How food delivery became part of my cooking routine
By Eli Mercer on
I like to cook, but it only works for me when it fits into a predictable routine. I’m autistic, and the hardest part of food isn’t always cooking, it’s the unpredictability. Crowded grocery stores, missing ingredients, or a plan changing at the last minute can completely derail my ability to make a meal.
Last weeks, I ordered food delivery on a night when my plan fell apart. The store was out of a key ingredient, my energy was gone, and my brain shut down. Instead of skipping dinner, I reordered a familiar meal from the same place I’d ordered before. Same dish. Same instructions. Same timing.
What surprised me was how regulating that consistency felt. It didn’t replace cooking, but it became part of my routine around it, a planned backup instead of a failure. On low-energy days, delivery helps me eat. On better days, I cook knowing I have a safe option if something goes wrong.
From a cooking perspective, it actually helped. I started noticing flavors and textures I liked and recreating them at home when I had the capacity. For me, food delivery isn’t laziness, it’s a tool that keeps cooking accessible and positive.