A wellness expert has created what she says is the ultimate formula for a harmonious Christmas dinner.
In every family, the pressure of hosting the day and too much alcohol and resentment over stingy gifts can make all that goodwill and holiday cheer disappear quickly.
Dr Eleanor Bryant, a professor of psychology at the University of Bradford, set out to come up with the formula in response to research by Philips fryers which revealed that two in five families (42 per cent) cannot finish a meal without an argument. .
The study of 2,000 consumers revealed that mealtime often becomes a flashpoint for families, with the average household having some sort of fight at the dining table four times a week.
The three most important factors in mealtime disagreements are who cooks (77 percent), who washes the dishes (73 percent) and the use of screens at the table (69 percent).
Additionally, nearly six in ten (59 percent) parents say they will allow their children to use cell phones and tablets when eating to make the experience less stressful.
And with the added pressure that comes with Christmas, these factors add up to a potential recipe for disharmony.
Now Dr Bryant has revealed how to limit stress during Christmas dinner and advises considering factors such as the time it takes to prepare dinner and planning ahead for how many people you will need to feed.
Dr. Bryant, an acclaimed health and wellness expert, explained: ‘For families, the benefits of harmonious meals are countless.
A wellbeing expert has revealed the perfect formula for mealtime harmony this Christmas, as it is revealed almost half the country could have an argument over dinner (file image)
‘It has been shown that children who eat with their families achieve better academic and social results, as well as having a lower risk of developing obesity.
“But we all know that the stress and strains of juggling what life throws at us means it is often easier said than done, especially at Christmas.”
“That’s why this formula has been specially developed to help families find harmony at mealtime this holiday season.”
Dr. Bryant’s formula is made up of five initial factors, each of which is assigned a score out of ten.
To arrive at total harmony at mealtime, Dr. Bryant takes taste (Y), multiplies it by healthiness (H), and divides it by cost (C).
This figure is then divided by the time to prepare the food (T), multiplied by the number of mouths to feed (X).
Dr. Byrant then takes the new total and multiplies it by a factor of 10, representing the ease and speed with which tasty meals can be prepared.
Previously, psychologist Nicholas Joyce of the University of South Florida revealed three tips to avoid family arguments during Christmas in The conversation.
He advised people to get through the big day by first managing their expectations about what it will be like.
Dr Eleanor Bryant is a professor of psychology at the University of Bradford.
Dr. Bryant’s formula is made up of five initial factors, each of which is assigned a score out of ten.
If family members start bothering you, Joyce recommends that people take direct control of the problem or let it go.
Finally, Joyce advises people to prepare for probably feeling irritated with their family members and plan ahead for how they will respond.
Another tip has been to prepare everything in advance to avoid last-minute tensions and make sure the children are not too tired.
It is also advisable to limit alcohol consumption and if things get too much, get away from the situation to go for a walk or read a book to calm down.
Sara Vaum, senior product manager at Philips, said: “For many families, mealtimes can be a source of unnecessary stress, especially at Christmas.”
‘Finding that balance between feeding your loved ones nutritious, tasty meals and the time it takes to prepare them can be tricky.
“That’s why we’ve enlisted the expert services of Dr. Bryant as we continue to develop new ways to help families achieve better balance in the kitchen.”