it is much easier for people to prepare meal than has ever been before.这句话里面than

个人认为,这句话从句意和语法上都有值得商榷的地方.
语法上,than是连词,一般要求前后结构是对等的,或一致的.
has ever been before是一个不完整的句子,缺少主语
而前面的结构 to prepare meal 是不定式结构
句意上,这句话所想表达的是：今天人们准备饭菜不以前要容易得多.
这句话可以改成：
People today can prepare their meal easier than people have ever prepared their meal before.
People today can prepare their meal easier than they have ever done before.
也可以简单些,写成
People today can prepare their meal easier than ever
如果在原句基础上调整的话,可以改成：
it is much easier for people to prepare meal today than it has ever been before
实际上,外国人有时候为了简便,或行文流畅,在不引起歧义的情况下,省略句子主语的习惯.
语法方面,中国人比外国人看的更重,也许是应试教育的结果.
希望对你有帮助!