Summary of Key Points
Due to their busy work schedules, contemporary young people lack the time to cook. Additionally, takeaway prepared meals are expensive and of poor quality, leading to the rise of a new trend called "pre-made meal preparation." On weekends, they spend two hours preparing ingredients for the entire week (chopping, blanching, and freezing them), which can then be reheated on weekdays for immediate consumption. This DIY approach to healthy meal planning not only solves the dilemma of what to eat but also meets the needs of saving money, maintaining health, and saving time. Behind this trend is the young consumer's philosophy of "sparing where necessary and spending wisely" while still pursuing a sense of order in their lives.
Detailed Analysis
1. Why has "pre-made meal preparation" suddenly become popular? — The need driven by workers' dining challenges
There is substantial data supporting the fact that young people are not keen on cooking. A survey by DT Finance shows that only 12.7% of them cook every day, with more than half stating they "don't want to" because they are too busy at work, find preparing ingredients troublesome, or dislike washing dishes. As for takeaway options, they either consist of light meals costing over 30 yuan (which can be boring and high in calories) or pre-made dishes using cooking kits (which seem like a waste of money since you're paying for both the ingredients and the preparation).
"Pre-made meal preparation" targets these pain points by allowing people to prepare all the food on weekends in one go, making it convenient to just heat something for a quick meal during the week without having to cook. For example, Xiao Yue, a white-collar worker in Beijing, used to spend over 1500 yuan per month on takeaway light meals; now, she spends less than 100 yuan preparing her own meals for the week and feels more confident about what she's eating.
2. What exactly are "pre-made meal preparations"? — A lower-cost version of "homemade prepared dishes," but healthier and more flexible
"Pre-made meal preparations" are essentially a form of DIY healthy dining, with a focus on ingredients that are resistant to freezing and easy to reheat:
- Ingredient choices: Starches like sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and brown rice (which maintain their texture after freezing); proteins such as chicken breast, beef, and shrimp (which become more flavorful when marinated); vegetables like broccoli and carrots (which don't spoil when frozen after being blanched).
- Preparation steps: Cut the ingredients into small pieces, blanch or marinate them, package them for freezing, and then mix them with a sauce (such as olive oil and vinegar or chili sauce) before reheating.
- Details matter: The blanching time should be just enough (e.g., 1 minute for broccoli), the ingredients should be drained thoroughly to prevent freezing into clumps, and they should be consumed within a week. There are even detailed "cooking guides" on platforms like REDnote that suggest using scissors instead of a knife.
3. The underlying consumer logic: "Spare where necessary and spend wisely"
Young people are very discerning with their spending:
- Fitness as an investment: The fitness market is expected to grow to 382.7 billion yuan by 2025, and many are willing to invest in gym memberships. However, expensive light meals are seen as a waste of money; for example, a 30-yuan salad is less cost-effective than making one at home for less than 10 yuan, with the extra money could be used on personal training sessions.
- Avoiding unnecessary expenses: The closure rate of light meal restaurants is 27%, higher than the average for the food industry, indicating that young people are no longer willing to pay for products labeled as "healthy" but may not actually provide such benefits. Making their own meals allows them to control calorie intake and see exactly what ingredients they're eating.
In short, they believe in investing in things that will bring long-term benefits, such as fitness, rather than wasting money on daily takeaway options.
4. The lifestyle of young people reflected in "pre-made meal preparations": A balance between refinement and simplicity
The lives of contemporary young people are paradoxical:
- Refined aspects: They subscribe to gym memberships and pay attention to their appearance, investing time in self-improvement.
- Simpler aspects: They use scissors for chopping ingredients and rely on microwaves for cooking, with a community on豆瓣 (a Chinese social media platform) of 30,000 followers who believe that anyone can cook with the right tools.
"Pre-made meal preparations" reflect this balance: they want to avoid wasting time on cooking without sacrificing health or money. By freezing their meals, they not only solve their weekly dinner problems but also gain a sense of order in their lives—a small touch of luxury in a fast-paced world.
5. Differences from the "pre-made dishes" of older generations
The pre-made dishes of parents' generations (such as frozen dumplings and buns) were more about festive rituals, while today's "pre-made meal preparations" are purely practical solutions to daily dining needs. The former required more effort in kneading dough and preparing fillings, whereas the latter only involve cutting and blanching ingredients—something that young people with cooking phobias find much more manageable.
Conclusion
"Pre-made meal preparations" are not a new phenomenon but a smart solution developed by young people to address their dining needs efficiently. They reflect a contemporary pursuit of health, value for money, and a sense of order in life. Instead of spending on expensive, potentially unhealthy takeaway options, it's better to take control of your diet by preparing your own meals. This is not about cheating; it's about taking care of yourself in a smart way.