Food: The Curated Meal Experience: How Multitasking and Self-Care are Redefining Dining Habits
- InsightTrendsWorld
- Jul 24
- 16 min read
Why Multitasking While Eating is a Trending Topic: The Blurring Lines of Modern Life
The trend of multitasking while eating is gaining significant attention because it reflects a fundamental shift in how consumers perceive and integrate meals into their increasingly busy and digitally-driven lives. It challenges traditional notions of dining as a singular, focused activity and highlights new opportunities and challenges for the food and delivery industries.
Digital Immersion: The ubiquitous presence of smartphones, streaming services, and other digital devices has made it effortless for consumers to combine eating with media consumption, entertainment, and communication, blurring the lines between activities.
Time Scarcity: In a fast-paced world, consumers are constantly seeking ways to optimize their time. Multitasking during meals allows them to combine necessary sustenance with other desired activities, making their time feel more productive or enjoyable.
Personalization of Experiences: Meals are no longer just about nourishment; they are becoming "curated experiences" where the food itself is just one component. Consumers actively combine eating with activities that bring them pleasure, relaxation, or productivity, turning a meal into a personalized moment.
Shift in Dining Culture: The decline of formal, sit-down meals for many, replaced by more informal, flexible eating occasions, naturally lends itself to multitasking. This is particularly true for meals consumed at home.
Rise of Delivery and Convenience: The growth of food delivery services like DoorDash facilitates this trend by bringing meals directly to consumers' preferred environments (e.g., home, office), where they are more likely to engage in other activities while eating.
Overview: Meals as Multi-Sensory Engagements
DoorDash's 2025 Delivery Trends Report highlights a significant shift in consumer dining habits, revealing that multitasking while eating has become the new norm. Only a mere 3% of Canadians reportedly give their full attention to their food, with the vast majority engaging in other activities such as watching videos (77%), talking with family/friends (47%), scrolling on phones (36%), listening to audio (27%), and playing video games (20%). This report further emphasizes that food delivery is increasingly viewed as a form of "self-care" and a means to satisfy cravings (96% and 76% respectively). Ultimately, this data suggests that meals are evolving beyond mere sustenance into "curated experiences" where the act of eating is blended with other leisure, social, or digital activities, creating a more holistic and personalized consumption moment.
Detailed Findings: The Digital Dining Landscape
Multitasking is the Norm: A staggering 97% of Canadian consumers now multitask while eating, with only 3% giving their full attention to their food.
Top Multitasking Activities:
Watching Videos (TV or online): 77% of consumers engage in this activity while eating.
Talking with Family or Friends: 47% combine meals with social interaction.
Scrolling on Phones: 36% are on their mobile devices during meals.
Listening to Audio (music/podcasts): 27% pair eating with listening.
Playing Video Games: 20% integrate gaming into their mealtime.
Delivery for Cravings and Self-Care:
Satisfying Cravings: 96% of consumers use delivery services to fulfill specific food cravings.
Form of Self-Care: 76% consider ordering delivery a form of self-care, indicating a link between convenience, indulgence, and emotional well-being.
Meals as Curated Experiences: The report concludes that consumers are converting meals into "curated experiences," where the delivery itself is part of a broader enjoyment, rather than just about the food.
Key Success Factors of the Multitasking-While-Eating Trend: Digital Integration and Lifestyle Alignment
Ubiquitous Digital Connectivity: The pervasive availability of high-speed internet, smartphones, and streaming devices makes it incredibly easy to integrate digital media into meal times.
Demand for Time Optimization: Consumers' constant pursuit of efficiency means combining eating with other activities is perceived as a productive use of time, especially in busy schedules.
Desire for Personalized Enjoyment: People want their meals to be enjoyable experiences beyond just the taste of food, leading them to pair eating with activities they find relaxing, entertaining, or fulfilling.
Growth of Food Delivery Services: Services like DoorDash enable "dining in" with restaurant-quality food, delivered directly to the comfortable, media-rich environments where multitasking is most common (e.g., home).
Evolving Social Norms: The stigma around using phones or watching TV during meals has diminished, especially for informal, individual, or family meals at home, making multitasking socially acceptable.
Key Takeaway: The Modern Meal is an Integrated Experience, Not a Standalone Act
The most significant takeaway is that modern meals are no longer standalone acts of consumption but have evolved into integrated, multi-sensory "curated experiences" where food serves as a component within a broader leisure, social, or digital activity.
Main Trend: The "Blended Consumption" Paradigm
The main trend is the "Blended Consumption" Paradigm, where the act of eating is seamlessly integrated and combined with various other activities, predominantly digital and social, rather than being a singular, focused event.
Description of the Trend: The "Mealtime Merge"
This trend, the "Mealtime Merge," describes the pervasive shift in consumer behavior where eating is no longer a solitary or singularly focused activity, but rather a seamless blend with other tasks or forms of entertainment and social interaction. It signifies that consumers are actively combining their meals with digital media consumption (watching videos, scrolling on phones), audio experiences (music, podcasts), gaming, and social engagement (talking with family/friends). This merge reflects a desire for efficiency, a need for stimulation, and the transformation of a meal into a personalized "curated experience" that caters to individual preferences for how they spend their time, indicating a move away from traditional, undivided attention to food.
What is Consumer Motivation: Efficiency, Entertainment, and Emotional Well-being
Time Maximization: Consumers are motivated to make the most of their time, using meal periods to simultaneously relax, be entertained, or connect with others. This is a drive for efficiency in busy lives.
Sensory Stimulation and Entertainment: A desire for continuous engagement and entertainment while eating. Watching videos, listening to music, or playing games provides additional sensory input that enhances the meal experience beyond just taste.
Emotional Comfort and Self-Care: For many, combining a meal (especially delivered food) with a preferred activity is a form of self-care and indulgence, a way to relax and de-stress.
Social Connection (Even if Indirect): Talking with family/friends during meals fosters connection, while scrolling on social media or watching shared content can also be a form of social engagement, even if more passive.
Cravings and Instant Gratification: The motivation to satisfy specific food cravings quickly and conveniently, often leading to delivery services that enable immediate indulgence during desired activities.
What is Motivation Beyond the Trend: Digital Integration and Lifestyle Alignment
Ubiquitous Connectivity: The fundamental motivation for multitasking is enabled by the pervasive nature of digital devices and constant internet access, making it effortless to combine activities.
Normalization of Digital Habits: Society has increasingly normalized the use of digital devices in almost all contexts, breaking down traditional barriers around meal etiquette.
Individualization of Experience: There's a broader societal trend towards personalizing all experiences. Consumers want their environment and activities to be tailored to their individual preferences at any given moment.
Reducing Boredom/Filling Gaps: For some, multitasking during meals is a way to combat boredom or fill perceived "empty" moments, ensuring continuous stimulation.
Stress Management: For many, the ability to relax with entertainment or social connection during a meal is a coping mechanism for the stresses of modern life.
Description of Consumers Article is Referring: The Digitally Native, Convenience-Seeking Urbanite
Consumer Summary: The Time-Strapped, Entertainment-Seeking Digital Native
The consumers described are largely digitally-savvy individuals and households who view meals not just as nourishment, but as integrated parts of their broader lifestyle, often intertwined with digital entertainment, social connection, or personal unwinding. They prioritize convenience and see delivered food as a form of self-care, embracing multitasking as a natural way to optimize their time and enhance their overall meal experience.
Who are them: Primarily Canadian consumers, but broadly representative of global trends among individuals and households who are comfortable with digital technology and have busy or entertainment-driven lifestyles. They are likely those who frequently use food delivery services.
What kind of products they like: They prefer food that is easy to eat, often without requiring significant preparation, allowing them to focus on other activities. They like convenience-oriented food, likely from a diverse range of cuisines that can satisfy specific cravings. Delivered meals are highly preferred.
What is their age?: While not explicitly stated, the prevalence of digital activities (watching videos, scrolling, gaming) suggests a strong leaning towards younger demographics, particularly Gen Z and Millennials (18-40 years old), who grew up with constant digital connectivity. However, the mention of "talking with family or friends" and "watching videos on TV" also indicates appeal to older demographics (Gen X and Boomers) who have adopted digital habits.
What is their gender?: The article does not specify gender, implying a gender-neutral trend across the population.
What is their income?: The article does not specify income. Given the reliance on food delivery services (DoorDash), these consumers likely have disposable income to afford convenience-based dining, placing them broadly in the middle to upper-middle income brackets.
What is their lifestyle: Busy, digitally integrated, and often seeking comfort or entertainment. They likely spend significant time online, streaming content, or engaging with social media. Meals are integrated into their downtime, often after work or during leisure hours at home. They value self-care and easy indulgence.
What are their shopping preferences in the category article is referring to: They are frequent users of food delivery apps like DoorDash. Their primary shopping motivation for food is convenience, craving satisfaction, and the desire to enhance a "curated experience." They are less likely to prioritize traditional dining out or extensive home cooking for all meals.
Are they low, occasional or frequent category shoppers: They are frequent consumers of delivered food, driven by cravings and the desire for self-care. This suggests they are either regular users of DoorDash or similar services, or they turn to them often for specific meal occasions.
What are their general shopping preferences-how they shop products, shopping motivations): Their overall shopping motivations are driven by convenience, personalization, and emotional satisfaction. They prefer digital platforms for ordering, value ease of transaction, and are influenced by the ability of a product or service to seamlessly integrate into their desired multi-activity routine.
Conclusions: Meals as the Soundtrack to Modern Life
The DoorDash report unequivocally demonstrates that the traditional, focused meal is a relic for the vast majority of consumers. Instead, meals have been redefined as integrated, multi-sensory experiences, where food serves as a comforting backdrop or a central prop for simultaneous engagement with digital media, social connections, or personal leisure. This profound shift underscores that consumer value is increasingly derived not just from the food itself, but from the holistic, curated environment in which it is consumed, solidifying the role of convenience and self-care in modern dining habits.
Implications for Brands: Curating the Holistic Mealtime Experience
Embrace the "Experience" Beyond the Plate: Food brands, restaurants, and delivery services must understand that they are selling not just food, but a part of a larger, curated experience. Focus on how food integrates with other activities consumers enjoy.
Optimize for Digital Integration: For food delivery, ensure the ordering and consumption process is seamless, allowing consumers to easily transition to their chosen multitasking activity. Consider features that complement digital engagement (e.g., easy-to-eat formats).
Market Lifestyle, Not Just Food: Marketing should highlight how the food complements various multitasking activities. For example, show people enjoying a meal while gaming, streaming, or socializing, positioning the brand as enabling this lifestyle.
Emphasize "Self-Care" and "Indulgence": Leverage the finding that delivery is self-care. Brands can position their offerings as a treat, a reward, or a way to unwind, tapping into the emotional motivations behind ordering.
Innovate Packaging for Convenience: Packaging should be designed for easy, mess-free consumption while multitasking (e.g., one-hand eating, spill-proof containers, re-sealable options for staggered eating).
Explore Cross-Promotions with Entertainment/Tech: Consider partnerships with streaming services, gaming platforms, or audio content providers to create bundled experiences or integrated promotions that cater to blended consumption.
Curate "Activity-Specific" Meal Suggestions: Delivery apps could suggest meal combos suitable for different multitasking scenarios (e.g., "Gaming Night Feast," "Movie Marathon Munchies," "Podcast & Pastry").
Implication for Society: The Blurring of Boundaries and Attentional Shifts
Decreased Mindful Eating: The normalization of multitasking during meals could lead to a broader societal decrease in mindful eating, potentially impacting digestion, satiety signals, and appreciation for food.
Increased Digital Dependence: This trend reinforces and potentially deepens societal reliance on digital devices, with meals becoming another occasion where screens are central.
Evolution of Social Dining: While "talking with family/friends" is a top activity, the pervasive presence of phones suggests a nuanced shift in how social dining occurs, potentially making it more fragmented.
Impact on Family Dynamics: For families, this trend could alter traditional mealtime rituals and opportunities for focused, device-free conversation and connection.
Productivity vs. Presence: Society is grappling with the tension between maximizing productivity (by multitasking) and cultivating presence or mindfulness in everyday activities.
New Norms of Politeness: The etiquette surrounding digital device use during meals in public or private settings will continue to evolve, shaping social interactions.
Implications for Consumers: Personalized Pleasure, Potential Pitfalls
Empowered Personalization: Consumers gain more control over their dining experience, able to tailor it to their immediate needs for entertainment, relaxation, or productivity.
Heightened Convenience Expectation: The ease of multitasking while eating will raise consumer expectations for similar convenience in other aspects of their lives and in all food products.
Risk of Reduced Sensory Appreciation: Constant distraction might lead to less appreciation for the taste, texture, and aroma of the food itself, potentially leading to less satisfaction or overeating.
Increased Digital Fatigue: While initially enjoyable, continuous digital engagement, even during meals, could contribute to overall digital fatigue or burnout for some individuals.
Shift in Social Interaction: Consumers might find their social interactions during meals becoming more fragmented or less focused, impacting the depth of connection with dining companions.
Health Implications: Depending on the type of multitasking, it could lead to faster eating, reduced awareness of hunger/fullness cues, and potentially less healthy food choices, impacting long-term health.
Summary of Trends: The Age of Integrated Living
Core Consumer Trend: Integrated Consumption Experiences. Consumers are blending eating with other activities (digital, social, leisure) to create holistic, personalized experiences, rather than viewing meals as standalone events.
Core Consumer Sub Trend: Self-Care & Indulgence Through Convenience. Food delivery and convenient meal solutions are increasingly seen as acts of self-care and indulgence, providing emotional comfort and satisfaction beyond basic nourishment.
Core Social Trend: Ubiquitous Digital Integration. Digital devices and online content have become so embedded in daily life that they are now a pervasive, normalized element even during meal times.
Social Drive: Optimization of Personal Time & Pleasure. A fundamental drive to maximize enjoyment and efficiency from every moment, leading to the combination of multiple activities, particularly during downtime.
Core Trend: The Redefinition of "Mealtime." The traditional concept of a meal as a singular, focused activity is dissolving, replaced by a flexible, multi-sensory "curated experience."
Core Strategy: Contextualized Value Proposition. Brands and services must position their offerings not just on product attributes, but on how they enhance or enable desired consumer contexts (e.g., gaming, streaming, relaxing).
Core Industry Trend: Food Delivery as Lifestyle Enabler. The food delivery industry is transforming from a mere convenience provider to a key enabler of modern, integrated consumer lifestyles and self-care rituals.
Core Consumer Motivation: Seamless Entertainment & Comfort. The primary drivers are the desire for continuous entertainment, effortless comfort, and emotional satisfaction during consumption, without interrupting other activities.
Strategic Recommendations for Brands to Follow in 2025: Winning the Blended Moment
Design for One-Handed & Mess-Free Consumption: Innovate packaging and food formats (e.g., bowls, wraps, easy-to-access containers) that allow consumers to eat comfortably while simultaneously engaging with devices or other activities.
Develop "Experience Bundles": Collaborate with entertainment platforms (streaming services, gaming companies, podcast networks) to offer co-branded meal kits or delivery deals that enhance the multitasking experience (e.g., "Movie Night Meal Deal," "Gaming Fuel Pack").
Leverage Experiential Marketing in Digital Spaces: Create marketing content (ads, social media posts) that vividly depicts consumers enjoying products while seamlessly multitasking, normalizing and celebrating this behavior.
Personalize Recommendations for "Mood/Activity": Delivery apps should evolve beyond cuisine preferences to suggest meals based on the consumer's desired activity or mood (e.g., "What are you watching? We recommend...").
Emphasize "Unwind" & "De-stress" Messaging: Position food delivery as a clear act of self-care, a way to relax and take a break from daily pressures, aligning with the 76% who see it this way.
Optimize Delivery Logistics for "Perfect Timing": Ensure delivery services are precise and reliable, allowing consumers to perfectly time their meal arrival with the start of a show, game, or social call.
Invest in Voice-Enabled Ordering: Explore and integrate voice ordering capabilities into smart home devices or apps, further reducing friction for consumers who are already hands-on with other activities.
Final Conclusion: Eating as an Ambient Art Form
The DoorDash report paints a compelling picture of a world where eating has become an integrated, often ambient, component of a richer, multi-sensory existence. For the vast majority, the meal is no longer a singular, sacred moment of focused consumption, but rather a seamless weave within the tapestry of daily digital, social, and leisure activities. This profound behavioral shift means brands in the food and delivery ecosystem must move beyond merely satisfying hunger; they must aspire to curate holistic experiences that enhance comfort, provide entertainment, and fulfill emotional needs, all while enabling consumers to effortlessly blend their dining with the dynamic rhythms of modern life. The future of food success lies in becoming not just a meal, but a perfectly harmonized part of the broader, personal symphony of a consumer's day.
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Core Trend Detailed: The Blended Consumption Paradigm
The core trend identified is the Blended Consumption Paradigm, which signifies that eating is no longer an isolated, singular activity but has fundamentally transformed into a seamlessly integrated component of a broader, multi-activity experience. This means consumers are actively combining their meals with various other engagements, predominantly digital and social, driven by a desire for efficiency, entertainment, and a more personalized sense of well-being. The act of eating has become flexible, adapting to modern lifestyles where individuals seek to maximize their time and enjoyment by simultaneously engaging in multiple forms of consumption, blurring the traditional boundaries of mealtime. This shift is not merely about convenience; it represents a deeper cultural embrace of continuous stimulation and the redefinition of dining as a curated, multi-sensory event rather than a purely functional one.
Key Characteristics of the Core Trend: Multitasking as the New Mealtime Norm
Pervasive Multitasking: The overwhelming majority of consumers (97% of Canadians surveyed) are no longer giving their full attention to eating, making simultaneous activities the dominant mode of consumption.
Digital Dominance: Screen-based activities, particularly watching videos (77%) and scrolling on phones (36%), are the most prevalent forms of multitasking during meals, indicating a deep integration of digital media into dining habits.
Social and Passive Engagement: Alongside digital activities, social interaction (talking with family/friends at 47%) and passive audio consumption (listening to music or podcasts at 27%) are significant components of this blended experience.
Cravings and Self-Care as Motivators: Food delivery, a key enabler of this trend, is overwhelmingly used to satisfy cravings (96%) and is widely perceived as a form of self-care (76%), highlighting the emotional and indulgent aspects of modern dining.
Meals as "Curated Experiences": The core characteristic is the transformation of meals from mere sustenance to personalized "curated experiences," where the act of eating is part of a larger, intentional leisure or comfort activity.
Market and Cultural Signals Supporting the Trend: The Rise of the "Anytime, Anywhere" Consumer
High Engagement with Streaming and Social Media: The immense popularity of platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and other streaming services (evidenced by 77% watching videos) indicates a cultural inclination towards continuous media consumption, which naturally extends to meal times.
Ubiquity of Personal Devices: The widespread ownership and constant use of smartphones make it effortless for consumers to integrate digital activities into nearly every aspect of their day, including meals.
Growing Gig Economy and Delivery Platforms: The strong growth of food delivery services like DoorDash signifies a market demand for convenience that supports eating in diverse, often informal settings conducive to multitasking.
Shifting Work-Life Boundaries: The increasing flexibility in work arrangements (e.g., remote work) allows for less rigid meal schedules, enabling individuals to eat while working, learning, or relaxing, further blending activities.
Emphasis on Personal Well-being and Indulgence: The strong association of food delivery with "self-care" and craving satisfaction points to a broader cultural trend where consumers prioritize personal comfort and emotional gratification.
Decline of Formal Dining Rituals: A societal move away from strict mealtime etiquette, especially in private settings, creates a more permissive environment for multitasking.
How the Trend Is Changing Consumer Behavior: From Focused Dining to Immersive Consumption
Decreased Mindful Eating: Consumers are dedicating less focused attention to the act of eating itself, potentially impacting their awareness of satiety and the sensory enjoyment of food.
Increased Demand for Convenience & Accessibility: The desire to multitask while eating drives a higher demand for meals that are easy to consume, require minimal preparation, and are readily available via delivery.
Preference for "Hands-Free" or Low-Effort Food: Consumers gravitate towards food items and packaging that facilitate multitasking, allowing them to eat without significant interruption to their primary activity (e.g., watching a video).
New "Meal Occasions" Emerge: The traditional structure of breakfast, lunch, and dinner becomes more fluid, replaced by "consumption moments" dictated by the consumer's chosen activity or need for a break/indulgence.
Value Placed on Emotional & Experiential Benefits: Beyond taste and nutrition, consumers increasingly value the emotional comfort, entertainment value, and convenience that a meal provides as part of their overall experience.
Digital Platforms as Primary Food Source: For many, food discovery and acquisition are becoming increasingly tied to delivery apps, which facilitate the curated, multitasking experience.
Implications Across the Ecosystem
For Brands and CPGs:
Product Innovation for Multitasking: Develop and market food products that are inherently easy to eat while engaged in other activities (e.g., single-serving portions, mess-free packaging, handheld formats).
Focus on Experiential Marketing: Shift marketing narratives to highlight how food enhances other activities (e.g., "the perfect snack for your gaming session," "the ultimate comfort food for your movie night").
Embrace "Self-Care" Positioning: Strongly align products with themes of self-indulgence, comfort, and emotional well-being, leveraging the consumer perception of food delivery as self-care.
For Retailers:
Optimize for Quick Grab & Go/Delivery: Prioritize efficient pick-up and delivery services, and streamline in-store experiences for consumers seeking quick, convenient meal solutions to fit into their busy, multitasking schedules.
Curate "Activity-Based" Meal Solutions: Offer prepared meal kits or bundles that cater specifically to common multitasking scenarios (e.g., "Work-from-Home Lunch," "Family Movie Night Meal").
Leverage Digital Integration: Invest in user-friendly apps and online ordering systems that facilitate seamless discovery and purchase for consumers who are already digitally engaged.
For Consumers:
Enhanced Convenience and Personalization: Consumers benefit from a highly customizable and convenient dining experience that seamlessly integrates with their preferred activities.
Potential for Mindless Consumption: There's a risk of reduced awareness of hunger and fullness cues, potentially leading to overeating or less satisfaction from meals.
Shifting Social Dynamics: Meal times, even with family/friends, may become more fragmented with digital distractions, potentially altering traditional social bonding moments.
Strategic Forecast: The Rise of Contextualized Dining Solutions
The strategic forecast points to a future where dining solutions will be increasingly contextualized and personalized, tailored not just to dietary preferences but to the specific activities and emotional states consumers wish to engage in while eating. Brands and delivery platforms will need to evolve from simply providing food to becoming integral enablers of these blended experiences. This means deeper integration with entertainment, social, and productivity platforms, offering seamless and frictionless consumption. The focus will shift from "what to eat" to "how to eat it" within the consumer's desired lifestyle, solidifying food's role as a versatile accompaniment to modern living. Expect continued innovation in quick-prep, easy-to-eat formats, and personalized delivery options that cater to highly specific, multi-activity scenarios
Areas of Innovation: Beyond the Dish
Integrated Entertainment & Ordering Platforms: Develop seamless integrations between food delivery apps and popular streaming services, gaming platforms, or social media, allowing for in-app ordering or recommendations based on content.
"Activity-Optimized" Packaging: Innovate food packaging that minimizes mess, allows for single-handed eating, and is easily consumed while engaging with screens or other activities (e.g., self-heating containers, re-sealable snack packs for intermittent eating).
Personalized "Experience Bundles": Create bundled meal offerings that combine food with curated content or activity suggestions (e.g., a "Cozy Night In" meal with a recommended movie list, a "Gaming Fuel" combo with exclusive game content).
AI-Driven Contextual Recommendations: Enhance AI algorithms to not only suggest food based on past orders but also based on perceived current activity, time of day, and stated mood (e.g., "Looks like you're gaming, here are some easy-to-eat snacks!").
Sensory-Enhanced Food Experiences for Distraction: Develop food products with heightened textures (crunchy, chewy) or flavors that can still register and provide satisfaction even when attention is divided.
Final Thought: The Modern Meal is a Lifestyle Accompaniment
The DoorDash report vividly illustrates that the modern meal has transcended its traditional role as a singular, focused event. It has become an essential lifestyle accompaniment, seamlessly weaving into the intricate fabric of digital entertainment, social connection, and personal self-care. For brands and providers, success in this new landscape hinges not just on delivering quality food, but on facilitating and enhancing these blended consumption experiences, ensuring that their offerings are perfectly attuned to the multitasking, pleasure-seeking, and convenience-driven rhythms of contemporary life.
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