A recent survey in the UK has found that the younger Generation Z, due to their fast-paced lives, often have little time to prepare dinner on weekdays. As a result, they rely heavily on expensive takeout or sandwiches available at supermarkets for their evening meals.
According to a report by the UK’s Daily Express, a survey of 2,000 adults revealed that when evening falls, 35% of those under 28 opt for takeout, while 29% choose ready-to-eat snacks and sandwiches.
62% of respondents believe they have less time to cook dinner than ever before. 47% stated that they spend less than 30 minutes preparing dinner on weekday evenings. As a result, 31% of time-strapped individuals turn to convenient pre-made meals.
Nearly half of the participants attributed their lack of time to cook to exhaustion from a day’s work. 34% mentioned that working long hours takes away their evenings, while 21% pointed to lengthy commutes as the reason they can’t prepare dinner.
This survey was commissioned by the UK’s food manufacturer, Merchant Gourmet, with the aim of launching their “Yes, Chef” campaign designed to promote nutritious 30-minute quick recipes and help home cooks enhance their culinary skills.
The campaign urges home cooks across the UK to share their best 30-minute quick recipes, which will be curated by renowned chef Helen Graham and ultimately voted on by the public to select the winners.
Richard Peake, the company’s general manager, stated that young people today struggle to balance career development, social relationships, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, leading to increasingly tight schedules. “We understand that when you’re worn out and short on time to cook, convenience often takes priority.”
Overall, over the past decade, cooking time on weekdays has decreased by 20%, with 38% of people opting for simpler recipes due to the pressures of modern life.
55% of respondents feel that their meals are repetitive week after week, while 31% noted a lack of cooking confidence hindering them from trying more interesting dishes. 32% worry about food wastage if new recipes fail, and 22% struggle to find the necessary ingredients for experimentation.
However, 29% said they would be willing to try new dishes if they were guaranteed not to fail.
Peake added, “We hope to make 30-minute quick recipes more enjoyable by providing convenient methods and quality ingredients, bringing back the joy of cooking to the kitchen.”
Despite the popularity of takeout among young people, studies have shown that most popular takeaway foods are unhealthy, which is a cause for concern.
According to a report by The Guardian, a study conducted by Queen Mary University of London in 2024 revealed that over 75% of popular takeaway and restaurant foods are unhealthy. Foods like pizza, burgers, chicken dishes, fries, and baguettes contain excessive levels of fat, salt, sugar, or calories that can be detrimental to health.
The researchers analyzed the nutritional content of the top 10 best-selling items from 19 major takeaway outlets in the UK, including chains like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Domino’s, leading to the “extremely alarming” conclusion. Only three out of the 19 companies publicly disclosed the nutritional information of their products.
With the increasing frequency of dining out, this issue is particularly worrisome. It’s estimated that Britons visit takeaway establishments a staggering 2.4 billion times annually.
Experts point out that consumers are aware of the ingredients in foods purchased at supermarkets but lack information about takeaway foods. If companies continue to conceal nutritional information, consumers will struggle to choose healthier options.
Notably, aside from being unhealthy, frequent consumption of takeaway food also increases the risk of premature death.
A study conducted by the University of Iowa indicated that regularly eating takeout or dining out can shorten people’s lifespans. Individuals who eat out at least twice a day have a 49% higher risk of premature death, a 67% higher risk of dying from cancer, and an increased likelihood of dying from cardiovascular diseases.
Therefore, researchers recommend that people try to cook meals at home as much as possible.