We, as humans, are wired for convenience. In an era of same-day delivery and instant downloads, having food appear with a few taps on your phone feels natural. Nate Bargatze has a hilarious stand-up routine about this. You can watch it here. But as you’ve likely noticed, this ease comes at a cost – not just for your wallet, but often for your waistline. If you’re ready to break free from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, I’m here to help. Here are some strategies to ditch those delivery apps and reclaim your health and your budget:
- Meal Prep Ahead: A little planning goes a long way. Dedicate some time each week to meal preparation so healthy options are always within reach.
- Stock Your Freezer Smartly: Fill your freezer with easy, go-to meals you’ve prepared yourself. Think homemade casseroles, soups, or even pre-portioned ingredients for quick assembly.
- Delete the Apps: Out of sight, out of mind. Simply removing the apps from your phone significantly hinders impulsive ordering.
- Freeze the Card: If deleting isn’t enough, freeze the credit card linked to your delivery accounts. The effort to thaw it might just be enough to make you reconsider.
- Block with Parental Controls: For an extra layer of protection, use your device’s parental control settings to block access to these apps altogether.
- Randomize Your Password: Change your login password to a long, complex, and unmemorable string of characters. You’re less likely to order if you can’t easily log in.
- Calculate How Much You Spend: Sometimes, knowing the amount of money you are spending on convenience can be shocking enough to motivate you to stop altogether.
It’s about creating a little friction where convenience once reigned, giving you the power back. By implementing these strategies, you’re controlling your health and budget. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you!
Anything else you would add to the list? Let me know!
