'Ingredient Households' All Over TikTok—Here's What That Term Means

Kaitlin Vogel
·4 min read

Plus, how to know if you live in one.

Growing up, many of us would grab a bag of pretzels or chips after school as a way to satisfy our hunger before dinner. But in some homes, the pantry isn’t stocked with ready-to-eat snacks, but ingredients for larger dishes.

A viral TikTok trend emerged where users talk about their experiences in “ingredient households”—homes with ingredients to make meals instead of ready-to-eat meals. The hashtag #ingredienthousehold currently has 88 million views with an increasing number of people sharing their funny childhood stories of searching for snacks.

What Does an 'Ingredient Household' Mean?

An ingredient household describes a home that doesn’t have prepared foods or snacks—only the ingredients to make meals.

For example, someone in an ingredient household might have chocolate chips and flour in the pantry while a non-ingredient household might have store-bought cookies.

Related: 28 Easy (and Cheap!) Pantry Dinner Recipes for Nights When You're Out of Ideas

One of the most viral posts on TikTok is from Riley Leach, who shared a clip of what she ate in an ingredient-only household, which included a spoonful of peanut butter, croutons, marshmallows, and bread with a slice of Kraft cheese.

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Other users in ingredient households list items such as chocolate chips, plain tortillas, saltines, nuts and sprinkles.

Based on user comments, many people speculate the reason for ingredient households which range from saving money to being more environmentally conscious. Also, those living in an ingredient household have more time to prepare food compared to those others who are not home as often.

And the conversation is not limited to TikTok. People on Twitter are also sharing their thoughts. Ashley Fairbanks (@ziibiing) wrote, “Saw a TikTok explaining that there’s ‘ingredient households’ and ‘ready-made households’ and I’m finally understanding why my partner never thinks we have food when I’m like…’all the things to make it are right here!’”

Benefits of an Ingredient Household

Whether you're just looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, shed some weight or trying to maintain the weight after losing those extra pounds, or recovering from an illness, you need to be able to tailor food to your tastes and body requirements, Monika Celly, a holistic wellness coach, explains.

An ingredient household lends itself to more home cooking, explains Celly, because you have the opportunity to pick and choose all of the ingredients—which may include healthy foods like fresh protein and grains.

She notes that ingredient households may mean better immune systems for its members: While junk food has a reputation for lowering your immunity due to all the added preservatives and sugars, an ingredient household can give your immune system a boost by allowing you to pick up wholesome ingredients from the best sources.

Plus, when you live in an ingredient household, you're more likely to know exactly what's in your food. This is so important, notes Celly, especially now when supermarkets are shelved with "food-like" products. Have you ever read the label on that canned soup or frozen pizza?

The Important Link Between Ingredient Households and Socioeconomic Status

While this trend has thousands of people talking on TikTok, it's important to note that ingredient households may not be super attainable or useful for every home.

Dr. Julie Landry, a board-certified clinical psychologist, explains that socioeconomic status is an important factor to consider when thinking about this trend. Sometimes, an ingredient household may mean a parent is available to cook and prepare food for their kids, compared to stocking their homes with prepackaged foods. Other households may have parents who both work long hours, and might be more likely to rely on frozen or packaged foods or fried foods, Dr. Landry explains.

Health-wise, one study of 1352 participants between the ages of 18 and 69 found that a lower socioeconomic status was correlated with a higher-calorie diet, which can lead to being overweight or obese, among other health issues.

However, living in an ingredient household doesn't necessarily mean you eat healthier food—after all, some TikTokers are loading up on marshmallows and Kraft cheese.

Either way, the key is to pay attention to what is in your pantry, cupboards, fridge and freezer, and consider what options will best fulfill your nutritional needs at the time.

Next up: 25 Pantry Organization Ideas for a Happy, Tidy Food Storage Space

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