Home is where the hunger is - Brit’s most nostalgic meals

The humble roast dinner has topped the poll as Britain’s most nostalgic meal, a study has revealed. More than half of the 2,000 people polled said a roast with all the trimmings was most likely to evoke memories of the taste and sounds of a Sunday lunch, surrounded by their family as a youngster.

Runner up was Shepherd’s Pie, with rice pudding, egg and chips and bangers and mash closely following.

Angel Delight came sixth, while family favourites such as beef stew and dumplings filled seventh, with toad-in-the-hole at eighth.

The research, which was commissioned by Cathedral City, found the classic cheese on toast sit at ninth, while beans on toast completed the top ten.

Cottage pie, bubble and squeak and fish fingers and chips also featured in the top twenty.

Researchers also found that 44% said a meal was most likely to remind them of their childhood simply because it was their favourite dish growing up.

Another 32% said it was because it was their mum’s specialty meal to cook for them, while almost one in ten said they used to help their mum or dad make it.

Jackie Wilson, spokesperson for Cathedral City, which commissioned the research, said: ‘It’s great to see good old traditional meals like steak and kidney pie, macaroni cheese and beef stew and dumplings amongst the nation’s favourite home-cooked meals.

“Cathedral City has long been a favourite for families and has a mature and mellow taste which is ideal for making tasty home-made dishes.”

Almost half of Brits (47%) look forward to going home to their parent’s to enjoy their favourite childhood meal because it takes them back to a happy time in their lives, while 55% said they cook it when they are feeling down to try and cheer themselves up.

Taste psychologist Greg Tucker explains; “There are certain foods like Cheddar, which all trigger pleasurable ‘reward’ emotions that leave us feeling good and comforted.

“These emotional triggers are linked to those first experienced as a child when being fed, which explains why as adults we tend to crave foods which deliver the same comforting feelings.”

A cheeky 35% even admitted that when they get home, they always pester their mum to make their favourite childhood dish for them again.

The study also revealed that 55% of people have tried to recreate their favourite childhood meal as an adult, but a third admit they can’t make it taste as good as it did when they were younger.

A further 38% of men have asked their wife or girlfriend to try to recreate a popular dish from their past, and while 40% said it didn’t match their mum’s version, a brave 22% reckon it was nicer.

Almost six in ten parents also cook the meal that reminds them the most of their childhood with their own children, with 45% of those saying it has now become their child’s favourite dish too.

Top 20 meals that remind us of childhood

Roast dinner
Shepherd’s Pie
Rice pudding
Egg and chips
Bangers and mash
Angel Delight
Beef Stew and dumplings
Toad-in-the-hole
Cheese on toast
Beans on toast
Cottage pie
Bubble and Squeak
Fish fingers and chips
Sausage, chips and beans
Arctic roll
Banana sandwiches
Pork chops
Steak and kidney pie
Macaroni cheese
Cheese sandwiches