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Here’s Some Definitive Proof That Takeout Orders Are Getting Way Healthier

Emily Laurence

December 6, 2018

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The thought of takeout food doesn't quite conjure images of the healthiest meals. Rather, the term has long been associated with the stuff of fried, greasy, highly processed plates, like General Tso's chicken or pizza (with a side of cheesy bread, natch). But it turns out that a growing number of people are actually likely to order options full of health benefits, like a bean burrito or a cauliflower rice bowl.

Need proof? Food-ordering and -delivery service Grubhub just released new data pointing to top 2018 food trends, and the biggie was none other than plant-based foods. "According to Grubhub's ordering data, bean burritos took the top spot as the food surging the most in popularity in 2018, rising 276 percent as compared to 2017," the release reads.

Another healthy food trend rising in takeout popularity is poke, with orders up over 200 percent. And it bears mentioning that red meat doesn't appear at all in the top 10 rising food trends.

"Bean burritos took the top spot as the food surging the most in popularity in 2018, rising 276 percent as compared to 2017." —Grubhub

And get this: The top trending breakfast order is a peanut butter acai bowl—winning over breakfast sandwiches. So clearly, people aren't using a lack of food in the fridge as an excuse to load up on bad-for-you meals—or at least doing so isn't a trending habit.

Grubhub, which serves 1,700 cities nationwide, compiled these stats by analyzing millions of orders placed by its more than 16 million users. It also factored in results from a survey by a third party that looked at the ordering habits of 1,927 takeout customers.

Basically take this as heartwarming (and heart-healthy) evidence that better-for-you takeout options and choices are clearly on the rise.

If you're craving some yummy friend rice, here's a heathy way to make it at home. Plus, here's a whole slew of 15-minute dinner recipes—which might actually be faster than takeout.