Article: How dinner for one is becoming our staple diet; Bridget Jones-effect spells the death of the dining table.

Byline: SEAN POULTER

THE dining table was once the heart of the family, where parents and children sat down to share a meal and their experiences of the day.

But the pace of modern life means that Britons are now just as likely to be dining alone as eating together.

Nearly half of all meals taken at home - 46 per cent - are a solitary experience, frequently a readymeal cooked in the microwave oven and consumed in front of the TV.

The Bridget Jones generation of confirmed singletons has made a significant contribution to the trend. But the move away from eating in company has also taken root in families - to such an extent that many no longer even own a dining ...

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