On Tough Days and Good Days at Work... What is the Best Gift for Myself?

In the UK, the act of eating restaurant food outside the establishment is collectively referred to as 'Takeaway'. This includes orders and consumption of takeout food, delivery food, and drive-thru food.

Regardless of whether one had a good or bad day at work, research has shown that the most preferred gift for oneself is 'Takeaway' such as takeout food, delivery food, and drive-thru food. A research team from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK conducted a detailed analysis of the self-gifting choices based on work performance among 280 British participants, revealing these findings.

Whether Happy or Sad... The Only Choice that Captures Both Reward and Comfort is 'Takeaway'

The research team asked participants to imagine their work situations on good days, bad days, and ordinary days, and then choose one of five reward methods: 'Takeaway', alcohol, chocolate, bubble baths, or online shopping.

According to the research results, those who imagined having a tough day at work and sought to comfort themselves were significantly more likely to choose 'Takeaway', alcohol, bubble baths, and chocolate compared to those who imagined an ordinary day. In particular, 'Takeaway' was found to be the only means that satisfies both the reward for good work performance and the comfort for poor performance.

The Joy of Liberation from Cooking and Dishwashing... Health Risks Must Be Heeded

The research team cited 'dual benefits' as the reason for the popularity of this consumption. It provides the joy of enjoying desired food while being liberated from the everyday housework of cooking and dishwashing. However, it is concerning that this consumption of takeaway food often has higher calories, sugars, and salts than home-cooked meals, which can lead to various health issues if used frequently.

Dr. Susanna Poud, who led the study, stated, "Self-gifting is a valuable means of fulfilling emotional needs, but choices like takeout food or alcohol come with health risks," and emphasized the need for consideration in making choices that benefit physical health while managing mental health on a daily basis.

This research result (Comfort eating or toasting to your success? Self-gifting choices vary between good and bad days) was published on the 21st (local time) in the international academic journal 《Frontiers in Psychology》 and was introduced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science portal 'EurekaAlert!'.

In Korea, Delivery; In the US, Drive-Thru... Takeaway Consumption Has Become a Global Trend

In fact, an analysis of dining consumption behavior by country shows that the proportion of takeaway food consumption is very high. In the US, the proportion of takeaway food consumption, including drive-thru and takeout, accounts for 75% of the entire dining market. In the UK, the proportion of takeaway food consumption, including takeout and delivery, is about 45%. In Korea, when combining delivery (32%), takeout (18%), and drive-thru (2%), the proportion of takeaway food consumption exceeds 52%, surpassing the in-store dining proportion of 48%.

Meanwhile, a recent report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency indicates that the rate of consuming delivery and takeout food at least once a day is about 24% (as of 2023), with approximately 32% of young people in their 20s and 30s relying on delivery and takeout food for at least one meal a day.

[Frequently Asked Questions]

Q1. Why is takeout or delivery food particularly popular as a means of reward or comfort?

A1. The dual benefits are cited as the reason. Not only can one enjoy the menu they desire, but it also completely liberates them from the everyday housework of cooking and dishwashing. This advantage provides greater joy on pleasant days and significant comfort on tough days.

Q2. What health effects can frequent consumption of takeout or delivery food have?

A2. Generally, it has much higher calories, sugars, and salts than food prepared at home. Regular consumption of such food increases the risk of various diseases such as obesity and hypertension. Additionally, the habit of seeking stimulating foods to satisfy emotional hunger can lead to nutritional imbalances.

Q3. Is there a way to enjoy 'Takeaway' while taking care of health?

A3. It is advisable to include foods with a high proportion of salads or vegetables when choosing a menu. Also, when ordering, requesting 'less salty' or 'sauce on the side' can help control salt and sugar intake. Setting a limit on the amount eaten at one time and being careful not to overeat is also a way to maintain health.