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Empty nesters are using their kids’ favorite holiday meals to attract them home for the holidays, according to a new survey.
The poll of 1,000 U.S. “empty nesters” — parents whose kids have already moved out of the home — found more than half (54%) plan on having their children come home for the holidays this year, and their kids are trekking an average of 596 miles to get back home.
Many empty nesters admitted they struggle with the home being too quiet (36%) and that they often get nostalgic for when their kids were younger (35%).
Despite this, the study commissioned by The Honey Baked Ham Company and conducted by Talker Research revealed 69% claim it’s “easy” to convince their kids to come home for the holidays.
For many, all they need is their favorite foods.
One in four (28%) said their kids have made special requests for their homecoming: having their favorite meals made for them (72%), asking to have their favorite snacks or drinks ready for them (46%), and visiting old local spots and hangouts (18%).
And 87% of empty nesters are all too happy to oblige, already planning to make their kids’ favorite meals while they’re home for the holidays.
While 26% of empty nesters motivate their kids to come home by reminding them how nice it is, 19% prefer to welcome them home with their favorite foods, and another 16% offer to send them home with extras.
Two-thirds of parents said they start shopping weeks in advance for their kids’ favorite foods before arriving home.
Likewise, 42% said they’d likely need to shop for different foods, depending on who their kids bring home with them.
“Making the home really feel like home means making sure there’s something for everybody,” said Jim Dinkins, CEO, HoneyBaked. “Around the holidays, people want to feel welcomed. There is nothing quite as welcoming as making sure their favorite foods are ready for them.”
The survey found, in addition to their kids, empty nesters are also planning to host their grandkids (53%), their kid’s significant other (42%), extended family members (40%), and their own significant other (36%).
Four in five believe it’s important that everyone coming to their home for the holidays has something good to eat, no matter their preferences.
On average, empty nesters said they’re planning to have three different main dishes at the ready before guests arrive — the most popular being turkey (66%) and ham (52%).
But many expect getting the table ready will involve some quick thinking. Over half (56%) anticipate they’ll have to make last-minute runs to the store to grab food they forgot about. One in four believe they’ll have to make at least two last-minute shopping sprees to get everything they need.
“Food is such an important part of the holidays — it’s exactly what empty nesters and their kids can gather around to make coming home for the holidays feel special,” continued Dinkins. “But empty nesters don’t want to spend all their time in the kitchen, away from the family members they only see once or twice a year. They deserve to have recipes and meal options that are effortless yet delicious, letting them put more focus on spending time with family.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 American parents who have adult children that no longer live at home; the survey was commissioned by HoneyBaked and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, 2025.
