ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Eight in ten Americans are too tired to cook dinner after work, according to new research from Talker Research.
People overwhelmed by busy schedules may let it affect their diet. Talker used answers from 2000 Americans to find out that 77% of them admit that they are too tired after work to cook.
The research, commissioned by Kevin’s Natural Foods, looked at when respondents are at their busiest, and the specific impact that has on what they eat.
OSF dietitian Jason Crum says, “You are starving, and you’re looking for something to fill your stomach because you’re tired and want to go to bed. So, we often do not make the best choices at that point. It’s easy because that is how we are wired.”
For those who can be overwhelmed by their schedule, 40% acknowledged that it affects their diet with 57% of those saying it’s a negative impact.
Convenience is a part of the problem says Talker. When people are too tired to cook, they turn to convenient meals like sandwiches, fast food, and microwavable dinners. 74% of those surveyed said they’d be interested in eating a healthier diet if it was convenient.
UW Health Lifestyle Medicine manager Brianne Thornton says, “Have a meal plan that way you’re hopefully only going to the store once a week. Cooking at night takes a lot of energy and time and going to the store beforehand takes up more of that energy that we want to use for cooking.”
Staying hydrated and eating balanced throughout the day can help you feel less tired after work.
You should eat your last snack or meal at least two hours before bed in order to get good sleep and be prepared for the next day.
“If you’re getting home at seven or eight o’clock at night and you go to bed at ten, you’re kind of asking for a disruptive sleep cycle especially if you haven’t had any meal prepared,” says Crum.
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