A wellbeing expert has created what she claims is the ultimate formula for a harmonious Christmas dinner. In every family, the pressure of hosting the day and an excess of booze and resentment over stingy gifts can cause all that goodwill and festive cheer to rapidly disappear.
![[Dr Eleanor Bryant is a professor of psychology at the University of Bradford]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/21/93438097-14222399-Dr_Eleanor_Bryant_is_a_professor_of_psychology_at_the_University-a-28_1734988826370.jpg)
Dr Eleanor Bryant, a professor of psychology at the University of Bradford, set out to devise the formula in response to research by Philips air fryers which revealed that two out of five families (42 per cent) cannot get through a meal without an argument.
![[Dr Bryant's formula is comprised of five initial factors, which are each given a score out of ten]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/21/93438097-14222399-Dr_Bryant_s_formula_is_comprised_of_five_initial_factors_which_a-a-31_1734989321640.jpg)
The study of 2,000 consumers revealed that meal times often become a flashpoint for families, with the average household having some kind of falling out at the dining table four times a week. The three biggest factors in meal-time disagreements are who cooks (77 per cent), who washes up (73 per cent) and screen use at the table (69 per cent).
In addition, nearly six in ten (59 per cent) parents say they will allow kids to use mobile phones and tablets when eating in order to make the experience less stressful. And with the added pressure that comes with Christmas, these factors add up to a potential recipe for disharmony.
Now Dr Bryant has revealed how to limit tensions over Christmas dinner, and advises considering factors such as the time it takes to cook dinner and planning in advance for how many people you need to feed. Dr Bryant, an acclaimed expert in health and wellbeing, explained: 'For families, the benefits of harmonious meal-times are countless.
