Young Adults Spend Far More On Takeaways Than Any Other Group: Survey


A new survey has revealed that young people spend more frequently on takeaway meals than any other age group, mostly owing to a lack of cooking knowledge. The survey conducted for the BBC’s Good Food Magazine has revealed that the 16-24 year-old adult spending average largely exceeds that of other groups.

Approximately 5,000 young adults surveyed expressed a general lack of cooking knowledge and an a marked preference for dining out and using takeaway options over preparing meals at home. Findings also revealed that a startling 14 per cent of younger adults ate no fruit or vegetables at all. Almost half of these surveyed also favored cutting down on at least one meal a day, typically breakfast.

Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of the natural fast-food chain Leon, found the results somewhat disheartening.

“We’ve got two generations now where primary cooking skills have been lost. Learning to cook is so important. It’s very expensive if you don’t learn to feed yourself but it can also be a one-way ticket to a life plagued by diabetes and obesity.”

Restaurants in general and fast food outlets in particular feature counters and drive-thru windows where people can order and pick up food without having to wait too long as meals can be prepared, served or packed rather instantly. Many of these are extremely popular for their delicious and filling foods that are relatively easier on the pocket.

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

However, the benefits of eating out can be effortlessly outweighed by the inadequate nutritional ingredients ubiquitous in meals available across many chain restaurants. Many surveys suggest that virtually all meal menus intended for children fail to conform to the most elementary nutritional standards.

Many restaurant meals are laced with excessive amount of unhealthy fats, sodium and sugar. The food is often prepared from more conveniently accessible ingredients such as high fat meat, added sugar and supplementary fats, instead of nutritious ingredients featuring more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Cooking and eating at home provides innumerable advantages according to many studies, among them the most predominant being ‘saving’ money. Despite the soaring trend of a number of eateries attempting to introduce more nutritious menu options for diners, such options nonetheless remain few and far between. With more and more foods riddled with empty calories that may be detrimental to weight loss, eating at home provides an opportunity to choose low-calorie ingredients while preparing an assortment of varying delicacies at will.

 (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

In addition to encouraging conscious awareness of the choice of ingredients, eating at home has been known to prevent conditions like food allergies as individuals and families are commonly acquainted with the core ingredients of their in-house meals. Moreover, eating at home facilitates adherence to an adequately enforced diet-plan as individuals are less tempted to experiment with unhealthy secondary alternatives. Likewise, cooking at home allows younger adults to engage in a recurrently constructive daily routine, occasionally making way for festive in-house gatherings and ultimately fostering healthier living.

According to a recent report, young Americans appear to be frequenting restaurants far more often than grocery stores. Findings suggest that more recently restaurants and bars have outstripped individual spending at grocery stores in what is being seen as an unprecedented development.

The report offers glaring insights into the “evolution of American eating habits,” demonstrating a shifting trend that has encouraged restaurants to come up with more innovative means to attract and cater for a growing number of young adults with a pronounced proclivity for alternative dining.

Image Credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

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