More than half of adults in America make the same meals, week after week; in Gen Z, that jumps to 65%, according to a recent survey from OnePoll, commissioned by Hopscotch. Tim Masterson from Dinner Solved points out most households eat roughly 10-15 meals on rotation. But what many families try to do to break the cycle can actually make things worse, leading to dinner fatigue.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms:??6C 72E:8F6 :D 2? :?7@C>2= E6C> 7@C E96 >6?E2= 6I92FDE:@? 2?5 @G6CH96=> J@F 766= 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J H96? J@F 92G6 E@ 564:56 H92E E@ 4@@< @C 62E] |@DE A6@A=6 5672F=E E@ E96 D2>6 @=5 >62=D E96J 2=H2JD 6?;@J 7@C 2 C62D@?] xE’D ?@E ;FDE 923:Ej :E’D 2=D@ 4@>7@CE 2?5 4@?G6?:6?46] u2>:=:6D 62E E96 D2>6 DEF77 @G6C 2?5 @G6C H:E9 >:?@C G2C:2E:@?D[ 3642FD6 E96J <?@H H92E E96J =:<6 2?5 FDF2==J 92G6 E96 :?8C65:6?ED @? 92?5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 ~?6!@== DFCG6J 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8=@32=D9C:>A4@F?4:=]4@>^4@?DF>6C\42>A2:8?\a^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 v=@32= $9C:>A r@F?4:=k^2m 2=D@ 7@F?5 E92E eaT @7 v6? + H2?E 5:??6C @? E96 E23=6 :? a_ >:?FE6D @C =6DD] p?5 H96? J@F 4@?D:56C E92E @?6\E9:C5 @7 E92E 4@9@CE @?=J <?@H 9@H E@ AC6A2C6 @?6 E@ 7:G6 5:D96D[ :E’D ?@ H@?56C E96J <66A 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 EC:65 2?5 ECF6] s:??6C 72E:8F6 42? 36 56762E65[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C655:E]4@>^C^>62=A=2??:?8^4@>>6?ED^`DdKG;E^DE@A0=@@<:?807@C0C64:A6D0E92ED0H9J0J@FC0>62=^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm|2DE6CD@? 36=:6G6Dk^2m E96 <6J :D 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 923:EF2= >62=D 2?5 3F:=5:?8 7C@> E96C6]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm%C256 E:C65 7@C E:6C65k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmxE’D ?@E J@FC 72F=E] |@DE p>6C:42?D 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 5@ E@@ >F49 H:E9 E@@ =:EE=6 E:>6] (@>6? 2C6 6DA64:2==J 9:E 92C5[ @7E6? 6IA64E65 E@ ?@E @?=J 5@ 2 7F== 52J’D H@C<[ 3FE 2=D@ 92?5=6 E96 3F=< @7 4=62?:?8[ 49:=542C6 2?5 4@@<:?8] q@E9 A9JD:42= 2?5 >6?E2= 72E:8F6 H6:89 @? E96 3@5J 2?5 >:?5[ @7E6? 42FD:?8 6G6? D:>A=6 564:D:@?D E@ 766= >@?F>6?E2=]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm*@F’C6 E:C65 2?5 DEC6DD65[ 2?5 ?@H 6G6CJ@?6 H2?ED E@ <?@H “H92E’D 7@C 5:??6Cn” x7 J@F 92G6?’E A=2??65 29625[ 7665:?8 J@FC 72>:=J 364@>6D J6E 2?@E96C AC@3=6> E@ D@=G6 2E E96 6I24E >@>6?E J@FC 3C2:? :D =62DE 6BF:AA65 7@C :E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm(96? 72465 H:E9 E96 AC@3=6> @7 5:??6C 72E:8F6[ E96 <?66\;6C< C624E:@? :D @7E6? E@ 5:D42C5 H92E’D H@C<65 :? E96 A2DE :?DE625 @7 ECJ:?8 2 ?6H C64:A6] qFE E92E 42? 62D:=J 324<7:C6[ 4C62E:?8 >@C6 DEC6DD 2?5 A@E6?E:2==J 2? F?92AAJ 72>:=J] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“x 92G6 E9@FD2?5D @7 C64:A6D 2E >J 7:?86CE:AD 2?5 x 42? DE:== DE2?5 :? 7C@?E @7 E96 7C:586 2E d A]>] H:E9 23D@=FE6=J ?@ :562 H92E E@ >2<6[” D2JD q6==2 qF449:@EE: 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^I@I@36==2]4@>QmI@I@q6==2k^2m] “%92E’D H9J x E9:?< E96 2?DH6C :D?’E 2=H2JD 7:?5:?8 2?@E96C C64:A6[ :E’D 92G:?8 D@>6 <:?5 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^>62=\A=2??:?8\E6>A=2E6^QmA=2?k^2m] tG6? <?@H:?8 H92E x’> >2<:?8 7@C E96 ?6IE EH@ @C E9C66 ?:89ED E2<6D 2H2J E92E 52:=J 5:??6C 564:D:@? 2?5 >2<6D E96 H9@=6 H66< 766= 2 =@E 62D:6C]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2DE6CD@?’D 2AAC@249 368:?D H:E9 2 |2DE6C {:DE] {@@< 2E J@FC >62=D ?@H[ HC:E6 5@H? H92E J@F >2<6 2?5 9@H @7E6?] “(96? J@F’C6 49@@D:?8 7C@> >62=D J@F 2=C625J <?@H 9@H E@ 4@@<[ 2=C625J <?@H J@FC 9@FD69@=5 H:== 62E[ 2?5 2=C625J <?@H E96 :?8C65:6?ED 7@C[ E96 H9@=6 AC@46DD E2<6D d >:?FE6D :?DE625 @7 cd[” 96 6IA=2:?D] “}@ C64:A6 3C@HD:?8] }@ 564:D:@? 72E:8F6] yFDE A:4<:?8 7C@> 2 >6?F J@F 2=C625J ECFDE]”k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm~?46 2 H66< 25G6?EFC6k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm*@F 42? 255 G2C:6EJ H:E9@FE D24C:7:4:?8 D2?:EJ] ~?46 J@F 92G6 E96 >2DE6C =:DE[ J@F 42? D=@H=J DE2CE ECJ:?8 ?6H C64:A6D] qFE 5@?’E 8@ @G6C3@2C5] x?DE625 @7 A=@H:?8 E9C@F89 2 5@K6? C64:A6D[ ;FDE ECJ @?6 ?6H @?6 A6C H66<] %92E H2J[ :7 :E 72:=D[ :E’D =6DD :>A24E7F=] p?5 :7 :E’D 2 DF446DD[ E96? J@F 42? 255 :E E@ E96 C@E2E:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm!=2? 7@C 72:=FC6] r964< J@FC >2DE6C =:DE] (92E’D E96 62D:6DE E@ >2<6 E92E J@F 2=H2JD 92G6 E96 :?8C65:6?ED 7@Cn %92E 364@>6D J@FC 72==324<] $@>6E9:?8 D:>A=6 J@F 42? E9C@H E@86E96C BF:4<=J :7 2== 6=D6 72:=D] *@F 42? 2=D@ A=2? 2?5 3F586E 7@C @?6 E2<6@FE ?:89E A6C H66<] &D6 :E 2D 2 DFCAC:D6 @C 2 3@?FD C6H2C5 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 5@:?8 E96:C 49@C6D @C 92G:?8 9:89 >2C<D @? E96:C C6A@CE 42C5D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~?46 J@F 92G6 J@FC H66< D6E[ “(C:E6 :E H96C6 E96 9@FD69@=5 42? D66 :E] w2=7 E96 DEC6DD 2E D:I :D ?@E E96 4@@<:?8[ :E :D 36:?8 2D<65[” 255D s2G:5 yF3é[ 7@F?56C @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E968@FC>6E9@DE]4@>Qm%96 v@FC>6E w@DEk^2m] “p =:DE @? E96 7C:586 2?DH6CD E96 BF6DE:@? 367@C6 2?J@?6 92D E@ 2D< J@F]”k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmt?6C8:K65 GD F?56CFE:=:K65k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq6 7=6I:3=6] #2E96C E92? 7@4FD:?8 @? >62=D @C C64:A6D[ =@@< 2E J@FC H66< 7:CDE 2?5 A=2? 7@C H92E’D 92AA6?:?8] qF:=5 J@FC >62= @AE:@?D 2C@F?5 6?6C8J =6G6=D[ C2E96C E92? D4965F=65 52JD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“q67@C6 564:5:?8 H92E E@ >2<6 7@C E96 H66<[ =@@< 2E E96 42=6?52C] x7 %F6D52J :D A24<65 H:E9 52?46 4=2DD 2?5 D@446C AC24E:46 @C 2 =2E6 H@C< >66E:?8[ E92E :D ?@E E96 ?:89E E@ A=2? D@>6E9:?8 6=23@C2E6 E92E C6BF:C6D cd >:?FE6D @C >@C6 2E E96 DE@G6[” DF886DED p=:4:2 r92C@==6[ @H?6C @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@AA6C2?5E9J>6]4@Qmr@AA6C U2>Aj %9J>6k^2m :? r92C=@EE6[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2] “$2G6 E92E >62= 7@C 2 BF:6E6C ?:89E[ H96? J@F H:== 36EE6C 6?;@J 4@@<:?8 2?5 62E:?8 E92E >62=…”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmr@@< @?46[ 62E EH:46[ @? AFCA@D6] !C6A 2 @?6 A@E >62= 2?5 DE@C6 :E :? E96 7C:586 @C 7C66K6C E@ H9:A @FE 2?JE:>6] “p?JE9:?8 E92E C6962ED @C 86ED D6CG65 4@=5 D9@F=5 36 >256 H96? J@F 92G6 E:>6[ ?@E 2E E96 9@FC H96? J@F 92G6 ?@?6[” 255D yF3é] “!:4< @?6 H66<6?5 4@@< E92E :D 3F:=E E@ DEC6E49] p EC2J @7 3C2:D65 >62E[ 2 A@E @7 362?D[ 2 D966E @7 C@2DE65 G686E23=6D[ E96? =6E :E D9@H FA EH:46 :? 5:776C6?E 4=@E96Di k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D62D@?2=4C2G:?8D]4@>^:?DE2?E\A@E\A@C<\E24@D^QmE24@Dk^2m @? $F?52J[ 7@=565 :?E@ C:46 @? %F6D52J]”k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmb\b\bk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm}@E DFC6 H96C6 E@ DE2CE H:E9 J@FC >62= A=2??:?8n *@F >:89E ?@E 92G6 `_\`d 72G@C:E6D J@F 42? AC6A2C6 @C A=2? 29625 7@C] *@F 2?5 J@FC A2CE?6C >2J 4=2D9 @? H92E E@ >2<6] ~C J@F D:>A=J 2C6 ;FDE 86EE:?8 DE2CE65 H:E9 >62= A=2??:?8] tIA6CED DF886DE E96 E9C66\E9C66\E9C66 2AAC@249]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm"F:E6 D:>A=J[ J@F >2<6 J@FC 5:??6C D6=64E:@?D >@5F=2C] $E2CE H:E9 E9C66 @7 J@FC 72G@C:E6 AC@E6:? D@FC46D] |:I :? E9C66 42C3@9J5C2E6 @C DE2C49 @AE:@?D] p?5 E@A :E 2== @77 H:E9 E9C66 962=E9J 72E 49@:46D[ =:<6 @=:G6 @:= @C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D62D@?2=4C2G:?8D]4@>^2G@425@\E@2DE\H:E9\>:4C@8C66?D^Qm2G@425@Dk^2m] p55 :? D@>6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D62D@?2=4C2G:?8D]4@>^8C66?\362?D\324@?^QmG686E23=6Dk^2m @C 7CF:ED[ AC676C23=J 7C6D9] %96? >:I 2?5 >2E49 2D ?66565]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%9:D H2J[ J@F =:>:E E96 564:D:@?D J@F >2<6 C:89E 367@C6 5:??6C 2?5 E96 E:>6 J@F DA6?5 :? E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6 @C 72C>6C’D >2C<6E] u6H6C 564:D:@?D >62? =6DD 5:??6C 72E:8F6]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmz]x]$]$]k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms:??6C 72E:8F6 42? 36 7CFDEC2E:?8[ 3FE J@F 42? D@=G6 :E] %96 2?DH6C :D ?@E 2?@E96C C64:A6[ 3FE 2 ?6H =@@< 2E 2? @=5 2AAC@249] (96E96C J@F 8@ H:E9 E96 D:>A=6DE >6E9@5D @C 2 >@C6 4@>A=:42E65 DEC2E68J[ 2?J A=2? :D 36EE6C E92? ?@ A=2?] p 76H >:?FE6D 2E E96 DE2CE @7 6249 H66< 42? D6E J@F FA 7@C DF446DD :? E96 52JD 29625[ 4C62E:?8 2 H:?\H:? 7@C J@F 2?5 J@FC 72>:=J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmz2C6? z6==J :D 2 ?2E:@?2==J DJ?5:42E65 7C66=2?46 7@@5 2?5 EC2G6= HC:E6C 2?5 E96 7@F?56C @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D62D@?2=4C2G:?8D]4@>^Qm$62D@?2= rC2G:?8Dk^2m] $96 :D 2 C68F=2C 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ |$}[ *29@@ 2?5 E96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD]k^Am
kAm%96 A@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^>62=\A=2??:?8^Qm%96 C62= 7:I 7@C 5:??6C 72E:8F6 :D?’E >@C6 C64:A6D[ :E’D 2 A=2?k^2m 2AA62C65 7:CDE @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m]k^Am
