Over One in Five Brits Say A ‘Lack Of Time’ Is The Reason They Can’t Eat A Healthy Diet
According to recent research from Statista, one in six Brits exclusively work from home in January 2025, while 41% travel to work or 25% operate on a hybrid basis.
While there has been a shift in people returning to the office part, or full time, recent research from recipe box delivery service, Green Chef has uncovered that this could be having a wider impact on our lifestyles as over one in five of the nation say they simply don’t have enough time to eat healthily.
Green Chef asked 2,000 UK adults about the barriers to a nutritious diet, and while 44% said they manage to eat healthily most of the time, their responses told a different story. Many voiced frustration over the challenges they face, with a lack of time highlighted as a major obstacle to making better choices.
Some of the top barriers to eating a healthy diet
- Cost of healthy food (41%)
- Lack of time to prepare healthy food (21%)
- Lack of inspiration for healthy meals (21%)
- Lack of understanding around a healthy diet (17%)
- Not sure how to cook healthy food (10%)
Beyond time restrictions, a lack of inspiration also emerged as a key reason why many Brits struggle to maintain a nutritious diet. But when looking at the data city by city, it’s clear that some places are feeling these shortcomings more than others.
In Sheffield, the research found that almost a third (31%) admitted their busy schedules prevent them from making healthier choices. And in Manchester, it’s the knowledge that’s lacking, with 17% saying they simply don’t know how to cook healthy food to keep their diet on track.
The research also found that it was the younger generation (18-24) who seemed to be struggling the most when it comes to healthy eating as nearly one in six (14%) admitted they don’t consider their diet healthy at all. This age group also highlighted a lack of knowledge about cooking healthy meals (20%) as one of the main reasons behind their poor diet, alongside simply not enjoying the taste of healthy food (20%).
Lily Keeling, registered nutritionist and Recipe Development Manager at Green Chef comments,
“Day-to-day struggles, whether it’s a hectic work schedule or lack of cooking skills, can make it harder to maintain a healthy diet. But looking after what you eat is crucial for keeping your body fuelled and supported.
“One of the best ways to stay on track with your healthy eating goals is meal prepping. Not only does it help you stay organised, but it can also ease the strain of time restrictions. By planning ahead, meal prepping ensures you have delicious meals ready to enjoy, making it easier to stick to your healthy eating goals even when you’re short on time.”
“My advice for anyone planning to start meal prepping is to first identify ten meals you love and create a planner to schedule when to prepare and eat them. This helps keep variety in your diet and prevents getting bored of the same meals.”
To discover more recipe inspiration, visit Green Chef’s new recipe hub.
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