Cooking frequency in Germany

Abstract

The growing range of ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat foods (convenience foods) and opportunities to eat outside of the home is tending to reduce the number of fresh meals that people prepare themselves. However, people continue to place great importance on preparing their own meals from fresh foods, as this provides them with greater influence over the quality and composition of the food they eat. The German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1, 2008–2011) observed that 50.8% of adults aged between 18 and 79 (61.4% of all women and 40.2% of all men) prepare their meals daily or almost daily from fresh food. Moreover, women report less often that they never cook (2.9%) than men (16.1%) and older participants report far more often to cook daily or almost daily than younger participants. Finally, among both genders is a low level of employment associated with an increased cooking frequency.