The joy of home-cooked meals.

Giving up eating out or ordering food online has helped many young people adopt a minimalist lifestyle and a healthy diet.

Actively preparing food to bring to school or work also helps spread positive energy and protect oneself from risks in the external environment.

Peace of mind every day

Bui Minh Trung (21 years old, from Dak Nong province) left home when he was in 10th grade. A few years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic caused restaurants to close, forcing him to cook for himself. Initially, Trung only knew how to make simple dishes like boiled eggs and boiled vegetables. Gradually, the difficulty increased, and he started preparing fried and stir-fried dishes, improving his cooking skills and learning how to present food attractively.

Gia Bảo's daily self-prepared and packed meals have helped improve his mood and reduce his consumption of fast food.

In college, Trung further developed his independence in meal planning. Instead of wasting time thinking "what to eat today?", he proactively planned his meals. Each time he went to the market, he bought enough ingredients for 3-4 days to save time and effort. From cooking out of necessity, Trung realized the benefits of preparing his own meals: "If I ate out, the cost would be 2-3 million VND per month, but if I cooked myself, it would only be about 1-1.5 million VND per month. I saved nearly 2 million VND which I could use for my studies or to help my family."

Since he usually goes to the market himself, Trung has accumulated quite a bit of experience in choosing fresh and clean food. He researches his own nutritional needs and regularly consumes vegetables and supplements with vitamin C to prevent dry lips and cracked hands and feet, while minimizing fat intake. Trung applies a scientific diet combined with gym workouts to improve his health. For him, cooking his own meals is both convenient and time-saving. Occasionally, Trung even invites friends to his home-cooked meals. After classes, the group gathers to eat and chat lively. Everyone is satisfied, which further motivates Trung to believe that those who finish all the food he cooks and praise its deliciousness will surely have a "happy and healthy" stomach.

Forming good habits

Nguyen Gia Bao (22 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) maintains the habit of bringing his own lunch every day because the distance to school is too far. While his peers often eat carelessly, or even skip meals because they can't find food they like, Bao focuses on nutrition.

Bao believes that eating is a basic, essential need, so neglecting the quality of meals also means not truly caring for oneself. Having switched to a vegetarian diet for over three months now, Bao's lunchboxes consistently provide sufficient nutrients: carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and various vitamins to ensure adequate energy intake. Besides improving her physique, Bao feels less hungry and less shaky than before.

Bringing his own cooked meals to school helped Minh Trung gain a better understanding of nutrition and food, while also leading to culinary discoveries and innovations.

This decision also stems from a preference for home-cooked meals. Each lunchbox contains the care and love of his grandmother and mother, from inquiring about his health and daily routines to helping Bảo prepare ingredients, sharing cooking knowledge, and cooking together.

Although bringing homemade meals can sometimes be inconvenient due to the time-consuming preparation and the difficulty of finding places to reheat food, Bao still finds it necessary. "I learn to appreciate myself and develop discipline. When I prepare my own meals to bring along, I feel more connected to my family," Bao said.

Bao noticed that more and more of her friends were bringing their own food to school or work. Gen Z is increasingly concerned about health, mental well-being, and carefully considering financial matters. They are gradually prioritizing preparing their own meals to be more proactive and economical. On social media, groups and communities promoting and sharing about home cooking are very active. This is where young people share their passion and knowledge about food, interact, and share the excitement of becoming their own chefs.

Beneficial for health

Numerous scientific studies have proven that cooking at home offers benefits to physical and mental health and improves quality of life. Recent publications from the Johns Hopkins Center and Harvard University (USA) emphasize that people who regularly eat meals they prepare themselves have a lower risk of chronic diseases compared to those who frequently eat out and find it easier to relieve stress. On the other hand, young people using personal lunch boxes significantly reduces waste from styrofoam containers and packaged food. Each person can easily control their portion sizes, avoiding waste when cooking at home. If they don't have a cook, they can simply find delicious, quick, and easy recipes online. As a result, cooking for many young people is no longer a chore but a daily joy.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/niem-vui-tu-vi-com-nha-196250503192659274.htm