the time to learn ! There won't be many fast food joints and restaurants in the future and chances are you won't be able to afford them. I didn't learn to cook until I moved out of home, it's not that hard. Just have fun experimenting and don't put yourself down when things don't come out right. Making mistakes is the quickest way to learn. Buying food in bulk is also a great way to save money (and time spent shopping). There are stores and co-ops where you can buy all kinds of dried goods in bulk. Get your hands on as many jars as you can (op-shops, saving jars from stuff you buy and asking around all work) and start filling them up with oats, seeds, dried beans and other pulses, grains, flours, teas and spices. If you've got leftovers that don't fit into the jars, I find keeping all of these rubber banded and in a big plastic zip lock bag a great idea, as it keeps the weevils out. Buying tomatoes or fruits in bulk and then preserving them can also be a smart idea. Likewise, fruit and veg box co-ops are essentially a way for a bunch of people to collectively buy in bulk and then divide up the produce at a cheaper price. Most cities have these co-ops, and they often buy only organic and/or only local produce. In terms of energy used per passenger per distance, there is no way to get around that