2026
8
Canada Meal Planning and Preparation Consumer Report 2026
2026-02-26T16:02:11+00:00
REP2604BD1B_F458_4C76_84BD_1BF458BC76E3
3695
191497
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Report
en_GB
Meal planning and preparation exist at a crossroads where time-honoured traditions meet future innovations. It is a space defined by the tension between functional necessity and culinary enjoyment. To resonate,…
Canada
Cooking
Meals and Meal Components
simple

Canada Meal Planning and Preparation Consumer Report 2026

"While established habits and familiar routines are the bedrock of meal planning, technology could make culinary exploration more accessible than ever before."

Joel Gregoire, Associate Director of Food & Drink Reports

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for meal planning and preparation
    • Opportunities
    • Embrace flexible meal planning
    • Don’t underestimate AI’s influence on meal planning in the late 2020s
    • Embrace the emotional side of cooking
  2. THE MARKET

    • Affordability and tariff concerns weigh on Canada’s economic outlook
    • Rising food inflation squeezes Canadians’ budgets
    • Graph 1: annual change in CPI and retail food prices by month, January 2019-December 2025
    • Foodservice grows persistently
    • Graph 2: food service sales by month, 2019-25
    • Obesity rates in younger adults have risen sharply
    • Graph 3: percentage of individuals with a self-reported obese body mass index, by age, 2015 & 2022
    • Younger generations are less likely to own homes, limiting their access to food storage and meal prep space
    • Graph 4: homeownership rate, by age, 2011-21
    • Think beyond the oven
    • Graph 5: appliances typically used when cooking prepared meals, 2024
    • South Asia drives much of Canada’s immigration and can influence cooking preferences
    • Graph 6: share of recent immigrants by country of birth, 2016 vs 2021
  3. CONSUMER INSIGHTS

    • Meal ideas and cooking ability
    • Meal inspiration starts at home
    • Familiarity is foundational for culinary exploration
    • Bolster confidence to build engagement with cooking
    • Graph 7: how individuals describe their cooking skills, 2025
    • Most plan dinner within a couple days beforehand
    • Graph 8: “I tend to plan dinners…”, 2025
    • Companies can accommodate Canadians’ “real life” behaviours
    • How Canadians cook
    • Leftovers’ popularity underscores Canadians’ desire for “meal efficiency”
    • Graph 9: do when cooking/preparing dinners at home at least once a week, 2025
    • Making meals from scratch is not a lost art
    • Graph 10: how often individuals do each of the following when cooking/preparing dinners at home, 2025
    • From-scratch cooking offers control
    • Graph 11: “I would be motivated to cook from scratch more often to…”, 2025
    • Time and effort: the main barriers to making homemade meals more often
    • Graph 12: barriers to cooking from scratch more often, 2025
    • Connect with young generations through convenience-based meal solutions
    • Graph 13: do when cooking/preparing dinners at home at least once a week, by generation, 2025
    • Gen Zs hate cleaning up. Make it a breeze
    • Graph 14: barriers to cooking from scratch more often, by generation, 2025
    • Meal variety is aspirational, but simplicity bolsters confidence
    • Graph 15: attitudes toward meal variety and feeling in control, 2025
    • Takeaways: how Canadians cook
    • Emotional connections to cooking
    • Lean into Canadians’ love of cooking
    • Younger generations express greater fondness for cooking
    • Graph 16: enjoyment of cooking, by generation, 2025
    • Skilled individuals enjoy cooking more
    • Graph 17: enjoyment of cooking, by cooking skill level, 2025
    • Planning meals ahead is linked to cooking enjoyment
    • Graph 18: likes/loves cooking, by when dinner is typically planned, 2025
    • Not having a plan for meals can be a source of stress
    • Making a plan is harder than sticking to a plan
    • Graph 19: attitudes toward meal planning, 2025
    • Financial constraints add stress to meal planning
    • Graph 20: attitudes toward ingredient cost in meal preparation and stress over lack of meal ideas (any agree), by financial situation, 2025
    • AI’s influence in the kitchen
    • AI will impact how brands connect with home cooks
    • AI is well-positioned to be a virtual sous-chef for younger generations
    • Graph 21: attitudes toward meal preparation and planning (any agree), by generation, 2025
    • AI’s rise doesn’t mean the end of other areas of influence
    • Graph 22: sources of meal ideas, 2023
    • Will more personalized AI replace influencers?
    • Key takeaways on meal planning
    • Wellness and meals
    • Are we in an era of ‘less is more’?
    • Graph 23: “preparing smaller, nutrient-dense meals is an effective way to manage one’s weight”, 2025
    • Brands must think beyond GLP-1’s users when promoting nutrient dense meals
    • Graph 24: GLP-1 medication usage, 2025
    • Demand for nutrient-dense options can bolster the snack occasion
    • Protein is the top nutritional priority when planning meals
    • Graph 25: nutritional considerations when planning or preparing meals, 2025
    • Mintel predicts consumers will think beyond protein
    • There’s a generational divide in nutritional demands
    • Graph 26: nutritional considerations when planning or preparing meals, by generation, 2025
    • Key takeaways: wellness and meals
    • Newer Canadians and meal planning/preparation
    • Differences between newer and established Canadians in meal planning/preparation
    • Actioning differences with newer Canadians
    • Moms, dads and meal planning/preparation
    • What matters more to moms and dads in meal planning?
    • Meeting moms’ needs
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Think outside the store: foster cooking skills in unexpected places
    • Grocers can help shoppers improve cooking skills and build connections
    • Find creative ways to help with the clean-up
    • Flexible all-in-one meal solutions can be tailored for groups or individuals
    • Use Canada’s distinct seasons to encourage meal-time exploration
    • Graph 27: views on eating and meal preparation habits and seasonality, 2025
    • Make direct connections to savings with cooking for those on strict budgets
    • Leveraging generative AI in grocery apps provides guidance, while also fostering creativity
    • Concept: leveraging tech to provide recipe guidance
    • Concept: AI as a personal cooking instructor
    • Concept: fun and easy meals to cook with kids
    • Concept: a snack or a meal? Easy-to-heat offerings provide versatility
  5. APPENDIX

    • Report scope
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology – Canada
    • Canada generation groups
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Mintel Spark
    • Abbreviations and terms

Meal planning and preparation exist at a crossroads where time-honoured traditions meet future innovations. It is a space defined by the tension between functional necessity and culinary enjoyment. To resonate, companies need to account for how individuals cook; but also understand underlying motivations in order to connect.

This report explores these dynamics to help brands communicate more effectively. It examines the catalysts for inspiration: Where do meal ideas come from? How frequently are consumers cooking from scratch and also experimenting with new ideas? And is there value in the comfort of a planned routine?

Meal preparation can involve a series of contrasts and contradictions, balancing what consumers aspire to achieve with the reality of their daily habits. Companies that acknowledge these complexities and offer nuanced meal solutions will connect with their audience in a more authentic and impactful way.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • Sources of meal inspiration for consumers
  • The interplay between cooking confidence and enjoyment
  • Meal preparation habits among Canadians
  • The influence of AI on meal planning and cooking
  • The role of wellness and GLP-1 medications on meal habits
  • Generational differences in attitudes and behaviours toward meal planning
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