How I Beat My Addiction to Food Delivery Apps

Ordering food online was my kryptonite when I was dealing with my binge-eating disorder. I didn’t just gain almost 70 lbs (30+ kg)—I also racked up 1,000s of dollars in debt from nonstop food deliveries. Some days, I ate 8,000 to 10,000 calories!

One day, I came across the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, and it became the first domino that helped me kick my food delivery addiction’s ass. The book breaks down how habits are formed in the brain and lays out exactly how to build good ones and break bad ones. When it comes to stopping bad habits, there are 4 key principles:

• Make it difficult

• Make it invisible

• Make it unattractive

• Make it unsatisfying

So I asked myself: “How can I apply this to my problem?”

I did some research and found a game-changing method: there are apps that allow you to block other apps & websites. On my laptop, I used the Cold Turkey blocker (I have no affiliation with them, but this app literally saved me). I blocked every food delivery service in my area. The best part? It has a feature that stops you from uninstalling it. My smartphone was trickier since I could easily remove the blocks. My solution? I installed as many blocking apps as I could find and used them to block each other.

I know—I could’ve still found a way around it. But ordering food became such a pain in the ass because I had to jump through so many hoops to delete and reset everything from scratch over and over. That mental barrier was high enough to stop me from giving in. I’ll admit—it’s a weird method. But it saved me. Plus, it’s completely free.

That was back in the old days (aka 5 years ago). Now, many of these apps have paid features like deinstallation block, which would’ve made things even easier for me back then. If you struggle with ordering too much food online but hate the idea of paying for an app, think of it this way: If it helps you cut back on food deliveries, the money you save will far outweigh the app’s monthly subscription. In the end, you’re still saving so much money.

But if you're okay with a little extra hassle, just use my method. Again, it’s completely free. Bonus tip: Avoid keeping cash at home so you’re less tempted to call up a restaurant for delivery.

If you have an eating disorder like I did, please remember: An eating disorder is a mental health condition. Don’t rely on methods like this alone—this is just one tool in a bigger toolbox. Talk to friends, go to therapy, start journaling, and read books about mental health. I’m not special—if I can do it, you can too.

And please know, this is a safe space for anyone struggling with an eating disorder or addiction. I know how it feels to carry shame, but you don’t have to. People are far more understanding & kinder than we often think.

YOU GOT THIS!

That’s it for now. If you have any questions about the apps, feel free to reach out (Instagram: @husseinnaji_ or E-mail: [email protected]). My door (aka inbox) is always open☺️ 

Much love,

Your kiwi-with-the-skin-on-eating friend

Hussein

PS: If you want to see more content, check out my other channels:

• Threads

• Medium

• Bluesky

• LinkedIn