The research, carried out by meal box delivery company HelloFresh, was conducted in a bid to open up the conversation around reducing food waste and aims to ‘inspire’ people to get creative with what’s already in our kitchens, instead of buying more.
The data reveals that kitchen cupboards and fridges in the 1980s were predominantly filled with fresh meats, including beef joints (on the bone), as well as lambs’ and pigs’ liver, fresh vegetables and tinned goods such as condensed milk.
During the 2000s, people were much more likely to stock up on convenience foods and processed meats, including chips, ready-made pizza, pre-cooked meats and ready meals. Skipping ahead to the present day, people now enjoy more fresh fruit, root vegetables and salmon, as well as frozen fruits and meats as well as non-dairy milk substitutes.
Mimi Morley, HelloFresh’s recipe development manager, commented: “It is fascinating to see the shift in demand throughout the decades for certain types of ingredients for our day-to-day meal plans and dinner recipes.
“I’m not surprised to see the 2000s come out as the ‘decade of convenience’ but I am heartened to see the shift to fresher and more nutritious ingredients in our present day kitchen cupboards and fridges, as well as on shelves in the supermarkets and through online delivery services.
“Freezing fruit and veg means you can access nutrients and vitamins, even when the produce is out of season, and it’s also super convenient too as freezing prolongs the shelf-life for months. I predict that freezing fresh ingredients and batch-made meals will only become more and more common as the years roll on.”