Embracing the Early Dinner Trend and Lifestyle Shifts
Genevieve Roberts, a mother of three, shares her insights on parenting and lifestyle changes in her weekly column. In this piece, she reflects on her experiences as an older mother navigating the challenges of raising children while adapting to new routines and habits.
Last Saturday, Genevieve’s husband, Mark, arranged a dinner out for the two of them. The table was reserved for 6:45 pm, which made her feel grateful. She often spends a lot of time coordinating family schedules and making plans for the children, so a night out where she could simply choose from a menu was a welcome change. She also felt relieved that the dinner was scheduled early, as it meant she wouldn’t have to stay up late or engage in conversation beyond 10 pm. Her usual family dinner time is around 5:30 pm, and she has become accustomed to eating around that time as well.
The trend of early dinners has been linked to Gen Z, according to online booking services like OpenTable. In London, there was an 11 per cent increase in 6 pm restaurant bookings last year, with a six per cent rise nationwide. According to hospitality tech service Zonal, the average dinner time is now 6:12 pm. However, it's not just teenagers and 20-somethings who appreciate an early meal. As a parent, Genevieve finds herself adopting more clean-living habits than many in her generation.
When it comes to drinking, the so-called "sober generation" has nothing on her. So far this year, she has only had two glasses of wine. When visiting the doctor, she apologizes for not having a more respectable weekly alcohol quota. On holidays, she orders a glass of wine but often can't stomach the idea of missing out on extra sleep, even if it means waking up at 4 am. Her household includes unreliable sleepers, so she avoids any unnecessary disruptions.
She often accepts a glass of wine when dining with friends but leaves it untouched. This might be annoying, but her habits haven't caught up with the reality that her drinking has decreased significantly. Her idea of a good night out now rivals the healthy living priorities of those born between 1997 and 2012. Instead of going to pubs, she prefers weekly sauna sessions to catch up with a friend, something she looks forward to as much as she did going out to bars as a teenager. She also tries to attend yoga classes regularly, though she has been too busy lately and neglected this part of self-care.
Her children seem to support her Gen Z aspirations. During a recent holiday, they discovered a new game called “spa,” where they take turns giving each other massages. She enjoys picking from her neck, arm, head, or nose. She can't believe it took her this long to discover such a brilliant activity. If parents were given a book of parenting tips when they have children, this would definitely be included, and she wouldn’t have waited eight years. This week, she’s expanding the spa offerings with white face masks that look like they’re straight out of a horror film—her shopping basket is a Gen Z dream.
Understanding the Shift in Dining Habits
When Genevieve looked around the restaurant last Saturday night, she saw a mix of young people dressed in the Brighton Gen Z uniform of spaghetti strap vests and baggy joggers. This reminded her of the Appleton sisters from the late nineties, but her wardrobe is clearly not Gen Z. There were families with children and friends who she suspected had young children at home.
She asked her 17-year-old babysitter, Rosie, about her dinner habits. Rosie shared that she loves going out with friends for dinner, usually between five and six pm when it's more relaxed. She finds it too busy and loud later, so she prefers to avoid crowds. Often, they do something chill, like going for pizza and sitting on the beach, or she makes a cute homemade dinner. It wouldn’t be the type of stuff her mum would have done at her age.
These sound like great nights out, whether or not one is sleep-deprived. Genevieve is delighted that Gen Z knows themselves better than she did at their age and are, by and large, more sensible. This trust in babysitters is something she might not have had at the same age.
Lifestyle Changes and Parenting Insights
Genevieve didn’t mean to live so cleanly, but she’s aware that being an older mother means she wants to live until her children are at least 50. She is happy with her lifestyle changes. Psychotherapist Anna Mathur, author of The Good Decision Diary, explains that parenting young children often forces a lifestyle shift that mirrors some of the healthiest habits we could choose for ourselves.
“Early wake-ups, more consistent mealtimes, and reduced alcohol intake happen out of necessity rather than a wellness plan, but they can have a surprisingly positive impact on both mind and body,” she says. “Also, the way we often limit our activities and stop packing our weekends, when we tune into our children’s tiredness, overwhelm, or limited capacity—often end up benefiting from the slower pace ourselves.”
“These shifts often happen without conscious intention,” Mathur continues. “We adapt for our children’s needs, but in doing so, we accidentally give ourselves the kind of consistency and boundaries that are psychologically protective too. The challenge is recognizing the benefits so that, when life changes, we can choose to keep the parts that serve us—not just to benefit our child.”
“It also reminds us that healthy habits don’t have to be driven by willpower or strict rules. Sometimes they emerge naturally from the season of life we’re in. If we can notice and value them while they’re happening, we’re more likely to integrate them into our lives long-term!”
Genevieve doesn’t miss late nights, at least for now. She wonders if she would if she had had children much younger or hadn’t experienced mornings feeling ropey after a glass too many. She can’t decide whether Gen Z has figured everything out sooner, including the joys of early dining, or if they might eventually crave a more hedonistic side when their bodies and children are less forgiving.