New research shows Kiwi kids are at risk of leaving home without the life skills they need to thrive, with cooking topping the list.

The HelloFresh study* found that 77 percent of parents believe it is "very important" for children to learn to cook before leaving home, but 60 percent said kids today are less likely to learn basic cooking skills at home compared to when they were growing up.

The study also revealed 65 percent worry kids will become reliant on takeaways, 59 percent predict struggles to eat healthily, while only 21 percent of parents with children aged 5-17 say their kids are often involved in cooking.

Chef and restaurateur Al Brown told Morning Report it all comes back to time restraints on families.

"It all comes back to that word time. Especially if mum and dad are running two jobs, when they get home they just want to get food on the table.

"Also, we are a consuming society, so we'd rather buy than make."

Brown said cooking doesn't have to be too complex, and a few basic skills go a long way to helping teenagers feed themselves.

"A tomato or an avocado on some Vogels would be a good place to start.

"The thing about New Zealand is we are a produce driven country, so we don't have to do too much with the food. You buy a piece of fish, all you need is a squeeze of lemon and a dob of butter."

Alongside being a basic life skill, Brown championed the creativity of cooking, and the joy cooking can provide for people.

"If you start with learning to make pikelets, and you pass those on to your flatmates, and sit around and have a cup of instant coffee, a cup of tea, there's something wonderful about that."

By starting small and experiencing the gratitude from cooking for others, Brown said it could inspire people to try more complex dishes.

Brown said one irony with the new research is teenagers love taking photos of food, but actually learning how to cook it isn't so popular.

But social media and the internet also provides opportunities for people to access recipes, according to Brown.

"We are very lucky in this country, it's a melting pot of cuisines and every recipe is at your fingertips.

"I just encourage the young to have a go and it will put you in great stead when you leave the nest."

*The findings are based on a nationwide survey conducted by Talbot Mills Research on behalf of HelloFresh. Fieldwork was carried out between 5-17 September 2025 with a nationally representative sample of 1,130 New Zealanders aged 18+.