Like many people across Britain, the pandemic was not kind to my waistline.
A combination of comfort eating (how else did you expect me to deal with homeschooling?) and much less exercise meant within a few months – it could have even been weeks – I was struggling to fit into my regular clothes. Not even PE with Joe Wicks could help.
Snacking wasn’t the only bad habit I picked up. Prior to lockdown, a takeaway had been a Friday night treat. But in an increase I didn’t spot initially, we began using Deliveroo and Just Eat apps more and more.
At first it was fun to be able to order not just fast food, but even faster food, all thanks to speedy delivery drivers, with desserts, milkshakes and burgers arriving directly to our door. It was great not having to prepare meals, and even better, not dealing with the washing-up after.
It was only when I checked my bank statement that showed how much I was spending – and my scales – that I decided to seriously cut back.
I wasn’t as bad as some. I know of someone who was ordering Pret A Manger for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
But it seems I’m not the only one who fell for the ease and convenience of meal delivery apps. This week, the World Health Organisation warned that Britain risks becoming the fattest country in Europe within a decade –because of the rise of the “Deliveroo lifestyle”. These apps, according to the WHO, are encouraging overeating and physical inactivity.
The food we are ordering in droves contains more sugar, fat and salt than food made at home. And being able to eat from the comfort of the sofa, or even sometimes from under the duvet, means we aren’t even burning calories when we go to pick the food up.
The portion sizes are often bigger too meaning people are consuming much more than they normally would.
The obesity epidemic is causing an estimated annual 1.2 million deaths in Europe, and costs the NHS £6billion a year to tackle in the UK. As a result, we need to be reminded of the importance of cooking for ourselves, and with the cost-of-living crisis many families are facing, it’s certainly a cheaper option.
Meal delivery companies should be much more explicit about labelling food and encouraging people to make healthier choices. Otherwise we risk being number one in Europe for entirely the wrong reason.
