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24/09/09 - 'CAN'T COOK, WON'T COOK' KIDS FUELLED BY TAKEAWAY FOOD

FRESH FOOD OFF THE MENU FOR AN ENTIRE GENERATION

 

 

MANY young adults are being raised on takeaways and convenience food and have no idea how to cook with fresh ingredients, research published today reveals.

 

And the trend looks set to get worse as today’s kids are being educated by the repertoires of local takeaway menus and processed, microwavable meals.

 

69% of 18-34 years say that they eat a takeaway or microwaveable meal at least twice a week or more, and readily admit they have a lack of interest and awareness in fresh ingredients when it comes to cooking from scratch.

 

The research, conducted on behalf of the Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association, suggests that there is a big generation gap when it comes to our attitudes and abilities in the kitchen, and that convenience food is the order of the day for young Brits who are starting their own families.

 

The UK already has a poor reputation when it comes to protecting fresh, seasonal produce; supermarkets are increasingly stocking imported food that is not dependant on seasonality, so it may not be surprising that fresh, seasonal produce is falling out of favour with today’s young adults who want what they want, when they want it.

 

The research reveals that only 13% of 18-34 year olds cook with fresh ingredients on a daily basis, compared with over twice as many (28%) 55+ year olds.

 

And it’s Mancunians and Brummies who are the least likely to use fresh ingredients – with only three in ten Mancunians and the same portion of Brummies cooking fresh food more than twice a week.

 

The Brits who cook the most fresh meals live in Northern Ireland but, even then, the figures are surprisingly low – just 38% of those say they cook fresh food three or four times a week.

 

Celebrity chef Gizzi Erskine, an ambassador for Stilton Cheese, is stunned by the new research and has launched a national campaign to get young people more interested in food and cookery by acting as a worthy role-model that they can more easily relate to.

 

She said: “We have an entire generation of young adults who admit to having little or no interest in cooking with fresh British produce. We are at risk of losing a very important part of our heritage – the ability to cook fresh British meals – and I don’t intend to let that happen.

 

“I hope that I can influence young people and get them cooking again, not just relying on take-outs and convenience food. The beauty of cooking with a product like Stilton is its versatility and ease of use. A little also goes a long way making it a very cost effective ingredient.”

 

Gizzi, who understands the needs and wants of the average young person, intends to dispel the myth that cookery is difficult and time-consuming by talking through basic cookery skills in a language that young people will understand. She hopes that her videos and simple recipes will spark passion in the younger generation and prove that anyone can create delicious meals from scratch. In these tight economic conditions she intends to show how you can also save money by cooking from scratch.

 

Wannabe cooks can watch Gizzi produce five quick and easy meals here:

Smoked Salmon & Stilton Dressing

Stilton Dip with Crudites

Steak & Stilton Sandwich

Ultimate Stilton Burger

Stilton Pork Chop