College students’ diets are becoming less healthy by the day because of food delivery apps, even though there are many better options for cheap and reliable meals to make at home.

Food-delivery apps such as DoorDash provide an easy option for any meal. However, that ease comes with a hefty price tag.

Santa Rosa Junior College student Jack Fannin, 18, regrets choosing DoorDash so often.

“It did make me feel lazier because I could get that satisfaction with the click of a button,” he said.

Downsides to DoorDash

DoorDash users know they should stop using it because of the extra delivery fees. But it is convenient and reliable, and that convenience can lead students to waste money and eat saltier, more fattening and less nutritious meals.

DoorDash and other delivery apps’ prices have skyrocketed since the pandemic. A simple meal can cost $25–$35, depending on the tip.

According to a CNBC article, Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash’s fees have all skyrocketed since the pandemic. No matter which one consumers choose, it’s going to come with a price.

A large pepperoni pizza from Mary’s Pizza Shack costs $34.99, but jumps to $45.77 after delivery fee and tip.

DoorDash’s policy allows restaurant menu items to be priced higher on DoorDash than their standard price.

From the DoorDash website, “DoorDash does not require restaurants to match in-store prices on delivery orders.”

Restaurants should not surmise, based on previous incorrect reporting, that their delivery menus need to be at parity to be successful on DoorDash.

Restaurants can continue to make their own delivery menu pricing decisions and assess the trade-offs between volume and unit margins.”

The app also charges a delivery fee, a service fee and estimated taxes. Some of the fees go to Dashers and their insurance. However, most feed the company’s overall profits rather than paying workers reasonable wages.

Per an NPR article, Dashers are starting to get an hourly wage, however, only when they are on deliveries. Meaning stagnant time between deliveries earns them nothing.

With inflation, the costs increase every year. Fees also increase at night, when the number of available Dashers is lower, depending on the city where you’re ordering. DoorDash targets college students with its DashPass Student Plan, where students can buy a $5 subscription for no-delivery-fee meals.

This allows students to buy more deliveries because they think they are saving money when the service fees and taxes still apply.

According to a survey Wakefield Research conducted for DoorDash, 70% of college students order food from a third-party delivery platform per week, ordering four times per week on average.

Studies show processed foods like those most popular on DoorDash are relatively high in saturated fats, calories and sodium. Some of the more common restaurants on DoorDash, such as Habit Burger, Nick the Greek and McDonald’s, all contain these preservatives and chemicals.

Although fast and convenient, there are many hidden costs when using DoorDash. Imagine all the grease and junk students are putting in their bodies four times a week, when this can easily be resolved.

Meal prep

Meal preparation has garnered significant popularity over the past few years. Along with meal prep, GenZ has gravitated towards health trends.

“Instead of DoorDash, I try to prepare food ahead of time so when I don’t want to cook, I have something to eat instead of paying $20 plus a delivery fee on food that’s lukewarm,” SRJC student Ethan Ashton said.

With social media and YouTube tutorials, it has never been easier to make meals at home. The internet helps people around the world achieve their fitness and nutrition goals.

“After hopping off DoorDash, it made making my own meals more enjoyable and satisfying knowing I’m not wasting hundreds of dollars on food deliveries,” Fannin said.

A study by the National Library of Medicine found having a healthy diet improves mental and physical well-being in the short and long run. Feeling a sense of happiness comes from passion and motivation, and healthy eating is a great way to start.

Easy breakfast meal

An easy, cheap and reliable meal is a good ol’ breakfast sandwich. You can mix and match whatever you please into this delicacy.

This recipe contains bacon, two eggs, wheat toast and one orange as a healthy side.

The ingredients cost $19.50, including a full pack of bacon, a dozen eggs, a loaf of wheat bread and a bag of oranges.

Each meal averages $3.25 a day for six days, meaning for less than the cost of a McGriddle a day, this breakfast will last you nearly a week and is significantly healthier than anything found on DoorDash.

Eggs and bacon provide protein, while the orange provides vitamin C. Wheat toast is loaded with carbohydrates.

The meal only takes about 20 minutes to make with a couple of easy steps.

1. Put the bacon in the oven at 365 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-17 minutes.

2. When the bacon is 7-10 minutes from being done, crack two eggs into a bowl and whisk to scramble. Put some butter in a pan over medium heat before adding the eggs.

3. Mix the eggs around in the pan while taking the bacon out of the oven.

4. Once the eggs are cooked to your desire, turn the heat off.

5. Put two slices of bread into the toaster oven and assemble the sandwich.

Easy dinner meal

An easy and convenient dinner option for college students is chicken and rice with a variety of sides, such as green beans, fruit, or bread and butter.

This version of the recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs, rice and Brussels sprouts. The total cost is round $18-20 and it provides four meals.

The meal takes about 25 to 30 minutes to prepare and is very simple.

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Season boneless skinless chicken thighs on a
cutting board, and remember to wash your hands before and after handling raw poultry.

2. Bake the chicken in the oven for about 20-30 minutes, and rinse the rice until the water is mostly clear. Prepare you Brussels sprouts by cutting then in half and tossing them with olive oil, salt and your choice of seasonings. Place them in the bottom rack of the oven for around 30 minutes.

3. Cook the rice in a rice cooker or in a pot with water for about 45 minutes or longer, depending on your equipment.

4. All that’s left is to plate and serve!