According to a recent survey Hong Kong consumers are spending more money on convenience foods since the economic downturn.Because companies are trying to make do with Fewer staff, employees are working harder than ever before. More women are joining the workforce as well. They have less time to prepare nutritious home-cooked meals for their families .Instead,families eat out or buy convenience foods, such as frozen pizza and instant noodles.These foods contain more fat, salt and sugar than home-cooked meals. Experts say that eating too much of them increase the risk of serious health problems, including diabetes and disease.
However, the trend towards convenience foods is benefitting some business sectors. Supermarket are responding to the higher demand for quick, easy-to-serve meals by increasing their selection of convenience and per-packaged foods . These products often sell for higher prices than fresh food . Restaurants also profit from the trend : most Hong Kong people now eat out at least once a day.
Is convenience food just a fad or is home-cooked food becoming a thing of the past? How is this trend affecting out health?