This study aims to explain the process of initiating meal preparation by examining changes in the behaviors and perceptions of meal preparation of men in two-earner households that prepared meals for themselves. In some cases, men started cooking for the first time when they lived alone but later discontinued the practice, only to resume it after getting married. For instance, one man acquired cooking skills through guidance from his wife and another man’s perception of cooking changed because of his wife’s expectations for shared housework responsibilities. The analysis revealed that, apart from perceptions of sharing housework, three interconnected factors played a vital role in sustaining their efforts: cooking skills, the meal preparation environment, and the meal preparation perception.
