Ordering Food Online Shouldn’t Feel This Stressful

I hear this sentence almost every week:

“I’m afraid to touch anything.”

Not because the person isn’t capable.
Not because they can’t learn.

But because one wrong tap feels like it could spiral into a mess:

• double charges

• food they didn’t want

• drivers calling

• notifications flying

• and that awful feeling of “I screwed something up.”

Ordering food online should be helpful.
For many older adults, it’s anything but.

The problem isn’t food delivery apps

DoorDash. Uber Eats. Grubhub.
They’re powerful tools.

But they’re built for speed, not confidence.

They assume:

• you’re comfortable tapping fast

• you know what every button does

• you’ll figure it out if something changes

Most people I work with don’t want speed.
They want clarity.

They want to know:

• “Am I ordering this once?”

• “Can I cancel if I make a mistake?”

• “Why is the price higher than the menu?”

• “Where did my driver go?”

• “Did I just tip twice?”

That’s not being “bad at tech.”
That’s being thoughtful.

A quick, honest look at the big apps

I won’t rank them like a tech blog.
I’ll tell you how they feel about using.

DoorDash
Good selection. Reordering works well once it’s set up.
But fees can sneak up if you’re not watching the total.

Uber Eats
Clean design. Easy to follow the driver.
But small buttons and pop-ups can feel rushed.

Grubhub
Often clearer pricing. Less flashy.
Can feel slower—but slower isn’t a bad thing.

There’s no “best” app.
There’s only what feels calm to you.

What actually helps (this part matters)

Here’s what I teach clients—slowly, calmly, without jargon:

• Always pause at the final screen
  That’s where mistakes get caught.

• Save favorites
  Familiarity removes fear.

• Ignore pop-ups you didn’t ask for
  Most are suggestions, not requirements.

• Check the receipt after ordering
  Not because you did something wrong—because it builds confidence.

• Know this:
  You can cancel.
  You can contact support.
  You’re not locked in forever.

Most stress disappears once someone learns what won’t break anything.

The truth no one says out loud

Food delivery apps don’t make people anxious.
Pressure does.

Pressure to get it right the first time.
Pressure not to ask questions.
Pressure to “keep up.”

Screens don’t feel pressure.
People do.

When the pressure is removed, learning happens fast.

If this feels familiar

You’re not behind.
You’re not slow.
You’re not doing anything wrong.

You just deserve explanations that aren’t rushed.

Ordering food online should feel like freedom—
not a test you’re afraid to fail.

And it can.