Are young people today drifting away from the kitchen?

In the past, the kitchen was the heart of the home. Today, that is changing rapidly. It's not an exaggeration to say many young people today are more familiar with food delivery apps than basic kitchen equipment. This isn't just about "laziness to cook," as is often said. The issue is far larger and more complex.

We are witnessing a food culture shift that is slowly altering society's relationship with food, family, and life skills. The rise of fast food culture and delivery services has made food more accessible than ever. With just a few taps on a smartphone, meals can arrive at the doorstep in under an hour. For busy modern societies, this convenience undoubtedly simplifies daily life.

However, many young people today no longer see cooking as an essential basic skill. Cooking is increasingly viewed as troublesome, time-consuming, and irrelevant in a modern lifestyle. Consequently, many enter adulthood unable to prepare a basic meal for themselves. More worryingly, the culture of cooking within families is also diminishing. Previously, the kitchen was a space for social interaction at home. Children learned to cook indirectly through observation and participation with parents or grandparents.

Today, meal times are often replaced by takeout food, and family time is increasingly limited. In the long term, the loss of cooking culture means more than just the disappearance of traditional recipes. It affects health, household economies, and national food security. Societies overly reliant on outside food become more vulnerable to rising food prices and supply instability.

Ironically, today's youth are very interested in food. Viral dishes, aesthetic cafes, and food content on social media prove food remains a significant part of modern lifestyles. However, the relationship with food is now more consumer-driven than producer-driven. We enjoy looking at, buying, and sharing food pictures, but engage less in its preparation. Many traditional dishes require skills, patience, and knowledge not learned through delivery apps. If the younger generation stops cooking, who will inherit local culinary knowledge in the future? Of course, we cannot entirely blame the youth. High living costs, long working hours, small living spaces, and urban lifestyles all contribute to this change. In many cases, cooking at home is not necessarily cheaper or easier. Nevertheless, as a society, we must begin to view cooking not just as an activity but as a vital life skill.