Empty Pots, Full Schedules: The Disappearance of Home Cooking

When cooking stops at home…
Have you ever thought that cooking is not just a household chores but a chain that binds the family system together?
In the 1980s, when home cooking declined in the United States and the trend of ordering food from outside increased, some economists warned:“If the government takes over the care of children and the elderly, and private companies also handle meal preparation, the family structure will weaken.”

At that time, very few people paid attention to these words.But then, what happened?
In 1971, 71% of American households had a husband, wife, and children living together.
Today, only 20% of such families remain.

Where did the rest go?
To nursing homes, lonely apartments, or disconnected lives…
15% of women live alone
12% of men are alone within families
41% of children are born out of wedlock
Divorce rate: 50% in first marriages, 67% in second, 74% in third

This is no accident — it’s the social cost of shutting down the kitchen.
Home-cooked food is not just nutrition — it’s love, connection, and comfort.
When families sit together to eat:
Hearts grow closer
Children learn from their elders
Relationships soften and become warm
But when everyone eats alone with their own device… homes become rest houses, and families become as formal as social media friends.

Another drawback of outside food:
Low-quality oils
Artificial flavors
Addiction to fast food
Less food of poor quality at a higher price

The result? Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure at a young age!
Now, companies tell us what to eat, and pharmaceutical companies run a business of “keeping us healthy.”
Our elders used to carry their own cooked food even while traveling.
Today, we consider it “easier” to order from outside even while at home.

There is still time —
Light up the kitchen, not just the stove… revive relationships, love, security, culture, and health.“A kitchen binds the family together.”