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Table 2 Questions used to measure home food preparation skills and behaviours

From: Association between home food preparation skills and behaviour, and consumption of ultra-processed foods: Cross-sectional analysis of the UK National Diet and nutrition survey (2008–2009)

Measure of home food preparation skills and behaviours

Questions

Response options

Confidence in using eight cooking techniques

Which, if any, of the following cooking techniques do you feel confident about using?

Boiling, steaming or poaching, frying, stir frying, grilling, oven-baking or roasting, stewing, braising, or casseroling, microwaving

Confidence in cooking ten foods

Which, if any, of the following foods do you feel confident about cooking?

Red meat, chicken, white fish (cod, haddock, plaice), oily fish (herring mackerel, salmon), pulses (such as split peas and lentils), dry pasta, rice (savoury), potatoes (not chips), green vegetables (cabbage, spinach, broccoli), root vegetables (carrots, parsnips)

Ability to prepare four different types of dish

Would you be able to make the following foods and dishes from beginning to end: convenience foods and ready meals (e.g. frozen pizza, pre-packaged curry & rice), a complete meal from ready-made ingredients (e.g. ready-made sauces and pasta to make spaghetti Bolognese), a main dish from basic ingredients (raw potatoes, raw meat, onions etc.), possibly following a recipe (e.g. shepherd’s pie, curry), a cake or biscuits from basic ingredients (flour, milk, eggs, etc.), possibly following a recipe

No, not at all, Yes, with a lot of help, Yes, with a little help, Yes, with no help at all

Frequency of preparing main meals

How often do you prepare a main meal for yourself or others?

Never, only for special occasions, less than once a week, one or two days a week, some days (3–4 a week), most days (5–6 a week), every day