Why Does Gen Z Experience 'Menu Anxiety' at Restaurants?

[Hazel]

Ordering food triggers disproportionate stress for many young adults. Is this decision fatigue or social performance anxiety?

What's your go-to strategy when you can't decide what to order?

 

[Shree]

Ordering food can definitely trigger stress, especially among young adults, and it often stems from a mix of decision fatigue and social performance anxiety. Decision fatigue happens when you've made too many choices throughout the day and your brain just taps out, even a simple menu can feel overwhelming. Social anxiety comes in when you're worried about being judged for your choices (Is this too expensive? Too basic? Too unhealthy?).

When I can't decide what to order, my go-to strategy is to set a time limit and pick the first thing that sounds good enough, not perfect, just satisfying. Another trick is to rotate favorites from a personal shortlist or let a randomizer app choose for me. Taking the pressure off perfection really helps.