Survey reveals students lack basic cooking skills
As UK students increasingly struggle to afford soaring university bills and tuition fees (the average student starting in 2010 is expected to leave with £25,000 of debt*), a new study has discovered that over 50 per cent of teens leave home unable to budget for food, with one in three believing a pint of milk costs more than double its actual retail value.
The research conducted by frozen food manufacturer, Dalepak, has revealed that UK freshers are wholly unprepared for student-hood.
The findings show that one in five UK students has never been taught to cook, with 25 per cent of males and 12.9 per cent of females left completely inept. More than half admit to being limited to the very basics, yet a relatively high 43 per cent make everything from scratch. Unsurprisingly for a generation of television fans, over five per cent learned to cook from TV chefs such as Ainsley Harriott and James Martin.
As part of the research, Dalepak known for its frozen crispbakes and grills, interviewed over 1,000 students and freshers from across the UK to discover how prepared they are to fend for themselves once mum’s home-cooked food has dwindled. Interestingly, the research found that six per cent of students depend on meals prepared by Mum throughout their university stay – with the numbers higher for males than females - not surprising when three per cent admit they cannot use a cooker when they arrive!
The Dalepak survey unveiled that one in four students cannot prepare or cook cabbage, broccoli or onions from scratch and most taxing is cheese on toast, which 85 per cent admit to being unable to cook at all. Astoundingly, 10 per cent even confessed to never having stepped into a supermarket on their own before university.
Nearly a third of those questioned admitted to being unconcerned about the nutritional value of food, rather 50 per cent view cost to be the most important factor when filling their supermarket trolley.
Anne Claypole, Brand Manager at Dalepak Frozen Foods comments, “Our research underlines the fact that a large proportion of students aren’t making sensible food choices whilst at university. We aim to convey to parents and students that frozen food provides a cost effective, easy means of preparing a balanced meal.
“By better educating teenagers on high quality, great value food products before they go away to university we will make certain they are in a stronger position to look after themselves, whilst ensuring they don’t break the bank!”
Dalepak frozen crispbakes, grills, ribsteaks and burgers are available from all good retailers, starting from just £1 for a pack of four. For more information about Dalepak products, visit: dalepak.co.uk
*According to Push, the independent guide to UK universities, which published the result of a 2,000 person survey on 13 August 2010.
