The average person spends 17 minutes deciding what to eat.
That's longer than most dinners take to cook.
68% of people say deciding what to eat — not cooking, not shopping — is their #1 mealtime problem. I'm not a recipe app. I'm the one who just tells you what to make.
I used to spend a lot of time every day just figuring out what to cook for dinner—sometimes even longer than it took to actually prepare the meal. This common struggle, known as decision fatigue, can make mealtime stressful and overwhelming. The fact that 68% of people say deciding what to eat is their #1 mealtime problem really resonated with me. One useful approach I found is to narrow down meal choices by focusing on mood or key ingredients, like chicken, pasta, or veggies. For instance, Orla, a smart meal-planning assistant, helps by asking simple questions about your cravings and available ingredients, then suggests recipes that match your preferences. This not only saves time but also keeps meals fresh and enjoyable without the stress of endless scrolling or decision-making. Another tip is to batch-plan your meals based on your favorite ingredients or cooking methods. Preparing a few versatile staples in advance—like roasted veggies, cooked grains, or grilled protein—can reduce nightly decisions and speed up cooking. Combining this with a reliable app or meal planner reduces the anxiety around "what's for dinner" and helps me feel more in control of my meals. If you often find yourself stuck or spending more time deciding than cooking, trying out a mood-based or ingredient-focused meal planner might make a real difference. It frees you from the burden of choice overload and transforms dinner preparation into a simple, enjoyable routine.
