NEWS COPY - by Grant Bailey
Modern DINK households earn more than £47,000 a year, consider themselves to be 'foodies' and enjoy two holidays a year, a study found.
Researchers also found the typical 'double income, no kids' couple spend four hours a week socialising with friends and a whopping 12 hours in front of the television.
And of their £47,000 annual income around £12,000 of that is 'disposable'.
The research was commissioned by New Covent Garden Soup Co., to launch its ‘Let’s Do Lunch Better’ campaign.
Clinical Psychologist, Dr Nihara Krause, who worked with New Covent Garden Soup to analyse the results and launch a new campaign calling on DINKs to do lunch better, said: “Participants in this survey report many opportunities to do things that contribute to positive mental health, such as exercise or spending time with their partners, as well as having time and energy for their own pursuits.”
It also emerged DINKs are restrained when it comes to lunchtime spending, shelling out just over £10 each week on the second meal of the day – just over £1.50 a day.
Almost half of those surveyed agreed their lifestyles were so busy they often felt they had to neglect life’s necessities such as making time for a decent lunch.
One in four skip lunch at least four times a month, with one in 20 skipping lunch ten or more times.
When they do make time for lunch, a quarter of DINKs have 15 minutes or less to enjoy the meal, and a tiny two per cent manage to take a full ‘lunch hour’.
Health is a major consideration for them, with 37 per cent dedicated to keeping fit and one in four taking on an exercise session four times a week or more.
As for hobbies, 46 per cent of DINKs consider themselves foodies, one in five are green-thumbed gardeners, while a kind hearted seven per cent regularly take part in volunteer work.
When asked which aspects of their lives they believe they have been able to dedicate more time to because of their lifestyle, 47 per cent of DINKs said their home had benefited.
Over a third believe this choice has allowed them to travel more, and 58 per cent believe they have been able to be more attentive when it comes to their relationship because of their Double Income, No Kids status.
In fact, 41 per cent said their partner was the main focus of their life, and one in five have built their lifestyle around their chosen career.
Dr Krause added: “Having lunch provides energy and nutrients to keep both brain and body working efficiently throughout the second half of the day.
“Skipping lunch also often sets up a craving towards the end of the day, which can lead to over eating.
“Even a short break of fifteen minutes enables our brains to rest and have an opportunity to recharge, increasing brain functions such as creativity.
“Making sure they make time for lunch will contribute to further improvement of their wellbeing by providing them with a steady source of energy and the opportunity to enjoy a break in the middle of the day.”
* New Covent Garden Soup believe a quick lunch can still be one that’s absolutely bursting with flavour, a nourishing lunch can still be one which is prepared effortlessly, and a wholesome lunch can still fill the kitchen with mouthwatering aromas. That’s why this winter they’re on a mission to help people ‘do lunch better’.
ENDS