According to new research, eight in ten Americans are too tired to cook a meal after finishing work.
A survey of 2,000 general population Americans found that 77% admit there are days when they feel too exhausted to cook once their working day ends.
Shockingly, one in five respondents have been so fatigued while cooking that they’ve fallen asleep while preparing their food.
The research, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Kevin’s Natural Foods, explored when respondents are at their busiest, and how this impacts their eating habits.
Half of the Americans surveyed (51%) believe they are at their busiest during the weekdays, yet 38% said they don’t get a break even on the weekends, feeling just as busy throughout the full seven days of the week.
This was reflected in the responses, as participants were asked which days were the hardest to prepare a home-cooked meal. Monday was deemed the most difficult (35%), followed by Wednesday and Friday, which both tied at 29%.
Only 12% of respondents stated they are “never” overwhelmed by their hectic schedule.
For those who do find themselves overwhelmed, 40% admitted that their busy lives impact their diet, with 57% of those saying this has a negative effect.
“We know how important it is for people to have access to healthy, convenient meal options that don’t compromise on taste or quality,” said Becky Graham, Chief Marketing Officer at Kevin’s Natural Foods. “We understand the barriers to healthy eating – and we want to help ease the way for people with almost any lifestyle, especially the busiest families, to have meal options that make healthy eating easier and more enjoyable.”
When time is short, respondents often turn to their favourite convenience meals, with 42% opting for sandwiches, 37% for fast food, and 33% choosing microwavable dinners.
Despite 78% of respondents acknowledging that eating healthily is important to them, 19% of Americans surveyed still find themselves opting for fast food at least once a day due to convenience.
A quarter of respondents (26%) admit to ordering food delivery multiple times a week – but many regret it, with 61% citing concerns over the nutritional value of their choices.
The survey also delved into why people struggle to maintain a healthy diet, despite their desire to do so.
The top barriers to eating more healthily included cost (41%), not having enough time to prepare healthy meals (26%), and difficulty finding healthy ingredients (19%).
Convenience was another challenge, with 74% of those surveyed saying they would be more likely to follow a healthier diet if it were more convenient.
“Healthy eating should be easy for even the busiest families,” said Graham. “We want to help offer solutions that ensure people don’t have to choose between convenience, delicious flavour, and nutrition when it comes to getting dinner on the table.”
MEALS PEOPLE TURN TO WHEN SHORT ON TIME:
- Sandwiches: 42%
- Fast food: 37%
- Microwavable dinners: 33%
- Frozen convenience meals: 31%
- Ramen noodles: 29%
- Eggs: 25%
- Delivery/takeaway: 22%
- Revamped leftovers: 19%
- A variety of snacks: 19%
- Air fryer meals: 18%
