, muscle maintenance, blood sugar control and long-term health,' Dr Freer told 'With most Australian adults already falling short on vegetable intakes (just one in 15 meet recommendations, according to the 2022 Australian Health Survey), missing dinner can further compromise overall diet quality. Going to bed hungry may also disrupt sleep, contributing to a cycle of fatigue, cravings and over snacking the next day,' she said. But in some good news, when we are bothered to cook, almost half of us are happy to eat leftovers, while almost one in five ask someone else to cook. Digital Food Director Amira Georgy said dinner did not have to be a three course extravaganza. 'Who has the time or energy for that,' Ms Georgy told 'As a mum of three, I cook one meal that will feed the hordes (and have some leftovers if I'm lucky). My kids are aged 5, 14 and 17, so the trickiest thing is finding something that will please them all (luckily my husband will eat anything!) and will land on the dinner table quick-smart,' she said. 'My advice is to keep it simple and plan ahead. I do one large shop at the beginning of the week that will last me at least five days. I choose meals that I know will be fine to eat for a couple of days and it's a bonus if I can pop any leftovers in the freezer for when I am really short on time'. Food Director Michelle Southan said although eating out can seem like an easy solution to dinner, 'you may be surprised at how more budget-friendly homemade meals can be'. 'I've even opted for the occasional takeaway when time is tight and hungry kids are involved, only to be taken aback by the cost,' Ms Southan said. 'That's why we created our new fakeaway Friday recipes, done and dusted in under 30 minutes, yes it's that quick and on a Friday night that certainly even beats the delivery driver'. The survey found less than a third of Aussies (28 per cent) prepared their dinners head of the start of every week. One in five said they spent between $100 and $149 a week on groceries, while the same amount of respondents said they forked out between $150 and $199. When it comes to dinner options, a third of us draw our inspiration from family and friends, while a third turn to recipe websites or social media. More than half of Gen Zers said they get their dinner inspirations from social media, compared with 42 per cent of Millennials, 26 per cent of Gen Xers, and just 10 per cent of Boomers. Taste was considered the most important factor when it came to what to cook for dinner, with health, nutrition, time and cost all equally second. The dinner experts at have teamed up Coles to create 20 brand-new, flavour-packed Dinner Heroes recipes that are quick, simple and delicious. 'Making sure the family gets a good nutritious meal can be stressful before you have even started cooking,' Ms Southan said. 'Embracing recipes that use fresh seasonal produce is one way to ensure balanced meals without exceeding your budget but don't overlook the frozen vegetable aisle either – there are some excellent options that can easily add extra nutrients to your dishes.'
