According to Gram Research analysis, nearly 1 in 4 American teenagers use mobile food delivery apps during school hours, with 59% ordering fast food and 34% ordering sugary drinks. A 2025 national survey of 1,027 teens aged 13-17 found this emerging behavior represents a gap in school nutrition policies that have successfully improved school meals over the past 20 years. The findings suggest schools need updated policies to address how teens now access food digitally during the school day.
A new national survey of over 1,000 American teenagers reveals that food delivery apps are becoming popular during school hours, with nearly 25% of students using them to order meals while at school. The study found that most teens ordering through these apps choose fast food and sugary drinks rather than healthier options like vegetables and fruit. Researchers are concerned this trend could undermine years of progress in improving school nutrition and childhood health. The findings highlight a gap in school policies that haven’t caught up with how teens now access food.
Key Statistics
A 2025 national survey of 1,027 U.S. teenagers found that nearly 1 in 4 adolescents (approximately 25%) have used mobile food delivery services during school hours, according to research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Among teens using food delivery apps at school, 59% ordered fast food and 34% ordered sugar-sweetened beverages, while healthier options like vegetables and fruit were ordered far less frequently, according to the 2025 survey of 1,027 American adolescents.
In the Western United States, 34% of teens attended schools that allowed mobile food delivery during school hours—substantially higher than other U.S. regions—according to the 2025 national survey published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Nearly half of surveyed adolescents (47.2%) supported allowing mobile food delivery during school hours, though distraction from learning was a major concern regardless of their position, according to the 2025 study of 1,027 U.S. teens.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How often teenagers use food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats during school hours, what they order, and whether they think it should be allowed at school.
- Who participated: 1,027 American teenagers aged 13 to 17 years old, surveyed online in summer 2025. The group represented different regions, income levels, races, and genders across the United States.
- Key finding: Nearly 1 in 4 teens (about 25%) have used mobile food delivery apps during school hours. When they do order, 59% choose fast food and 34% order sugary drinks—foods schools have been working to limit.
- What it means for you: If you’re a parent or educator, this suggests teens have found a way around school lunch rules by ordering delivery. Schools may need new policies to address this digital food access. For teens, it’s worth thinking about whether delivery apps are helping or hurting your eating habits.
The Research Details
Researchers conducted a national online survey in July and August 2025 using AmeriSpeak Teen, a platform that reaches representative samples of American teenagers. They asked 1,027 teens aged 13-17 about their food delivery app habits, including how often they use them, what they order, and their opinions on whether apps should be allowed during school.
The survey included both multiple-choice questions about usage patterns and open-ended questions where teens explained their views. Researchers then compared answers across different groups—by age, gender, race, income level, and geographic region—to see if certain teens were more likely to use delivery apps than others.
They also analyzed the written responses to understand why some teens supported allowing delivery apps at school while others opposed it. This mixed approach (combining numbers with written explanations) helped paint a complete picture of how teenagers view and use food delivery during the school day.
This research approach matters because it captures a brand-new behavior that’s only become possible in the last few years. Traditional nutrition studies looked at school cafeterias and packed lunches, but they missed the digital food environment. By surveying teens directly about their actual app usage, researchers can see a gap that policies haven’t addressed yet. Understanding regional differences and which teens use these services most helps identify where the problem is biggest.
This study is a snapshot in time rather than a long-term experiment, so it shows what’s happening now but can’t prove that delivery apps directly cause health problems. The sample of 1,027 teens is reasonably large and nationally representative, which means the findings likely reflect the broader U.S. teen population. However, the study relies on teens’ self-reported behavior, which means some may not remember accurately or may underreport unhealthy choices. The survey was conducted in summer 2025, so patterns may differ during the school year.
What the Results Show
Nearly 1 in 4 adolescents (approximately 25%) reported using mobile food delivery services during school hours at least once. This is a significant finding because it shows that a substantial minority of teens have found a way to access food outside of school meal systems during the school day.
When teens used delivery apps, their choices were heavily skewed toward less healthy options. About 59% ordered fast food (like burgers, pizza, and fried chicken), and 34% ordered sugar-sweetened beverages (sodas and sweetened drinks). In contrast, healthier options were much less popular: grain bowls, fruit, non-deep-fried vegetables, and unsweetened beverages were ordered far less frequently.
Interestingly, nearly half of all teens (47%) said they supported allowing food delivery during school hours, even though many expressed concerns about distraction from learning. This suggests teens see convenience and choice as benefits, even if they recognize potential downsides.
Regional differences were notable: in the Western United States, 34% of teens attended schools that allowed mobile food delivery during school hours—significantly higher than other regions. However, Western teens also cited high costs as a barrier to using these services more often.
The study found that concerns about distraction from learning were widespread regardless of whether teens supported or opposed delivery apps at school. This suggests that even teens who like the convenience recognize it could interfere with education. Additionally, household income appeared to play a role—teens from lower-income families may face different barriers to using these services compared to wealthier peers. The regional variation in school policies suggests that some schools have already begun addressing this issue while others haven’t yet.
Over the past 20 years, federal and state school nutrition policies have successfully improved the quality of school meals and reduced childhood obesity rates. Schools removed sugary drinks from vending machines, improved cafeteria menus, and set nutritional standards. This new study suggests that progress may be undermined by a gap in policy: while schools regulated what’s sold in cafeterias, they didn’t anticipate that teens could order food delivery to school. The findings highlight how quickly food technology is evolving and how policies need to catch up.
This study is a one-time snapshot, not a long-term follow-up, so researchers can’t track whether delivery app use is increasing or decreasing over time. The survey relies on teens’ memory and honesty about their behavior, which may not be perfectly accurate. The study doesn’t include information about teens who don’t have smartphones or internet access, so it may overrepresent more affluent teens. Additionally, the research shows correlation (teens who use apps tend to order unhealthy food) but doesn’t prove causation (it doesn’t prove that delivery apps are causing poor eating habits, only that they’re associated with it).
The Bottom Line
Schools should consider updating nutrition policies to address mobile food delivery during school hours. This could include restricting delivery app access on school networks, setting delivery windows outside school hours, or partnering with apps to promote healthier menu options. Parents should talk with their teens about food choices and help them understand how delivery apps fit into their overall diet. Teens can use this as an opportunity to think critically about their eating habits and make intentional choices. Confidence level: Moderate—the evidence clearly shows the behavior exists and is associated with unhealthy choices, but more research is needed on the best policy solutions.
School administrators and policymakers should care most about this research, as it reveals a gap in current nutrition policies. Parents of teenagers should be aware that their kids may be using delivery apps at school. Teens themselves should understand how these apps might affect their health. Food delivery companies should consider how their services are used by minors during school hours. Public health officials tracking childhood obesity should monitor this trend. This research is less relevant to elementary school administrators or parents of very young children, as the behavior is concentrated in older teens.
Changes in eating habits from using delivery apps could happen relatively quickly—within weeks to months, regular unhealthy food choices could affect energy levels, weight, and academic performance. However, long-term health impacts (like obesity or chronic disease risk) develop over years. If schools implement policies to restrict delivery app access, benefits might be visible within a school year in terms of reduced usage. Teens who switch to healthier delivery options could see improvements in energy and focus within days to weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teenagers actually use food delivery apps during school?
Nearly 1 in 4 teens (about 25%) have used delivery apps during school hours, according to a 2025 survey of 1,027 American adolescents. The rate is even higher after school, with nearly half of teens using delivery apps then.
What kind of food are teens ordering through delivery apps at school?
Teens predominantly order fast food (59%) and sugary drinks (34%) through delivery apps at school. Healthier options like vegetables, fruit, grain bowls, and unsweetened beverages are ordered much less frequently, the 2025 survey found.
Should schools allow food delivery apps during school hours?
The research shows 47% of teens support it, but concerns about distraction from learning are widespread. Schools may want to consider updated policies addressing delivery app access, similar to how they’ve regulated school cafeterias and vending machines over the past 20 years.
Do different regions have different policies about delivery apps at school?
Yes. In the Western U.S., 34% of teens attended schools allowing delivery apps—significantly higher than other regions. However, Western teens also cited high costs as a barrier to using these services more frequently.
Why is this food delivery trend a problem for teen health?
Schools have spent 20 years improving meal nutrition and reducing childhood obesity. This survey suggests delivery apps create a gap in those policies by letting teens order unhealthy fast food and sugary drinks during school hours, potentially undermining that progress.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track food delivery app usage during school hours: Log each time you use a delivery app at school, what you ordered, and how you felt afterward (energy level, focus, mood). Aim to record for 2 weeks to see your actual patterns. This creates awareness without judgment.
- Set a personal rule: If you use delivery apps, challenge yourself to order one healthier item per week (like a grain bowl, salad, or unsweetened drink). Use the app’s search or filter features to find these options. Track whether you feel different on days you make this choice.
- Create a weekly check-in: Every Sunday, review how many times you used delivery apps during school that week and what you ordered. Compare weeks where you focused on healthier choices to weeks where you didn’t. Over a month, you’ll see patterns and can set realistic goals for the next month.
This research describes current patterns of food delivery app usage among U.S. teenagers and is not medical advice. The study is observational and shows association, not causation—it documents that teens using delivery apps tend to order unhealthy foods, but doesn’t prove the apps directly cause health problems. Parents, educators, and teens should consult with healthcare providers, school nutrition specialists, or registered dietitians for personalized guidance on healthy eating habits. School policies should be developed in consultation with nutrition experts and legal advisors. This summary is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or nutritional advice.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.
