A national Australian study, reported by Medicalxpress, finds that meal delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash are seen as "treat food" platforms, and that deals and app design nudge users toward less healthy choices. The researchers argue governments should update nutrition policy to cover these digital food environments, and Australia is already weighing stronger rules on unhealthy food promotion, especially to children.
Policy will take time. Your ordering habits don't have to. Below are practical ways to spot when the app is making the decision for you, plus a few kitchen-side moves that make the healthier option the easy one. No guilt required.
Know what the app is built to do
The study's core finding is about perception: people open these apps expecting a treat. That framing matters, because it sets the mood before you've looked at a single menu. Deals and app design then reinforce it, per the researchers.
The simplest counter is to notice the mood. If you opened the app because you were tired, not because you were craving something specific, that's worth a pause. The app is not neutral ground, and the first things it shows you are not necessarily the best things on the menu for you.
Decide before you open the app
The most useful habit is a thirty-second decision made in advance. Before you open the app, answer two questions:
- What do I actually want? (A specific dish, not "something.")
- Do I want a treat tonight, or just dinner?
Both answers are fine. The point is that you walk in with a target instead of scrolling until a banner picks one for you. If you want a treat, order it happily. If you want dinner, search for that directly rather than browsing the homepage.
Treat a discount as a question, not an answer
Deals can make less healthy food feel justified: it's cheaper, so it's the smart choice. Try this check when a promo catches your eye:
- Would I order this at full price? If not, the discount is doing the choosing.
- Is the deal on what I wanted, or on what I'm being shown? A free side or bundle you didn't plan on is an add-on, not a saving.
- Does the "minimum spend" push me to add things? Padding an order to unlock free delivery often costs more than the delivery fee would have.
If a deal happens to land on something you really wanted, enjoy it. The trick is only noticing when it's leading you.
Build a "default order" you like
Decision fatigue is the friend of every promo banner. Keep a short list in your phone notes of three or four orders that you've enjoyed and that leave you feeling good afterward: maybe a grain bowl, a grilled-protein plate, a vegetable-heavy curry. When you're tired, order from the list instead of from the feed.
A few ways to tilt any order in a better direction:
- Choose one vegetable-forward item per order, whether a side salad, steamed greens, or a bowl with extra vegetables.
- Share the fried item instead of ordering one each.
- Skip the automatic add-on drink or dessert prompt at checkout, or order it only if you actually want it.
Make the home option nearly as easy
Delivery wins on convenience, so close the gap. A few pantry-and-fridge moves can get a decent dinner on the table in about 15 to 20 minutes:
Keep a "fast dinner" kit
- A bag of frozen vegetables
- Cooked rice or microwave rice pouches
- Eggs
- Canned beans or chickpeas
- A jar of a sauce you like, such as curry paste or pesto
A 15-minute fallback: egg fried rice
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 1½ cups of frozen vegetables and cook 3 to 4 minutes until hot. Push to the side, scramble 2 eggs in the pan, then add 2 cups of cooked rice and 1 to 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Stir for 3 to 4 minutes until everything is hot and lightly crisped. It serves two and uses things that live in your freezer and pantry.
You won't cook every night, and you don't need to. Having one fallback ready means delivery becomes a choice rather than a rescue.
Look for the information the app doesn't push
The researchers' call for policy to cover digital food environments points to a gap: apps often lead with photos and promotions rather than nutrition information. You can work around that yourself.
- Use the search bar for what you want instead of the featured rows.
- Look for descriptions like grilled, steamed, or roasted, and be wary of the fried, creamy, or "loaded" ones if you're trying to eat lighter.
- Check portion cues. Many restaurant meals are sized for sharing or for two meals.
Keep it from becoming a moral issue
Takeout isn't the enemy, and treats are a normal part of eating. The study's point is that the environment tilts the playing field, not that you've failed by ordering. The goal is simply to be the one making the call.
Next time you open a delivery app, decide what you want first, then check whether the deal on screen still looks good at full price.
