Hungry? There’s an App for That!

“Never order food in excess of your body weight.” ~ Erma Bombeck

Gosh, I’m hungry. Hey, I’m all for working hard, but there’s a limit. Ever hear of an acronym called “H.A.L.T.”? Don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Well, I’m hungry! So this month, I’m taking a little dinner break.

Picture this: You’re knee-deep in grout and dust from working on a bathroom rehab. You’ve been at it all day, and now you’re rushing to pick up your Aunt Mavis at the airport. The only thing she’s had to eat in eight hours is one of those tiny bags of Real Georgia Peanuts they give you on the plane. And you sure don’t have the time or energy to cook. What to do?

Well, in the old days, you’d pick up Aunt Mavis, drive home through rush-hour traffic, thumb through a thick printed phone book for a pizza place that delivers, call in your order, and a pizza guy would magically appear at your door – in about 45 minutes. By now, it would be several hours since poor Aunt Mavis enjoyed her peanut “lunch,” and she might be too weak to eat.

Thank goodness for 21^st century technology! While Aunt Mavis is waiting for her luggage, you whip out your iPhone, log into your favorite restaurant app, and in just a few clicks, you’ve ordered dinner. You pick it up on the way home, serve it immediately, and spend the rest of the evening catching up on Uncle Eddie’s medical conditions.

If mobile technology is all about making life easier, it doesn’t get much easier than ordering food online from your favorite quick-serve diner. I order food on my iPhone pretty regularly, and not just for my family, either. Got a hard-working crew that needs a breather? Have pizza delivered. Trying to lure REIA members to a business meeting? Try Chinese food. You get the idea.

I have a few favorites for ordering online, including Chipotle, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Moe’s, and Jimmy John’s. These places have free downloads, and allow you to register for free membership. Once you’re a member, you can input your address, your payment information, and your favorite menu items. Then you can order with just a couple clicks. Very, very handy. These apps will even find the nearest location when you’re in unfamiliar territory. And better yet, members get great coupons and even the occasional freebie. With my little stable of restaurant apps, I’m never without a place to eat, and I’m rarely out of range of a place that delivers.

This article wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Zifty, which we have in Atlanta. This company takes food delivery to new heights. Through Zifty, you can order from a great selection of high-end restaurants, and if you ask for it, the driver will bring you a magazine and some paper towels, too. Sweet!

Ordering food on a mobile device isn’t just convenient, though. It’s good business, too. Why? Because your time is worth money: If you’re cooking, you’re not marketing.

Next month, we’ll get back to business. Tonight, though, I’ve got two dozen wings with my name on it, and they’ll be here in fifteen minutes. Want to join me? Come on over, and bring your appetite.