I was at the grocery store today and a young lady (I estimate she was first year college age) was down one of the aisles (with mostly 'asian' sauces, etc.) trying to figure out 'ingredients' to buy so she could 'learn to cook'. She had absolutely NO idea what she was looking for - she just simply had decided it was time to learn to make something. All she seemed to know is that she didn't like anything spicy, but I gathered she liked Chinese food (though I doubt she has ever had any that in any way resembled an 'authentic' version of same). I noticed her looking at the prepared 'sauces' but she didn't even bother to read the labels - she just wanted to know what she should buy with some vague idea that she was going to 'cook' something. It was obvious that she was overwhelmed. I am not sure she had ever been in a grocery store before (at least since she was small enough to fit in the cart).
Another shopper stopped by and began trying to tell the young lady about the sauces but I could see it was not helping much. The potential novice cook looked as though she was about ready to just forget the whole thing, and order take out. It really bothered me that she was so confused that she might never get beyond thinking about learning to cook. I told her, in passing, that she should just take a chance - buy something and try it out ... and TASTE, TASTE, TASTE as she went along. I wish I could have offered to spend a few hours with her and teach her how to put together a simple Chinese or other Asian type dish - but I would not have begun with the prepared sauce aisle - I would have started in the produce section.
This anecdote is just to illustrate what is severely missing in the lives of many young people these days - basic 'home economics' lessons. 
Many didn't get those at home and the schools have opted out on that score as well it seems. So, yes, there is a need for something to help them out in that area I would say - since shopping appeared to be this youngster's (first) dilemma/area of most difficulty when it came to actually cooking 'something'. She frankly didn't have a clue, even where to start (other than she got herself to the store - which is laudable).
I could have begun with my own shopping cart since I had just picked up some fresh lemongrass, limes, bok choy, king and shitaki mushrooms, yu choy, green onions, shallots, and several other Asian ingredients.
The fact that many of the cashiers at the grocery stores don't even have any idea either about many of the produce items they shove through their automated checkout stands every day has long been something that I have noticed. I have often commented that cashiers should be given a short course in the produce section - and have to learn the names, best uses and tastes of every item sold there.
