Page 46 - Green Builder May-June 2017 Issue

The Cooking Conundrum

Despite an obsession with cooking shows and “foodie” tours,

many simply don’t feel warm and fuzzy about slaving over a hot stove.

ECENT SURVEYS SHOW that contrary to the way
the “typical” American family is portrayed as happily
turning out three squares a day, every day, few people
actually prefer to use their time that way. In fact, almost
ANY other activity is preferred over cooking. This trend
is similar to what we’ve seen in the shelter magazine
R business forever. Many of us love to browse the pages
of aspirational magazines like Fine Homebuilding, but we have no
intention of taking on any of those projects ourselves.
Also of note, a Bosch appliances study found that 28 percent of
adults have no cooking skills. Other research found that about half
of Americans believe they have less cooking skill than their parents.
Whether you blame it on bad parenting, or the cutting of domestic CREDIT: ASHLEY WEBB, FLICKR
skill courses in high school, the results skew toward less cooking,
not more.

Q: If you suddenly had four extra hours per week,
how would you likely spend that time?

Groups most likely to select

Exercising 36% Younger, Higher income, Better health
Socializing with friends/family 31% Women

Relaxing/sleeping 29% Younger, Lower income
Other household chores/tasks 20% Women, Parents

Reading 20% Older, College grads

Practicing a hobby 20% Men
Using electronic devices 17% Younger, Men

Watching TV 16% Lower income, Men, Poorer health
Exercise/health/diet 13% ——

Cooking or baking 11% Lower BMI
Shopping (non-grocery) 7% College degree, Women

Volunteer for charity/church 7% Older, College degree
Working 6% Men

Grocery Shopping 4% Lower income

SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL FOOD INFORMATION COUNCIL FOUNDATION, FOOD AND HEALTH SURVEY 2015

44 GREEN BUILDER May/June 2017 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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