Research shows all types of moms have unmet needs when it comes to some food and kitchen skills, but they improve with direction

Moms are Ready for At-Home Economics

• As the current economy continues to force Americans to make more value-conscious decisions, many are making their way back into the kitchen and preparing more meals at home in order to save money.

• However, due to a lack in preparing meals at home, many Americans, especially moms are finding they are in need of basic kitchen skills and finding it challenging to prepare and serve easy, quick and healthful, flavorful meals compatible with their busy lifestyles.

Moms Want and Need Guidance on Kitchen Basics

• Rutgers University conducted a study, commissioned by the Canned Food Alliance, which revealed that all types of moms have unmet needs when it comes to kitchen basics.

• Researchers uncovered that moms want – and need:

o Ideas for quick, easy, healthful and family-friendly meals that include the use of short-cut ingredients like canned foods to speed up prep time;
o Time-saving tips on healthful food preparation, ingredients and alternatives, methods and techniques; and
o Cost-effective strategies to help them get the most nutrition from their food dollar.

With a Little Guidance, Moms Improved

• Rutgers researchers gave moms action plans for healthful meal planning and grocery shopping, kitchen organization, and food-storage practices, and all moms made positive changes. They reported:

o Improving the nutritional content of their meals, and saving time, by using short-cut ingredients, including canned fruits and vegetables;
o Reorganizing and de-cluttering their kitchens; and
o Better organizing their freezer and pantry foods by type of category.

Canned Foods: A True Kitchen Essential

• Offering nutrition, convenience and value, canned foods are more relevant than ever in helping people put food and consumer skills – or “at-home economics” skills – into practice.
• As basic – yet essential – kitchen staples, canned foods are:

o Already cooked, making them “heroes” when time is tight;
o Picked and packed at their peak nutrition and freshness; and
o Often more affordable than their fresh and frozen counterparts, yet just as nutritious.

ABOUT THE STUDY

• Conducted by researchers from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Nutritional Sciences and funded by the Canned Food Alliance. It studied moms of young children (n=20) across New Jersey – a diversely populated state that reflects national demographics. 
• The complete study is available at www.mealtime.org.
• “Development of a Self-Directed Home Kitchen Makeover for Mothers of Young Children” and “Improving the Nutritional Quality of the Home Food Environment using Self-Directed Home Kitchen Makeovers” published in the May Issue of Forum for Family and Consumer Issues. Carol Byrd-Bredbenner and Jaclyn Maurer Abbott.
• For more information on the study and solutions for healthful menu planning and preparation, visit www.mealtime.org.

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