McDonald’s Canada has created Family Nights – a dedicated night with fun, kid-friendly activities that allow families to spend quality time together.
The company conducted a survey to help shine a light on the needs of today’s busy families, and how their restaurants fill that gap of having fun over a good meal everyone enjoys, which Canadian parents are seeking.
Did you know that while 98% of Canadian parents believe it’s important to eat together as a family, nearly 65% wish their family ate together more often?
Key Survey Stats
More than a quarter of Canadian parents say that they don’t have enough time to prepare home-cooked meals for their family on a regular basis, with the same number indicating that overall their family is just too busy to eat together on a regular basis.
British Columbia cooks the greatest proportion of homemade meals, at 78.1% (compared to Ontario, which cooks the smallest proportion of homemade meals, at 73.5%.
British Columbians and Quebecers eat meals together as a family the most, with an average of 5.6 nights per week (compared to Ontarians and Atlantic Canadians, who eat meals together the least, with an average of 5.3 nights per week).
Conversation most positively impacts quality family time at dinner (82%).
Speed is important: on average, Canadian parents surveyed have approximately 50 minutes to have a mid-week family meal at a restaurant.
Parents cited a number of reasons as to why they are unable to eat together as a family, with the main factors being:
- Parents’ work schedules (57%)
- Kids’ sports and extracurricular activities (33%)
- Social commitments (23%)
McDonald’s Family Nights every Wed 4 – 7 pm
Family Nights take place in-restaurant every Wednesday from 4 – 7 p.m. at participating McDonald’s restaurants nation-wide.
McDonald’s Family Nights include free kid-friendly crafts and games, as well as dedicated McDonald’s staff to offer table service, ensure high chairs are clean and available, lead activities, and surprise and delight kids with balloons and other giveaways.