During the pandemic, food delivery became more than a convenience — it became a lifeline. For many of us, it’s still a habit that feels hard to shake. But with rising fees, health goals unmet, and local restaurants squeezed by third-party apps, 2025 might be the year to reassess our reliance on takeout.
I know this because I was there. Delivery meals became a near-nightly occurrence in my household, driven by convenience, but costing us a little more than we realized. The financial strain was obvious — delivery fees, service charges and tips added 30% or more to each meal — but the hidden costs were just as significant. My nutritional goals suffered, and I began to feel disconnected from the joy of cooking and the support I wanted to offer local businesses.
Breaking the habit wasn’t easy, but it was transformative. If you’re ready to do the same, this guide is for you.
Start with your “why”
To break any habit, you need a reason. For me, it was threefold: my health, my wallet and my ethics. I wanted to eat more nutritious meals, save money for bigger goals and do better by the restaurants I love. Food delivery apps often take a significant cut from local businesses, leaving them with a fraction of the money you think you’re spending to support them.
Take a moment to identify your own “why.” Is it financial? A desire to cook more? A way to feel more connected to your community? Write it down. Let it guide your next steps.
Find your roadblocks
Once I had my “why,” I had to figure out what was stopping me from cooking at home. Here’s what I learned:
- I wasn’t meal planning, which led to last-minute delivery orders.
- My kitchen was often too cluttered to feel inspiring.
- I didn’t have easy fixes for nights when cooking felt like too much.
- Delivery had become a default, especially on busy or lazy nights.
From there, I borrowed a strategy from Kendra Adachi, author of “The Lazy Genius Way”: break big problems into small, actionable solutions.
Small solutions that work
Plan meals ahead
Meal planning doesn’t have to be elaborate. A few simple steps — like theme nights (Taco Tuesday, Soup Sunday) or jotting down meals for the week — can make a huge difference. Knowing what’s for dinner eliminates the temptation to open a delivery app when hunger strikes.
If meal planning feels overwhelming, start small. I found success by planning just three dinners a week and leaving the rest flexible for leftovers or low-effort meals. Over time, I got better at stocking ingredients for meals we genuinely enjoyed, which made cooking less of a chore and more of a pleasure.
Keep the kitchen ready
A dirty kitchen is the enemy of cooking.