Daily household cooking routines remain somewhat mysterious, but it is understood that these behaviors are not only shaped by culinary expertise. Factors such as gender, personal relationships, time constraints, work, ethnicity and culture also play an important role. Studies highlight the beneficial effects of home cooking, particularly its health benefits, but it is also worth highlighting its influence on broader social aspects. The practice of home cooking is constantly evolving, undergoing changes that have been further accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, giving rise to new trends and industry changes. Thus, the EHL Nutrition R&D Institute aims to explore this subject.
To begin, our institute believes that understanding national culinary trends across the world is invaluable and that it is helpful to start by identifying the main people responsible for cooking at home.
Who cooks at home?
Gender, geographic location and professional situation appear to be the main determinants influencing the frequency of family cooking. Nevertheless, the global panorama depicted by Hob and Gallup in the World Cuisine Index reveals that a multitude of factors, including age, urban environment, income levels, education level, parental roles, household size and marital status, collectively shape culinary behaviors at home. global scale.
Importantly, in 2021, women continue to outpace men in home cooking, preparing approximately 4.3 more meals per week. Nevertheless, notable changes are noticeable in some regions of the world, such as in Jamaica, where men have taken over the kitchen by contributing 0.2 more meals per week compared to women, and in Iceland, where a distribution equitable culinary responsibilities exist between the sexes.
Looking at regional variations, individuals residing in Latin America, the Caribbean, Northern, Southern and Western Europe emerge as the mainstays of home cooking. Indeed, with 7.7 home-cooked meals on average per week, they eat two or more meals above the consumption rates seen in regions like the Arab States, with only 4.8 meals per week.
Finally, people in traditional jobs show a subtle divergence from their culinary engagement, preparing nearly one fewer meal per week compared to their self-employed or unemployed counterparts.
The practice of home cooking presents great diversity, which raises the question of the benefits associated with preparing meals at home.
Why is home cooking so important?
As mentioned earlier, the practice of cooking meals at home has substantial health benefits, including a reduction in BMI and improved dietary benefits. Cooking meals at home is widely recognized as a healthier and more nourishing choice compared to other dining options. In fact, home-cooked meals tend to contain fewer calories. A study A study conducted in the United Kingdom highlights these benefits, revealing that people who consumed home-cooked meals more than five times a week, instead of less than three times, had a notable increase of 62.3 grams in their consumption. daily intake of fruits and 97.8 grams of their daily intake of vegetables. Additionally, a higher frequency of consumption of home-cooked meals was associated with a 28% decrease in the likelihood of having a high BMI and a 24% decrease in the likelihood of possessing excess body fat.
Beyond individual health benefits, home cooking has a significant impact personal, social and environmental implications. It serves as a platform for maintaining personal connections, whether within family or between friends. Furthermore, it reinforces cultural and gender identities. Home cooking transcends simple personal well-being; it actively maintains social ties and contributes to the sustainability of our food resources.
The benefits of home cooking extend to physical and mental well-being, as well as social considerations. However, noticeable changes in family cooking habits over time reveal the emergence of new trends and innovations.
What are the current trends in home cooking?
The global pandemic has had a notable impact on home cooking behaviors, such as frequency. As a result, new models are emerging, for example working from home, forcing the industry to respond to these developments. consumer preferences. With new consumer demographics, a clear shift towards usage natural, local and authentic ingredients has gained momentum in recent years. In addition, there is a growing consumer interest in plant-based meals and sustainability. For example, in 2022, 5.3% of the Swiss population was vegetariancompared to only 2.9% in 2015.
The evolution of AI-powered cooking The innovations represent one of the most recent advancements in home kitchen technology and are a remarkable example of how industries are adapting to these emerging trends and new consumer needs. This innovation offers the ability to automate and generate recipes that can adjust based on personal preferences and even predict purchasing needs. This tool has the ability to monitor food intake, give nutritional information and recommend dietary changes based on health data. An AI-powered home robot also has the ability to perform various cooking tasks like chopping, mixing, and stirring. Importantly, such tools could also combat food waste with their ability to measure ingredients accurately.
Discover future developments
At EHL Hospitality Business School, the Nutrition R&D Institute also plays a role in this field by actively contributing to the advancement of new products and cooking techniques suitable for home culinary applications. To ensure a comprehensive approach, the research team collaborates closely with a scientific committee that includes leading industrial companies, leaders and academic partners spanning diverse fields. Collectively, they identify key areas for the future development of healthy and delicious food and beverages.
You can discover interviews with international chefs in our New Horizons series. Finally, in harmony with these progressive trends and concepts, a variety of healthy recipes have been developed and are easily accessible on the Institute of Nutrition R&D website.
Enjoy your food!
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