Eating well is important at every age. But for some older Australians, knowing what to eat is only part of the challenge.
Shopping for groceries, finding the energy to cook and preparing meals can all become harder over time. New customer research from Lite n’ Easy suggests these everyday tasks can be some of the biggest barriers to eating well at home.
Lite n’ Easy surveyed almost 4,000 customers using or connected with Support at Home about their experiences with food, nutrition and everyday life.
Meal preparation was the challenge most respondents said they had previously faced, at 62.6%. Lack of energy to cook and grocery shopping were also reported more often than difficulty eating nutritious meals itself.
For Ashleigh Jones, Accredited Practising Dietitian at Lite n’ Easy, the findings are a reminder that good nutrition also has to be practical.
“One of the really important insights from this research is that eating well isn’t only about knowing what a nutritious meal looks like. As we get older, everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, standing to prepare a meal or having the energy to cook can become barriers. Making nutritious meals easier to access and prepare can help people maintain a more consistent eating routine.”
Customers also reported benefits that reached into their everyday routines. Many said they were spending less time shopping and cooking, worrying less about meals and feeling more confident living independently. More than eight in ten reported an improvement in their overall quality of life.
Through its My Choice range, Lite n’ Easy provides dietitian-designed, chef-prepared meals for customers accessing Support at Home, helping take some of the shopping, preparation and planning out of eating well.
As more older Australians are supported to remain living at home, the findings are a useful reminder that good nutrition needs to work in real life. Having nutritious food available matters, but so does making it practical to put a meal on the table.
Source: Lite n’ Easy customer research, July 2026. Survey of Lite n’ Easy customers using or connected with Support at Home.
