NEW YORK – Are you too tired to eat anything at all because of your busy schedule? In a revealing new survey, a staggering 77% of Americans admit that there are days when they’re too exhausted after work to cook.

The findings, researchers say, underscore the growing challenge of balancing a busy schedule with a healthy diet in today’s fast-paced world. Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Kevin’s Natural Foods, the survey examined the eating habits and challenges of 2,000 Americans and paints a vivid picture of a nation whose hectic lifestyles leave little time for home-cooked meals.

Perhaps most alarmingly, one in five respondents said they were so tired while cooking that they actually fell asleep during preparation. This frightening statistic underscores the extreme fatigue that many Americans struggle with on a daily basis.

The survey also found that half of Americans surveyed (51%) believe they have the busiest days of the week. But for many, the stress doesn’t stop on the weekend: 38% say they have the same amount of work to do on all seven days of the week.

When it comes to meal prep, some days prove more difficult than others. Monday is the hardest day to prepare a home-cooked meal (35%), followed by Wednesday and Friday (both 29%).

The impact of a busy schedule on diet is significant. Of those overwhelmed by their schedule, 40% said it impacted their diet, with 57% of them reporting a negative impact.

“We know how important it is for people to have access to healthy, convenient meals that don’t compromise on taste or quality. We understand the barriers to healthy eating – and we want to help people with almost every lifestyle, especially busy families, get meals that make healthy eating easier and more enjoyable,” said Becky Graham, chief marketing officer at Kevin’s Natural Foods, in a statement.

When time is short, many Americans turn to convenience foods. Sandwiches (42%), fast food (37%) and microwave meals (33%) top the list of preferred options. Although 78% of respondents say healthy eating is important to them, 19% succumb to the convenience of fast food chains at least once a day.

The survey also examined barriers to healthy eating. The biggest barrier was found to be cost, with 41% citing rising prices as a deterrent. Lack of time to prepare healthy meals (26%) and difficulty sourcing healthy ingredients (19%) were other important factors.

Interestingly, 74% of respondents expressed a desire to eat healthier if it were more convenient, indicating a strong desire for easily accessible and nutritious meals.

“Eating healthy should be a concern for even the busiest families,” Graham concluded.