Take Your Damn Phone to Order Food
Under capitalism, there is no ethical consumption – even gummy bears are unsafe – but I would like to think that most people try to eat ethically where they can. If you are one of those people, you should remove all these super handy shipping apps from your phone.
Look, I’m not too crazy about this either. As a lazy person without a car, I am a frequent contributor to this particular problem, but seamless and other similar apps are not good for restaurants and I love restaurants. I don’t feel so bad using it for big chains like McDonald’s, but as Adam Clark Estes explained on Gizmodo , small restaurants often fall into a vicious circle: using Seamless to support your business, and then running the business to support Seamless.
Unfortunately, there is no clever hack here: you just need to grab the damn phone. I understand that many people are worried about this, myself included, but there are ways to make it easier . If the place offers delivery and you still opt for seamless, not only are you paying for the restaurant, but (most likely) you are paying all those shipping fees yourself.
If you don’t know a single restaurant that serves food, do a little research and list all the restaurants that suit your needs. Armed with this knowledge, you’re less likely to panic and order from Seamless on a whim. Also, make a list of places in your area that offer takeaway food; a little walk before dinner is never bad.
It can also be a good opportunity to explore your dining habits in general. If you can’t imagine life without mobile food delivery apps, you probably don’t cook too much. Cooking at home is an ingenious culinary trick, and if you find it difficult to stick to your meal plan, we have some tips for you .
I understand that no one is perfect, and that there are days – like sick days – when convenience always wins, but cutting back on Seamless, Caviar, or UberEATS habits is good for your favorite restaurants, your wallet, and your physical health. Plus, no matter where you order from, tip the damn delivery man; five dollars – cash not on your credit card receipt – is an acceptable minimum, especially in bad weather.