Roast dinner tops the poll of our favourite ‘nostalgia’ food

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.

The research, commissioned by cheese brand Cathedral City, found more than half (58%) of those surveyed* said that a Sunday roast with all the trimmings best evokes fond family memories.

Runner up was Shepherd’s Pie (37%), with Toad-in-the-Hole (34%), Beef Stew and Dumplings (29%) and cheese on toast (28%) following closely behind.

Researchers also found that 44 per cent of those surveyed across the nation said a meal was most likely to remind them of their childhood simply because it was their favourite dish growing up. Another 32 per cent 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.

Almost half of Brits (47 per cent) 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 per cent said they cook it when they are feeling down to try and cheer themselves up.

A cheeky 35 per cent 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 per cent of people have tried to recreate their favourite childhood meal as an adult, but a third admit they can’t get it to taste as good as it did when they were younger.

And 38 per cent of men have asked their wife or girlfriend to try to recreate a popular dish from their past, and while 40 per cent said it didn’t match their mum’s version, a brave 22 per cent 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 per cent of those saying it has now become their child’s favourite dish too.

Top 20 meals

1. Roast dinner

2. Shepherd’s Pie

3. Rice pudding

4. Egg and chips

5. Bangers and mash

6. Angel Delight

7. Beef Stew and dumplings

8. Toad-in-the-hole

9. Cheese on toast

10. Beans on toast

11. Cottage pie

12. Bubble and Squeak

13. Fish fingers and chips

14. Sausage, chips and beans

15. Arctic roll

16. Banana sandwiches

17. Pork chops

18. Steak and kidney pie

19. Macaroni cheese

20. Cheese sandwiches