Can you guess what Britain's most nostalgic meal is? We'll give you a clue - it comes with lashings of gravy, and is usually eaten on a Sunday.
Yes, it’s the humble roast dinner. According to a study commissioned by the cheesy folk at Cathedral City, roast meat with all the trimmings is the meal most likely to evoke memories of family happiness around the dinner table.
Runner up was Shepherd’s Pie, closely followed by rice pudding, egg ‘n chips, bangers ‘n mash, Angel Delight (yuck), beef stew and dumplings, toad-in-the-hole, cheese on toast, and, in tenth position, beans on toast.
Cottage pie, bubble ‘n squeak, and fish fingers and chips were also in the top 20.
Comfort food from yesteryear
Of those who took the survey, 44% said that 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 speciality, whilst almost one in ten said they used to help their mum or dad make it.
A cheeky 35% of those polled would even ask their parents to cook it for them when they went home for a visit.
Taste psychologist Greg Tucker explains: “There are certain foods like Cheddar which 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.”
What's your most nostalgic dish? And do you cook it for someone special? Talk to us in the comments box below.
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