The Other Side Effect of COVID-19: Over-Indulgence

This year has been far from ordinary. Corona has stripped everything we thought about ourselves, the world, the people around us, and literally turned it upside down.

Likewise, our food habits followed along this same vein. Grubhub’s annual ‘Year in Food’ report shows this in ultra-high definition.

This well-known food report yields our trends based on the orders placed each year on their app. To find this out, Grubhub looked at the orders placed in January to November 2020, against the orders from January to November in 2019. They then worked out which popular items increased in popularity 

Remember back in 2019 when everyone wanted to turn vegan? yeah, well that sort of made 2019’s orders all plant-based. When that trend wasn’t as popular anymore, we, naturally, well back to comfort food. What with the isolation period we went through, we’re hardly surprised. 

Turns out though, it’s not all pizza and Chinese. It seems we have more taste. The popular choice for 2020 was a spicy chicken sandwich, rising by 318%. Coming in next is chicken burrito bowl (I mean, who wouldn’t?), followed by the classic Friday night chicken wings, which raised by 287%. 

But this test wasn’t all about popularity. It also shared with us the largest order made in 2020: 300 bean burritos. Wow. We don’t blame you. The most popular holiday for delivery was Halloween, too. Also, don’t blame you. 

For those of you who are as nosy as we are, here are a list they also disclosed about the most popular orders made for breakfast, late night, dessert and side dishes…

Breakfast

1. Açai bowl: 353% more popular
2. Frozen mocha: 336% more popular
3. Chorizo burrito: 304% more popular
4. Potato pancake: 264% more popular
5. Strawberry banana smoothie: 216% more popular

Late Night Guilty Pleasures

1. Strawberry cheesecake: 303% more popular
2. Jalapeño popper: 277% more popular
3. Pizza puff: 232% more popular
4. Buffalo chicken pizza: 226% more popular
5. Cinnamon rolls: 210% more popular

Scrummy Side Dishes

1. French fries: 629% more popular
2. Onion rings: 566% more popular
3. Gluten-free tater tots: 544% more popular
4. Thai chili brussel sprouts: 389% more popular
5. Elote: 375% more popular

Daring Desserts

1. Apple pie: 330% more popular
2. Hot fudge sundae: 273% more popular
3. Caramel creme brulee: 137% more popular
4. Italian ice: 129% more popular
5. Chocolate chip cannoli: 109% more popular

If this list tempted you, check out our list of websites you can retrieve free food delivery.