ABSTRACT
Socioeconomics come into play in home-cooking practices. Lower household income and educational status are linked with a higher likelihood of either always or never cooking dinner at home, compared to homes with higher incomes and educational status, which are more likely to sometimes cook dinner at home. Time scarcity or the feeling of not having enough time is another barrier to cooking, leading to a decrease in home food preparation and family meals and an increase in consumption of fast foods and convenience foods. The rise in distractions also translates into less time dedicated to cooking. The rise of food convenience has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. As people spend less time cooking, they purchase more convenient foods, and consequently spend less time cooking. Convenience reigns supreme as a top priority among consumers when making food choices. New advances in food convenience are marching on, particularly in the area of technology.
