Americans Lose 13 Days a Year to Kitchen Labor, Survey Finds

The data suggests a deepening divide between the desire for healthy eating and the reality of daily time constraints. According to a survey of 1,000 adults aged 20–40, 83% of respondents expressed a wish to improve their diets, yet half view the process of cooking as more frustrating than it is worth. This burnout leads to a paradox where 38% of people order takeout despite having a refrigerator full of groceries, simply because the energy required to prepare a meal feels prohibitive.

To address this, Tempo—a subsidiary of The Kroger Co.—is introducing the "Cook Never Club." The initiative positions itself as a lifestyle shift rather than a traditional subscription service, encouraging members to reclaim time previously lost to food-related labor. To promote the launch, the brand is hosting a series of outdoor Pilates events in Chicago this summer, emphasizing that the hours saved in the kitchen should be redirected toward wellness or personal hobbies. By offering single-serve meals that heat in two minutes, the company aims to remove the friction that currently keeps consumers from achieving their nutritional goals.