A new poll has revealed that households in Ireland have the will to eat well but need support to stay on track.
According to the study carried out by Amárach for Gousto, nearly four in 10 people (38 per cent) say the cost of ingredients is now the biggest barrier to eating healthily, while almost one in three (31 per cent) admit they struggle to think of interesting, nutritious recipes. More than one in four (27 per cent) say they lack the motivation to cook well after a long day, yet 28 per cent still cook from scratch when short on time, showing that people want to eat well but are battling real obstacles, from stretched evenings to decision fatigue. Many say the effort of choosing a meal is often harder than the cooking itself.
Sarah Fancourt, Nutritionist at Gousto, commented: “The findings show that people have strong intentions to eat well, but everyday pressures get in the way. More than a third say the cost of ingredients is a barrier, and many struggle to come up with ideas when they are tired. That mix of low energy and too many decisions makes healthy routines harder to maintain. What tends to help are small, consistent habits that reduce the mental load and make it easier to cook something balanced during the week.”