Cooking is one of those skills every adult is expected to have. Yet for Millennials and Gen Z, the kitchen is often more of a stress zone than a comfort zone. These generations are redefining their relationship with food — and the numbers show it.
A 2023 survey by Deloitte found that Gen Z eats out more than any other generation, with 46% ordering food at least once a day. Informal polls by publications like the New York Post and The Daily Mail – report a staggering 64-80% rate of Gen Z responding that they didn’t know how to cook a basic meal.Millennials aren’t far behind, with food delivery apps continuing to climb as a daily habit. Compare that to Boomers, where fewer than 15% reported the same behavior.
So what’s behind this gap in cooking experience? And what are the consequences?
The Barriers to Cooking for Millennials & Gen Z
For many younger adults, cooking isn’t seen as a life skill — it’s an optional hobby.
“The last thing my girlfriend and I want to do when we get home from work; is work.”
— Christopher A, 29, Raleigh, NC
Food is deeply tied to positive emotions for Gen Z and Millennials. To be a “foodie” means to seek out the best, the most authentic, or the most Instagram-worthy dishes. Cooking an average, low-effort meal at home often feels like a waste.
At the same time, there are practical challenges:
- Time: Between work, commutes, and side hustles, few want to spend 2 hours cooking and cleaning.
- Space: Studio apartments and tiny kitchens make cooking harder.
- Anxiety: Fear of “messing up” a recipe or navigating a crowded grocery store creates stress.
- Convenience: Food delivery is always a click away.
“I have a tiny kitchen and usually am missing something from the recipe. And when I do cook, I make a huge mess. So I’d rather order out with no mess and save 2 hours of cooking and cleaning.”
— Wil A, 23, Pipersville, PA
The Consequences: Health & Financial Costs
The trade-off is clear: more takeout, frozen meals, and processed convenience foods. These often mean:
- Higher calories
- Added sugars and sodium
- Unhealthy preservatives
The long-term effects aren’t just about waistlines. The CDC links frequent takeout and processed food consumption to higher risks of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
Financially, eating out drains wallets. The USDA reports the average cost of a home-cooked meal at $4.23, while food delivery averages $13–$20 per serving once fees and tips are added.
Why Wholesome Farms Is the Solution
Healthy eating and cooking at home are among the strongest predictors of long-term health and wellbeing. But Millennials and Gen Z don’t need another lecture — they need a solution that fits their lives.
That’s where Wholesome Farms steps in.
- ✅ Convenience without compromise: Premium meats and organic veggies delivered to your door.
- ✅ Simple recipes, fewer dishes: Easy, step-by-step meals designed for smaller kitchens and busy lives.
- ✅ Skill-building made easy: Recipes double as cooking lessons — build confidence while you cook.
- ✅ Sustainability: Regenerative farming practices and ethical sourcing align with Gen Z values.
- ✅ Affordability: At just $3.01 per serving, it’s cheaper than delivery and even beats the USDA average ; with premium, hormone-free meats and organic veggies.
By blending convenience, sustainability, and health, Wholesome Farms helps Millennials and Gen Z bridge the cooking gap — without sacrificing the flavors and values they care about most.
Final Thought
Final Thought
Gen Z and Millennials may not have grown up cooking like previous generations, but their values point toward a bigger opportunity: fixing a broken food system, building authentic experiences, and claiming financial independence.
Cooking at home isn’t just about saving money or eating healthier — it’s about living in alignment with what matters most:
- 🌱 Fixing the food system: Supporting regenerative farming practices and choosing whole, ethically sourced ingredients shifts power away from industrial suppliers and back toward sustainable food.
- 🤝 Creating authentic experiences: Cooking with friends, family, or even solo transforms meals from transactions into meaningful rituals that last far longer than a takeout container.
- 💸 Financial independence: At just $3.01 per serving, Wholesome Farms makes home cooking not only healthier, but one of the smartest financial moves for anyone trying to build stability.
With Wholesome Farms, you don’t have to choose between convenience, sustainability, or great food. You get all three — and you take a huge step toward the future Millennials and Gen Z want to create: healthier bodies, stronger communities, and a food system that finally works for people, not corporations.
The kitchen isn’t just where meals are made. It’s where change begins.
