taste.com.au dinner heroes survey reveals Aussies too tired to cook
When it comes to grocery shopping and cooking meals, there’s one thing Aussies say is bigger than cost of living pressures.
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Move over cost of living – there’s one thing keeping us out of the kitchen more than the price of groceries.
The simple truth is: We are just too tired to cook.
The taste.com.au Dinner Heroes surveyconducted by the Growth Intelligence Centre (GIC) found when it comes to cooking dinner, there’s one generation more than most who said they are too tired to pick up a pot or pan.
More than one in three (34 per cent) Gen Zers said they are too tired to cook most nights, with half blaming work. Almost half of Millennials (48 per cent) – those aged between 29 and 44 – also said they were too tired to cook, while one in three Gen Xers said the same, and just 10 per cent of Boomers.
A third of families with young children said they are more likely to be tired most nights, compared with just 16 per cent of adult families with no children.
Lack of time came in second with 33 per cent of Aussies using that as an excuse to order take out, while one in four cited cost, and almost the same number blaming a lack of cooking inspiration.
Two in five of the 2083 Australians surveyed admitted to resorting to ordering takeout or home delivery, while almost 30 per cent said they’d opt for a frozen meal or microwave dinner.
One in five said they’d snack instead of having a full meal, while 13 per cent admitted to skipping dinner all together, with the number jumping to on in five of Gen Zers.
“This is something most of us can relate to, from that stage of life when you’re trying to juggle work, study, fitness, sleep and seeing your family and friends,” online youth platform Year13 Co-Founder Will Stubley told news.com.au
“In the midst of all that grabbing a snack at the end of a long day can feel like the easiest way to reclaim some time for yourself and unwind. It’s a common experience for many young people today, but it also highlights the importance of learning essential life skills like healthy eating habits,” Mr Stubley said.
“Cooking for yourself, especially on a budget, isn’t just good for you, it can be a good way to socialise and look after both yourself and others too. With so many young people today looking for more real life connections, cooking and eating together can be a great way to make them”.
Social researcher, author and Gen Z expert Dr Claire Madden told news.com.au Gen Z is so accustomed to convenience and ease because of the society they have grown up in with the speed of delivery and ease of accessing things like food with the click of a button,”
“Gen Z have grown up in a boundaryless world, where there is less distinction between work and play, personal life and professional life. Tech blurs those lines,” Dr Madden told news.com.au.
“There’s a lot of great things about flexible work options, but for Gen Z it’s created this ‘always on’ mentality,” Dr Madden said.
“Gen Z consistently say they want to be contributors in life and we really need to be helping them disconnect from their ‘always on’ in the digital world”.
READ MORE: GREAT DIVIDE PLAYING OUT IN OUR KITCHENS
Registered Nutritionist Dr Chrissy Freer said “regularly skipping dinner or replacing it with a snack, especially one that’s mostly carbohydrates, can place you at risk of nutrient shortfalls”.
“Dinner is often a key opportunity to meet daily needs for vegetables, fibre and protein which are essential for satiety, muscle maintenance, blood sugar control and long-term health,” Dr Freer told news.com.au.
“With most Australian adults already falling short on vegetable intakes (just one in 15 meet recommendations, according to the 2022 Australian Health Survey), missing dinner can further compromise overall diet quality. Going to bed hungry may also disrupt sleep, contributing to a cycle of fatigue, cravings and over snacking the next day,” she said.
But in some good news, when we are bothered to cook, almost half of us are happy to eat leftovers, while almost one in five ask someone else to cook.
taste.com.au’s Digital Food Director Amira Georgy said dinner did not have to be a three course extravaganza.
“Who has the time or energy for that,” Ms Georgy told news.com.au.
“As a mum of three, I cook one meal that will feed the hordes (and have some leftovers if I’m lucky). My kids are aged 5, 14 and 17, so the trickiest thing is finding something that will please them all (luckily my husband will eat anything!) and will land on the dinner table quick-smart,” she said.
“My advice is to keep it simple and plan ahead. I do one large shop at the beginning of the week that will last me at least five days. I choose meals that I know will be fine to eat for a couple of days and it’s a bonus if I can pop any leftovers in the freezer for when I am really short on time”.
taste.com.au’s Food Director Michelle Southan said although eating out can seem like an easy solution to dinner, “you may be surprised at how more budget-friendly homemade meals can be”.
“I’ve even opted for the occasional takeaway when time is tight and hungry kids are involved, only to be taken aback by the cost,” Ms Southan said.
“That’s why we created our new fakeaway Friday recipes, done and dusted in under 30 minutes, yes it’s that quick and on a Friday night that certainly even beats the delivery driver”.
The survey found less than a third of Aussies (28 per cent) prepared their dinners head of the start of every week.
One in five said they spent between $100 and $149 a week on groceries, while the same amount of respondents said they forked out between $150 and $199.
When it comes to dinner options, a third of us draw our inspiration from family and friends, while a third turn to recipe websites or social media.
More than half of Gen Zers said they get their dinner inspirations from social media, compared with 42 per cent of Millennials, 26 per cent of Gen Xers, and just 10 per cent of Boomers.
Taste was considered the most important factor when it came to what to cook for dinner, with health, nutrition, time and cost all equally second.
The dinner experts at taste.com.au have teamed up Coles to create 20 brand-new, flavour-packed Dinner Heroes recipes that are quick, simple and delicious.
“Making sure the family gets a good nutritious meal can be stressful before you have even started cooking,” Ms Southan said.
“Embracing recipes that use fresh seasonal produce is one way to ensure balanced meals without exceeding your budget but don’t overlook the frozen vegetable aisle either – there are some excellent options that can easily add extra nutrients to your dishes.”
To try the Taste Dinner Heroes recipes at home, visit taste.com.au/dinnerheroes
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