Your idea of effort, being someone who has worked as a cook and as a ready to eat meal food prepper, may have you be mistaken as to the ease relative to some populations cooking ability. Most people I know never get past sheet pan roasting and rarely do much more, and many others do not cook outside convenience food at all.
I cook 2-3 meals a day. I incorporate a lot of veggies. Days that I eat meat are easier if I want a decently balanced meal. I’ve eaten vegetarian for half a year. I’ve eaten vegan for a month, done a few whole 30s. I’m no slouch in the kitchen, but I also have to cook for people with autism and a lot of texture icks. I’ve taken cooking courses in Thailand. For me, veggie based meals that are healthy and have enough protein are often more effort and time than a plate of chicken nuggets and roasted veggies and similar ilk.
I cook 2-3 meals a day. I incorporate a lot of veggies. Days that I eat meat are easier if I want a decently balanced meal. I’ve eaten vegetarian for half a year. I’ve eaten vegan for a month, done a few whole 30s. I’m no slouch in the kitchen, but I also have to cook for people with autism and a lot of texture icks. I’ve taken cooking courses in Thailand. For me, veggie based meals that are healthy and have enough protein are often more effort and time than a plate of chicken nuggets and roasted veggies and similar ilk.