By Hailey Flores

With the rapid decline in home economics classes throughout the 1990s and 2000s, it’s easy to assume that Gen Z, or people born between 1997 and 2012, don’t know their way around the kitchen — let alone how to cook a basic meal. Being considered among the younger generations, Gen Z tends to get subjected to endless amounts of criticism and is often described as lazy or incompetent at the most basic of household skills, including the supposed “lost art” of meal preparation. However, based on a recent study done in 2025, not only does Gen Z enjoy cooking, but many of them are quite skilled at it too.

Compared to Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, according to FMI (The Food Industry Association), over half of Gen Z say that they “like” or “love” meal preparation while only about six percent see it as a chore, and 11 percent would rather not do it at all. With that being said, the frequency that Gen Z goes about cooking is slightly less than other generations. This can be attributed to both the cost of ingredients and a lack of time throughout the day. Still, about 86 percent of Gen Z-ers cook at least once a week, proving that home cooking is an important and regular part of their lives.

So, what is Gen Z cooking up exactly? With social media being such a huge aspect of modern life, teenagers are more likely to be exposed to foreign meals coming from all over the world. Simply searching up “cooking” on TikTok or Instagram will bring up an extensive number of unique recipes to try. While older generations like to stick to what they know, Gen Z tends to be a bit more daring when it comes to exploring new ingredients and flavor profiles. From Vietnamese pho to Nigerian fufu, the youth of today dabble in the cuisine of many different cultures.

In 2025, health consciousness and mindful eating habits play a huge part of Gen Z culture. While millennials had their avocado toast, the youth now enjoy the “Mediterranean diet”. So-called “savory girls” partake in cheese and meat platters with olives, sardines, and figs – something many previous generations wouldn’t touch with a 9-foot pole. Admittedly, much of the food people consume these days are not the healthiest. Junk food lines the shelves of grocery stores, and fresh, organic ingredients are harder to come by. This is why a few of the more intense Gen Z chefs choose to grow their own ingredients, or source them from local farms. Of course, for the youth who aren’t as intense with cooking, there are still plenty of quick, easy, and cheap recipes to find online and even on cooking shows. Contrary to popular belief, preparing home-cooked meals doesn’t have to be a chore. For many, cooking is a way to relieve stress and nourish the body with wholesome food.

“I enjoy cooking because I like to feel like I’ve accomplished something, and I get to learn new things every time, “ said Isabelle Karjala, a senior at Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS).

Cooking remains one of the most important aspects of human culture. Some of the oldest surviving recipes were recorded on cuneiform tablets around 1730 BCE listing a collection of ancient Mesopotamian stews. Even today, our recipes persist over time and generations, passing down the history of our ancestors. Sharing these recipes with our friends, family, and even strangers keep the memory of those who came before us alive. Though humanity may change, our love of good food will never disappear.

Graphic by Philip Berkwit