Westinghouse’s new research has revealed that nearly half of Australians aged 18-30 feel unprepared to ‘adult’ and struggle with the everyday realities of running a household, whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or keeping their laundry game on point.
The kitchen, meant to be the beating heart of every home, is causing the most adulting angst, with meal prep, cooking and clean up shown as major stresses for under 30s.
Breaking down the kitchen confusion
Young Aussies have cited* they don’t have the time to cook (54%), don’t know what to cook (45%), or can’t be bothered cleaning up (40%). These challenges lead to various eating habits, including half (51%) who skip meals multiple times a week, 41% eat breakfast for dinner, and nearly the same number (38%) who rely on takeaway or eating out multiple times each week.
Start by planning your meals before you even step in the grocery store. Take a few minutes to map out your breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. This not only helps you shop with purpose but also ensures you’re buying only what you need, cutting back on both overspending and food waste.
It’s All Stacking Up
When young Aussies do shop fresh, they’re uncertain about food safety practices. More than two-thirds (61%) throw out fresh food each week, mostly because it expired before they could use it (35%), or because they were unsure if it was still safe to eat (20%).
Once your groceries are home, stack your fridge strategically. Store leftovers and ready-to-eat items at eye level so they’re not forgotten. Keep raw meat on the bottom shelf in a container to prevent drips and place items with the shortest shelf life near the front. A well organised fridge helps minimise food waste and keeps your ingredients fresher for longer.
The steps to success
For 65% of those surveyed, meal planning, cooking on a budget, and cleaning appliances like the fridge and oven top the list of household pain points. Around half (51%) say that managing food waste that is a major challenge, and whopping 69% admit to using their ovens and dishwashers as extra storage space.
Many Aussies under 30 have never tackled critical kitchen tasks:
- 25% have never prepared every meal at home for an entire week.
- 24% have never cleaned an oven
- 20% have never used all the fresh food items in their fridge from that week’s shopping
Adding meal prepping to your weekly routine can be a game-changer for both your time and your wallet. By setting aside just a couple of hours each week, you can eliminate the daily stress of figuring out what to eat, reduce impulsive food choices, and avoid unnecessary takeaway.
For more top tips on tackling tasks in the kitchen, head to our Happy to Help Adulting Hub where we cover everything from food storage to meal prep.
*This study was conducted by YouGov online between 18-20 February 2025 with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Australians aged 18-29. The data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates of Australians aged 18-29 (approximately 3.9 million Australians).
