From Dabba to Delivery: How Our Food Habits Changed — Remember carrying a steel tiffin (dabba) packed with ghar ka khana to school or office? For generations, the dabba was a simple symbol of home, comfort, and freshly cooked food. Today, with just a few taps on our smartphones, restaurant meals can arrive at our doorstep within minutes. From waiting for Mom’s parathas to scrolling through food-delivery apps, the way we eat has changed—and so have our everyday food habits.
The Dabba Culture
Dabba culture emerged during colonial office hours, when people went home for lunch and a short nap. As a result, people used lunchboxes to store and carry home-cooked food to the office or school. Families used to plan their meals keeping in mind the limitations and capacity of the dabba. The dabba also changed the timing of meals, as people ate when they sat down to work after taking a short nap in the afternoon. This also resulted in the dabba becoming a marker of home-cooked food, whereas eating outside was a treat.
Changes in Eating Pattern
The Swiggy and Zomato-like apps have made eating out a norm as people can order their food with just a tap on their smartphone. According to research, food delivery apps in India have increased convenience-based orders by 340%, reduced home-cooked meals by 28%, shifted meal timing for 67% of Indians, and changed the lifestyles of people who order food online. Quick commerce apps have also supplemented the demand for instant gratification, as people can order groceries and meals within ten minutes of placing an order. Hence, the need to step out and shop has decreased, as well as the need to plan meals ahead of time.
Changing Food Preferences and Impact on Health
The delivery apps are also changing people’s food preferences as people are leaning towards more calorically dense and nutritionally deficient food, as per studies. The promotion of various meals on these apps tempts users to order more, and the customisation facilities also encourage people to have a more significant number of calories in one sitting. Moreover, apps target users through advertisements and influencer marketing, which influences customers’ purchasing decisions. For example, young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are more affected by influencer marketing and have a greater chance of ordering meals more frequently than any other age group.
From Dabba to Delivery
The changes in the way people order food have also influenced their lifestyles. People are less inclined to walk to the nearby grocery shop and instead order online. As a result, people’s health is gradually deteriorating due to an unbalanced diet high in calories and a lack of physical activity. Dietitians say that the popularity of food delivery apps is driving up obesity rates in India and contributes to chronic diseases like diabetes. On the other hand, applications are beneficial to people because they provide a wide variety of cuisines. Moreover, women are more likely to make healthier food choices than men. They also play a vital role in influencing family members, particularly children, to make healthier eating decisions.
Financial Impact and Societal Changes
In addition to the health implications, food delivery apps also have an impact on people’s finances. Not only do they raise an individual’s monthly food budget, but it also has an impact on how individuals and families prepare their meals. Delivery services also change people’s routines and disrupt traditional family activities like cooking and eating together. Therefore, people who order meals from delivery services see it as a ‘junk food’ substitute rather than a healthy option, while also giving them a break from cooking at home.
A Way Forward
People should use food delivery services wisely instead of relying on them as their primary means of food acquisition. It is important to keep the tradition of home-cooked meals alive while also making healthy alternatives when using delivery apps, such as saving delivery for busy days and sticking to lighter meals.