After a long day of meetings, school pickups, and an endless to-do list, a tired mom walks through the door—exhausted, hungry, and met with the same question that haunts so many evenings: “What’s for dinner?” With barely enough time or energy to cook, she grabs her phone, opens a delivery app, and orders something quick. It’s convenient, it’s easy—but it’s also becoming the default. What was once a moment to cook together, enjoy a home-cooked meal, and reconnect as a family has slowly turned into individual takeout boxes eaten in front of screens.

While food delivery apps may offer a quick fix, they’re quietly reshaping our relationships with food, family, and what it means to share a meal together. At A Perfect Fit, we believe every parent deserves to make choices that nourish not just their bodies, but their family connection. That’s why we’re exploring the hidden costs of food delivery apps—and how they may be impacting your family’s health, habits, and sense of togetherness.

Decline in Home-Cooked Meals

We all know the feeling: a long day, a hungry family, and the overwhelming urge to take the shortcut. But did you know that relying on meal delivery can unintentionally limit your family’s chances to bond in the kitchen? When we skip cooking together, we miss out on teaching our kids important skills about nutrition, meal prep, and even passing down family recipes that carry on our cultural traditions.

Cooking as a family isn’t just about making dinner—it’s about creating memories, building healthy habits, and sharing stories from one generation to the next. And yet, with every delivery app order, those precious moments can lessen.

Health Concerns

Delivery apps might be convenient, but they often come with hidden health costs. Restaurant menus tend to offer calorie-dense, nutrient-poor options–things like fried fast food and oversized portions. While this may be satisfying at the moment, it can lead to long-term health issues. A study from 2022 found that frequent use of takeaway apps was linked to higher body fat and increased BMI. Those who ordered more often were more likely to have obesity, with calorie-packed meals like cheeseburgers and pizza playing a key role.1

Even when we try to make things easier for our kids by making a “kid friendly” meal at home, we may unintentionally foster picky eaters who expect a personalized meal every time. A 2024 survey found that 60% of parents will prepare an alternate meal if their child doesn't like what’s served at the dinner table.2 Experts suggest serving one balanced meal for everyone, allowing kids to decide whether to eat it or not, which helps promote healthier eating habits and broader food acceptance.

Reduced Family Bonding

We’ve all experienced it: dinner time becomes less about connecting and more scrolling through phones, zoning out in front of screens, or eating at different times. When we order takeout, the practice of coming together as a family often gets lost. And yet, sharing meals is one of the strongest ways to strengthen family bonds.

Research shows that families who eat together at least three times a week are:

12% less likely to have overweight kids
20–24% more likely to eat healthier and avoid ultra‑processed foods 3
35% less likely to experience disordered eating (when sharing five or more meals weekly)

It’s not just about food either–it’s about the emotional benefits, too. Regular family dinners are linked to lower rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, as well as stronger resilience and higher self-esteem in kids.4 Simply put: mealtime is about more than just food–it’s about connection, communication, and supporting each other.

Balancing Food Delivery Use

At A Perfect Fit, we believe in striking the right balance between convenience and connection. Food should nourish both the body and the family connection. Here are a few simple ways to keep that balance intact:

Using delivery apps sparingly–save them for busy days or special occasions, and try to pick one place that everyone can enjoy together.
Get a personal chef from A Perfect Fit who can help make meal prep a family affair. Involve the family in choosing meals that everyone agrees on, kids can even watch the process from start to finish in their own kitchen
Combine food delivery with home-cooked meals to keep the bond alive while still accommodating your busy schedule.

Ultimately, it’s about creating balance—finding moments to share a meal and nurture both your family’s health and connection. If you're ready to bring that balance back to your table, we’d love to help.

Call to Action

Let A Perfect Fit help you create meals that fit your lifestyle—without sacrificing connection. Reach out today to learn how personalized meal prep can support both your family’s well-being and your busy life.

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References

Albalawi AA, Hambly C, Speakman JR. Consumption of takeaway and delivery meals is associated with increased BMI and percent fat among UK Biobank participants. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Jul 6;116(1):173-188. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac078. PMID: 35681260; PMCID: PMC9257477.
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan. "3 in 5 parents play short order cook for young children who don't like family meal." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 April 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422120733.htm>.
Hammons AJ, Fiese BH. Is frequency of shared family meals related to the nutritional health of children and adolescents? Pediatrics. 2011 Jun;127(6):e1565-74. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-1440. Epub 2011 May 2. PMID: 21536618; PMCID: PMC3387875.
Anderson, J. (2020, April 1). The Benefit of Family Dinner | Harvard Graduate School of Education. www.gse.harvard.edu. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/20/04/benefit-family-mealtime