Busy lives and modern technology is to blame for the rise of the 4×4 family

According to research by Bisto, 57 per cent of British families no longer eat their dinner in one room together, eating separately in up to four different rooms instead.

In what must also be a choking hazard, one in five children are allowed to eat their dinner alone in their bedroom.

The average family meal was found to last just 22 minutes and take place only once a week.

A total of 61 per cent of families were just too busy to eat together and when they do, 59 per cent were distracted by texts, emails or a television programme.