Canadians are spending an average of 87 hours each year simply deciding what to eat, which is nearly the same as two full working weeks. The findings come from a new survey by budget meal-box company Chefs Plate and shed light on how much time is lost to indecision when it comes to daily meals.

Respondents identified several reasons behind this prolonged decision-making process. The top challenges include cost concerns, trying to balance health with taste, and being overwhelmed by too many available options.

The survey also found that decision fatigue is prompting more than half of Canadians to rely on familiar meals. About 59.4% of respondents said they often stick to the same dishes to make life easier, while another 29% said they sometimes do the same. These results suggest that indecision around meals is a widespread issue that affects many households.

When it comes to making choices alongside others, the process becomes even more complicated. Around 40.9 percent said that input from partners, family members or housemates made meal decisions harder. Only 22.7% felt that shared decision-making made things easier. Meanwhile, 17.7% said it had no real effect either way. This highlights the additional complexity that can arise when multiple preferences are taken into account.

The survey also asked participants about the main barriers to quick and satisfying meal choices at home. The most common challenges included:

• Balancing cost with quality. This was the most frequently mentioned issue, cited by 24.1% of respondents.
• Balancing health with taste. This was reported by 21.3% of respondents.
• Matching ingredients to familiar recipes. This issue was highlighted by 19.1%.
• Using up ingredients before they expire. A concern for 14.3% of people.
• Accommodating different taste preferences. This affected 9.5% of those surveyed.

A spokesperson for Chefs Plate commented on the findings, saying, “Our research shows that food decisions are a major pain point for many people. It highlights just how much time and energy goes into everyday food choices, with the average Canadian spending 1 hour and 41 minutes per week struggling to decide what to eat.

“With decision fatigue playing such a major role in meal habits, Canadians are increasingly looking for convenient, high-quality food solutions that reduce the time they spend debating what’s for dinner. At Chefs Plate, we’re dedicated to helping Canadians cook tasty meals quickly, at a low cost with minimal to no waste.”

Chefs Plate says its services aim to make meal planning less stressful. By offering straightforward, high-quality and budget-conscious solutions, the company hopes to help Canadians make faster decisions that do not compromise on taste or value.

Other studies have found similar patterns in Canadian daily life. A 2019 poll conducted by Simplii Financial found that Canadians spend significant time deliberating over everyday decisions. About half of the respondents said they spend up to 20 minutes deciding where to eat, what to cook, or what to watch on the weekend. These results suggest that decision-making fatigue extends well beyond food choices.

Efforts have also been made in recent years to promote better eating habits across the country. One such initiative is the development of the Canadian Eating Practices Screener, which helps assess how well individuals’ eating behaviours align with Canada’s Food Guide. Such tools aim to guide healthier choices and reduce the burden of decision-making at mealtimes.