Tiffin vs Food Delivery Apps: The Real Cost of Daily Lunch

Look at the whole bill, not the dish price

On an app, the menu price is only the start. Add delivery fees, packaging, platform fees and taxes, then tip. Open your last five orders and write down the amount you actually paid.

Do the monthly sum

Multiply your average order by the number of working days in a month. Compare that with the monthly tiffin price divided by the days you will eat. The gap is what the convenience of the app is costing you.

Compare what is on the plate

• Home-style food with light oil, versus restaurant-style food with more oil, salt and cream.
• A thali with dal, sabzi, roti, rice and a sweet, versus a single dish that needs add-ons.
• The same trusted kitchen every day, versus a different restaurant each time.

Where apps still make sense

For an occasional treat or a dish you cannot get at home, an app is fine. The point is not to ban it, only to stop using it for the meal you eat five days a week.

What to look for in a tiffin

• One all-inclusive price with no delivery, packing or platform charges.
• A refund for the days you skip.
• A menu that changes every day.
• Pure-vegetarian cooking and clear ingredients.

Owala's Kitchen

Our meals are priced per meal, all inclusive, with no extra delivery, packing, platform, rain or surge charges, and skipped days are refunded in full. See the menu or message us on WhatsApp for a trial meal.