Green Chef asked 2,000 UK adults about the barriers to eating a nutritious diet. In Sheffield, the research found that almost a third (31%) admitted their busy schedules prevent them from making healthier choices.
In Manchester, it’s the knowledge that’s lacking with 17% saying they simply don’t know how to cook healthy food to keep their diet on track. Some of the top barriers to eating a healthy diet include:
- Cost of healthy food (41%)
- Lack of time to prepare healthy food (21%)
- Lack of inspiration for healthy meals (21%)
- Lack of understanding around a healthy diet (17%)
- Not sure how to cook healthy food (10%)
The research also found that it was the younger generation (18-24) who seemed to be struggling the most when it comes to healthy eating as nearly one in six (14%) admitted they don’t consider their diet healthy at all. This age group also highlighted a lack of knowledge about cooking healthy meals (20%) as one of the main reasons behind their poor diet, alongside not enjoying the taste of healthy food (20%).
Lily Keeling, registered nutritionist and recipe development manager at Green Chef, said: “Day-to-day struggles, whether it’s a hectic work schedule or lack of cooking skills, can make it harder to maintain a healthy diet. But looking after what you eat is crucial for keeping your body fuelled and supported.
“One of the best ways to stay on track with your healthy eating goals is meal prepping. Not only does it help you stay organised, but it can also ease the strain of time restrictions. By planning ahead, meal prepping ensures you have delicious meals ready to enjoy, making it easier to stick to your healthy eating goals even when you’re short on time.
“My advice for anyone planning to start meal prepping is to first identify ten meals you love and create a planner to schedule when to prepare and eat them. This helps keep variety in your diet and prevents getting bored of the same meals.”