fastfood-friends

[fastfood-friends]

How Has Fast-Food Changed Over Time?

By: Gabriela Colmer

Fast-food has no doubt changed in the past 30 years. I remember watching a documentary in middle school called Super Size Me that followed this man’s journey with completing his social experiment which entailed him strictly staying on a McDonald’s diet for thirty days. To no surprise, his weight increases, his energy levels fall, and he experiences lots of other (sort of) terrifying side effects that result in him having an emergency doctor’s visit. Throughout the documentary, he also examines corporate giants’ increasing role in Americans and America’s obesity issue and how they have indoctrinated young people to alarming levels.

When watching that movie, I too noticed how bad the issue had gotten. Fast-food chains were increasing potion sizes and Americans were eating out more than ever. However, I can’t help but think how fast-food has changed since the early 2000s. For one there is such a variety in what type of fast-food is available now. It is not just that classic fried food meal. There are places like Chipotle and Cava that offer ethic fast-food. There’s Panera that offers feel good food for quick, like soups, salads, breads, and sandwiches. And then there are places like Playa Bowl in College Park that make smoothie bowls that are freshly made, and jam packed with vitamins and nutritious fruits and vegetables.

Obviously, not everyone chooses to get meals from fast-food places that are healthy, but the options are there, nonetheless. Not only that, but fast-food chains have increasingly tried to make their menus healthier and sustainable by adding options that aren’t just the typical greasy option. An article on the Thrillist for example suggest ordering wisely and being conscious when eating out at a fast-food restaurant. The author explains watching portion sizes and avoiding foods with bad fasts can go a long way. Take for example ordering a grilled chicken sandwich with a salad at Burger King instead of the ground-beef burger. It’s ultimately up to the consumer to decide if they will be more food conscious and seek out healthier fast-food restaurants and or options on the menu.

All in all, it’s astonishing how fast-food chains have maintained the business model of producing food in mass amounts while still maintaining a prioritization for “speed of service.” Many businesses still maintain this model but don’t follow McDonald’s example to the tee. Places like Lotsa and Chipotle still offer food quickly, but you have more control and say in what you order. Fast-food places have evolved to be more customizable. It will be interesting to see how fast-food will change thirty years from now. Will McDonald’s still be around? Will there still be a wide variety of places? Or will we become like robots and everything will be delivered to our doorsteps and everything be pre-chosen for us?

Sources

Williams, Laura. “The Healthiest Order at Every Major Fast-Food Chain.” Thrillist, 1 Mar. 2019, www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/healthiest-fast-food-orders.

[fastfood-friends]

What is Meal-Prepping?

By: Alyx Montanez

There have been several companies that have created “meal prep containers.” These boxes include several ingredients in order to ensure a nutritious meal. There are many companies that create a wide selection of boxes such as amazon. This can help people of all ages learn how to cook and how to create a nutritious meal. These companies have been advertised on television commercials as well as in television shows. Master Chef is one example of a show this item has been shown and used on. The company they used on this program was Home Chef. The company ships out boxes consisting of different ingredients and the recipe. On this website you have the opportunity to pick your meal then customize it. Once you complete your selection the box is prepared and shipped to you. A great detail about this company is that you can subscribe to get packages constantly, therefore you don’t have to worry about constantly placing a new order. In addition this company is very accommodating for different dietary restrictions. This is a great idea for those who want to learn how to create a balanced meal as well as cook it.

[fastfood-friends]

Finance Sources

Does Fast Food Really Save Customers Money?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/capitalone/2018/08/20/is-fast-food-really-cheaper-than-healthy-eating/?sh=5f96681c410a

https://nclnet.org/debunking_the_fast_food_is_cheaper_myth/

https://www.fastfoodmenuprices.com/mcdonalds-prices/

https://www.thesimpledollar.com/save-money/20-favorite-dirt-cheap-meals/

How Do Companies Make Money?

https://www.rd.com/article/real-way-mcdonalds-makes-money/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6pHgtSQ9Io

https://www.titlemax.com/discovery-center/money-finance/the-revenue-of-fast-food-chains-in-america/

https://k1025.com/mcjordan/

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/history-of-taco-bell-doritos-locos-tacos

Prices Across Fast Food Chains

https://www.qsrmagazine.com/content/americas-25-most-lucrative-fast-food-chains

https://www.fastfoodmenuprices.com/most-expensive-fast-food-items-america-today/#:~:text=Panera%20Bread%20has%20been%20known,chains%20in%20the%20United%20States. 

https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-burger-king-wendys-cheapest-and-most-expensive-burgers-compared-2019-10 

http://realmenuprices.com/mcdonalds-menu-prices/ 

https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/company/our-history.html 

https://cvhsolympian.com/opinions/2017/03/01/chipotles-guacamole-should-be-expensive/ 

https://www.chipotle.com/values 

https://nickdavies100.medium.com/here-are-the-real-reasons-mcdonalds-is-so-cheap-64fa3d8d133b#:~:text=Ingredients%20are%20bought%20in%20wholesale,order%20to%20meet%20high%20demands.&text=This%20is%20one%20of%20the,to%20keep%20their%20products%20cheap. 

[fastfood-friends]

What Does Fast Food Do To Your Body?

By: Abbey Murphy

Overconsumption of fast food can have many negative effects all over your body. A lot of fast food meals are loaded with carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium. Carbohydrates can cause big increases in blood sugar over time which puts you at risk for weight gain and other health conditions such as diabetes. Added sugar increases calories but adds no nutritional value. Sodium has negative implications for your heart and can be especially dangerous to those with high blood pressure, as heavy doses can raise it even more. Fast food can also have an impact on your skin, bones, and reproductive system. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and can be majorly attributed to the raise in fast food consumption. Although fast food is convenient and cheap, it is crucial to monitor how much fast food you are consuming to limit health problems all over your body. 

[fastfood-friends]

A Baby Boomer’s Tale of Fast-Food in America

By: Gabriela Colmer

John Colmer is a 70-year-old electrical engineer from Baltimore, Maryland. He has two daughters, Gaby and Johanna, who he describes as the two most important people in his life. Born in 1950 in Frostburg, Maryland, John comes from a family of six children. He was raised in a middle-class, Catholic home by two his parents John and Mary Rose Colmer who provided their children with a good life. John recounts his childhood as an adventurous one. His father had a career in the military, so his family moved all around the country and even lived in Canada and the Netherlands for some time. John’s mother, who is 102 years old today, describes him as a mischievous and curious child who was quiet, but loved playing sports and going on all-day adventures outside with his friends.

     Above is a picture of John Comer’s family in 1962. His parents, John and Rose, are in the top right, and John is in center of the photo with a white-button down on, holding his younger brother, David. 

A part of the baby boomer generation, I interviewed Colmer to get more insight on what American food culture was like during his childhood and get a first-hand account of the changes he started to notice once fast-food began to expand across the country.

Interviewer: So, John, do you remember the first time you went to a fast-food restaurant?

John Colmer: Yes, I first went to a fast-food restaurant when I was 12 years old. I remember my siblings and I had been begging my dad to bring us to the new joint that had opened down the street. After all the nagging I guess he finally broke down. So, one day after church I remember him pulling up to the brand-new McDonald's in our Comet station wagon.

Interviewer: Wow! Really a McDonald's? They had just started expanding McDonald's chains in the early 1960s. What year did you go to McDonald's and what was your experience like?

John Colmer: It was 1962 in Biloxi Mississippi. I remember it being so cheap that my dad handed us a couple of quarters and I was able to order French fries and a cheeseburger. They were the best French fries I had ever had in my life-they had the perfect amount of crunch, softness, and salt. It was a very good experience. I can remember pulling up to the McDonald's and being in awe of its two signature Golden arches. What’s more is that the service was super-fast, and the food was unlike any other. And of course, the price was amazingly cheap, and the place was hopping with families like ours.

Interviewer: Would your family go out to eat very often? Or was this a unique experience?

John Colmer: No, this was kind of a unique experience. My family was very traditional. We did not go out to eat a lot, only for special occasions.

Interviewer: It seems to me that before the 1950s, the average American family life was relaxed and traditional: the father had the typical 9 to 5 job, the mother took care of the house and children, kids would go to school, and families would enjoy their sit-down dinner around a dining table, together every evening. Did you, notice a change in this typical lifestyle during your childhood in the 60s?

John Colmer: Yes, I did notice a cultural change, but it was just beginning in the early 60’s. It was more of a gradual change and it varied across families. In my family, we were having sit-down dinners until I was out of the house, which was around 1968. When I’d come home to visit, they were having sit-down dinners. Regarding people’s lives though, people were becoming less family oriented. Kids in the 70s were starting to move away from families for better jobs and separate lives away from home. Transportation was improving, so people had more access to greater areas and places in the community. Thus, there was a larger demand for people to get food quickly since they were on the go.

Interviewer: Do think this cultural change helped fast-food become more popular and expand more quickly?

John Colmer: Yes, I believe this cultural change helped the fast-food industry. My family was very traditional, so it did not affect us much. It seemed to us to be just a fad that would pass since our parents valued home cooked meals more. However, the beginning of fast-food was the start and forerunner of the increased demand for speed and convenience that we now see in every facet of society today.

Interviewer: I think you’re. Today, Americans eat out a lot. According to a 2019 Business Insider article, Americans, on average, eat out 5.9 times a week. Clearly, the fast-food industry has taken off since when you were a child. How do you think fast food has evolved since that first time you went to McDonald’s in 1962?

John Colmer: Since my childhood it has absolutely exploded and now along with the speed of service and convenience there is an emphasis on healthy fast-food. Back in my day, we saw fast-food as pertaining to meals from places like Wendy’s or Arby’s, where the food is greasy, fried, and maybe not so good for you. In the past few decades, fast-food has become to entail any food that can be prepared quickly and easily to be sold as a quick meal or to be taken out. It doesn’t have to just be greasy, fried food. I’m astonished at the variety now. There are places like Chipotle and Cava where you can get ethnic fast-food, salad bars, Potbelly’s and other sandwich shops, and places like Panera.

Overall, I think there is a lot that can be said about America during this time and the cultural shift that was occurring. As Colmer expressed, this change in Americans’ lifestyle was impacting the food industry. There was a higher demand for food on the go. At the same time though this shift was a bit more gradual. Changes in families’ eating styles varied across families, and fast-food was undoubtedly more popular in younger generations since the youth are usually the ones changing with the times.

    Above is a current picture of John Colmer with his two daughters Gaby and Johanna.

Sources

Olito, Frank. “Here's What the Average Person Spends on Dining out in Every State.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 12 Aug. 2019, www.businessinsider.com/what-people-spend-on-dining-out-2019-8.

[fastfood-friends]

The Founder: Movie Review

By: Gabriela Colmer

Summary

The Founder tells the story of Ray Kroc, a Midwest entrepreneur turned fast-food chain tycoon, and his contribution in making McDonald’s into what it is today-a worldwide, multi-million dollar fast-food corporation. The movie, now streaming on Netflix, opens with Ray Kroc (played by Michael Keaton) waiting in his car, on a hot summer day, for his food to be delivered at a fast-food hamburger joint in Arlington Heights, Illinois circa 1954. The scene is all too familiar of the classic 1950s and ���60s setting. Teenage boys with perfect combed over hair and trousers accompanied by girls in circle skirts fill the parking lot enjoying hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes. Cars roll up and wait as servers in roller blades serve them food on metal trays with ceramic plates and glass cups. What’s more is that Ray expresses his dissatisfaction with the slow service and the general youthful, rebellious environment that the restaurant offers.

Frustrated with the unsuccess he’s had in selling his milkshake-mixer machine, he drives to a restaurant in San Bernardino, California after learning about the large amount of orders the owners have placed for his product. And of course, the restaurant is none other but McDonald’s! After witnessing the unbelievable success the restaurant is having, Ray is excited and wants to know more. What becomes evident is that the food is cheap, it comes out fast, the place is hopping, people are smiling, it’s family friendly, and you can take your food anywhere you want to eat it and then simply throw away the trash when you’re done. Later, owners and brothers Richard “Dick” and Maurice “Mac” McDonald give him a tour of the place and how the kitchen operates. 

Check out this clip below of the “kitchen tour” from the movie. 

Analysis

Overall, the movie is okay. It has a fantastic and recognizable cast featuring Laura Dern, Nick Offerman, and B.J. Novak just to name a few. However, the movie’s theme and plot are predictable. It falls into that tired out tale of the American dream and over hypes the success story of capitalism. However, when I was watching the movie, it brought three things to my attention: 1. It fit perfectly into the larger origin story of the fast-food industry in America, 2. It resembled a similar story of what my father painted for me when he first tried McDonald’s at the age of nine, and 3. It reminded me of a documentary called, “Super Size Me,” that aims at showing the health consequences of an all-McDonald’s diet.

McDonald’s is the poster child example of what a fast-food restaurant entails. The original owners’ goal was to deliver wonderful tasting food, quickly. As the clip shows, McDonald’s was the first fast-food chain to implement the use of the assembly-line system in their kitchens. The kitchen was intentionally laid out in a way that optimized food prep and assembly time. All in all, McDonald’s was revolutionary in changing how fast-food was delivered and perceived in American culture. It’s known that other chains like Taco Bell, Wendy’s, etc. modeled their kitchens and quick food output time after McDonald’s. That’s why I liked this movie and I enjoyed how it accurately depicted the wildfire that was McDonald’s.

How I’d like to close out, however is with this. The movie also made me realize how cutthroat American culture is. Americans have a go-go-go mentality and will do anything to reach financial and work-place success. Overtime, we have lost that prioritization of a traditional home-cooked, sit down meal with family and instead value meal styles that can further maximize the hours we have in a day. In the movie, Ray goes as far as backstabbing and excluding the original owners of McDonald’s from his agenda in turning the business into a national, multi-chain corporation. Ray started out as this awkward, naïve, driven guy, but soon became this power hungry, greedy corporate CEO. Not only is McDonald’s the perfect example of what fast-food culture is like in America, it also reveals the cultural aspect of the country-that fast-paced lifestyle.

Sources

Sims, David. “'The Founder' Is the Fast Food of Biopics.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 19 Jan. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/01/the-founder-mcdonalds-ray-kroc-review/513590/.

Wilson, Tracy V. “How Fast Food Works.” HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 27 Jan. 2020, science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/fast-food3.htm.

[fastfood-friends]

Recreating Fast Food Recipes & Making Them Healthy

By: Abbey Murphy and Alyx Montanez

There is a growing desire to recreate fast food dishes at home, whether it is through social media, websites, or cookbooks. This is especially true in the times of the pandemic, since there is a lot more time being spent at home. The concern is if these new creations can be healthier than the original dish. I’m sure a lot of people tilt their head a little when thinking of the words “fast food” and “healthy” in the same sentence. After doing more research, it actually is possible! There are certain ingredients that can be easily swapped out to still create a delicious dish with fewer calories. This can include cutting out some of the meats in the dish, baking instead of frying, and including less of ingredients such as fats, sodium, flour, and sugar. There are plenty of alternatives that taste just as delicious! In addition, thanks to the internet it is easier for people to attempt to make these meals at home because some websites actually provide you with a healthier recipe than the actual meal.

[fastfood-friends]

Fast Food Restaurants with “Healthier Options” - Are they truly more nutritious?

By: Alyx Montanez

Some fast food restaurants provide healthier options to their menu. Although it may be surprising, there are actually healthy options at some of these places. For instance, at Chick-Fil-A they offer grilled bite sized chicken pieces which are healthier than the original fried chicken nuggets. These fried nuggets can be 250 calories, where the grilled nuggets are 130 calories. In addition, there is less fat content and lower sodium content when compared. However, grilled chicken may not always be the healthy option because for the grilled chicken club with American cheese, although you are getting a healthier protein the overall sandwich has a lot of sodium. There are also recommendations to make the meal healthier, for instance instead of getting soda you can order water instead. There are food options at several fast food restaurants that are considered healthy however in reality they aren’t. For instance, something as simple and oatmeal with fruit from McDonalds may seem harmless however they don’t tell you the truth about how much sugar is in it. This bowl has 31 grams of sugar, which may not seem like a lot however the American Heart Association recommends having at most 36 grams of sugar per day for a male and 25 grams for females.

[fastfood-friends]

Why Fast Food?

By: Abbey Murphy

A big question remains: looking at these incredibly unhealthy options and their nutritional values, why do many Americans continue to eat at fast food restaurants? The answer is multi-faceted. The first reason many people continue to gravitate toward fast food chains comes in the name - they are fast. However, fast food wait times and service have increased in the past year. A study from QSR magazine shows the speeds of service at 10 fast food restaurants - Dunkin’, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr., KFC, Arby’s, Hardee’s, McDonald’s, and Chick-Fil-A. From the time of order to pickup, Dunkin’ had the fastest speed of service at 216.75 seconds. Chick-Fil-A had the slowest service time at 322.98 seconds, almost 2 whole minutes longer than Dunkin’. Although speed can be influenced by other factors, many that are out of the restaurants’ control, it is important for restaurants to figure out new strategies to lower wait times if they want their customers coming back. 

[fastfood-friends]

Unhealthy Fast Food Options - What is Their Nutritional Value?

By: Abbey Murphy and Alyx Montanez

Although fast food is an extremely broad category, some options are known to be more unhealthy than others. Options such as McDonald’s, Burger King, In-N-Out Burger, Taco Bell, KFC, and many more are often known as the most unhealthy. These fast food chains are a large contributor to America’s growing problem with obesity. Most items on these menus are filled with grease and often lack any nutritional value. At Burger King, a Triple Whopper Sandwich (with cheese) is 1,220 calories! In addition, some meals at McDonalds can be up to 1,150 calories each. And for those of you who are wondering -- no, this does not include fries!

[fastfood-friends]

Prices Across Fast Food Chains

By: Maddie Graves

I wanted to dive deeper into the pricing of fast food chains; how the prices can be so cheap, which are the cheapest and most expensive chains, what the range of prices is, and where you can get the most value. Most people are familiar with fast food pricing and know that everything is relatively cheap. But there are things that may surprise you.

Starting with your basic fast food restaurants, McDonald’s, Burger King, and Chick Fil A, a couple dollars can get you a satisfying meal. McDonalds has a McValue menu where the most expensive item is the 20 piece Chicken McNuggets for $5, and everything else is around $1. A grilled onion cheddar burger, BBQ ranch burger, and a cheeseburger are all $1. Burger King’s Value Menu is bigger and has more items available for $1. Out of 19 items, only one, the bacon double cheeseburger, is over $2. Just when you thought this couldn’t be topped, Wendy’s came along with the 4 for $4 deal. A burger or sandwich, chicken nuggets, a drink, and fries all only costs $4.

On the other hand, what I like to call the higher end of fast food, restaurants such as Chipotle, Panera, Cava, Shake Shack, and others, charge significantly higher prices. Bowls and burritos from Chipotle can cost between $8 and $14, and sandwiches and salads from Panera are around $10 or so. Why are these prices so different if they all are considered fast food, and what contributes to this vast price gap?

As I started to look into why Panera is so expensive compared to other fast food places, I couldn’t find much, which I found interesting. This made me wonder if there are no valid reasons for their higher prices. My best guess would be that they offer a larger amount of produce that is more expensive for them to obtain. On their own website, they pride themselves on “healthful craft food options” that provide “fresh ideas about eating and living well.” They claim that their menu consists of high-quality and authentic ingredients and there are 96 ingredients that they keep out of their food to ensure that customers eat clean. Eating clean means that they do not contain artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors from artificial sources. 

Moving on to Chipotle, the first expense I think of is guacamole. Everyone knows guac is extra, but why? Workers say the guacamole is always fresh, handmade, and the process of making the guacamole takes about 3 hours. As I checked out their website, Chipotle is transparent and places heavy emphasis on their fresh ingredients. Chipotle’s claim to fame is that they serve real food, because real is better. “Being real means making food fresh every day.” They don’t use artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, and no microwaves, freezers, or can openers. They also use local and organic produce, and do not add hormones, (“ever.”) This, to me, is the difference in prices and what sets these restaurants above the rest of the fast food chains. 

 Now thinking about McDonald’s and Burger King, I am wondering how they’re able to make their prices so cheap. Do they cut corners? Is their meat real meat? Here’s what I found. McDonald’s pays their workers minimum wage. In Massachusetts, workers at McDonald’s are paid on average under $10, whereas Panera workers are paid approximately $15. Also, it appears that McDonald’s does cut corners when it comes to the environment. Resources from poorer countries come at a cheaper purchase cost, which is a benefit for the company, but it hurts the locals. Resources are taken from the locals and they’re not able to use what they’re producing. 

McDonald’s also does not source their meat properly. Meat is mass produced, meaning cows are fed enough to be slaughtered in about 90-100 days. On cattle ranches, cows graze for about 8-12 months. This is unhealthy for the cows, but allows for the company to receive more meat quicker. 

From what I’ve found, higher prices indicate higher quality ingredients. There are plenty of very cheap options, and a dollar can get you a long way, or get you a juicy BBQ ranch burger to be specific. But if you’re hoping for something a little higher quality, you’ll have to cough up a few more dollars.

[fastfood-friends]

How Do Companies Make Money?

By Maddie Graves

How do multi-million and multi-billion dollar companies make their money? Especially when their products aren’t more than a few dollars each? Claire Nowak’s answer, along with many others, for the reasoning behind the McDonald’s empire is simple; real estate. Worldwide, McDonald’s has over 36,000 locations, but only about 5% are owned by McDonald’s themselves. The other 95% of  McDonald’s locations are franchised out and run by individuals or smaller companies with a contract from the company allowing them to operate that location. At all of these franchises, McDonald’s is not responsible for covering the costs of operation and collects rent from the franchisees. Rent, on average, adds up to over 10% of sales of that franchise, as well as a $45,000 franchise fee and a monthly service fee. In a nutshell, this means that in each of these franchises, McDonald’s collects revenue in many different ways at only a small cost to the company. 

In numbers, the Wall Street Survivor reported in 2014 that McDonald’s made $27.4 billion in revenue. $9.2 came from franchises and $18.2 came from company-owned locations. However, after all costs were calculated, McDonald’s kept 16% of their own revenue and 82% from the franchises. That’s $7.54 billion from franchises and $2.9 billion from their own locations. 

Although real estate and franchising is one of the main ways large fast food chains are able to become empires, there are also many smaller things that are done to make money despite the super low menu prices. My personal favorite way they make money is through collaborations. Just to name a few, Travis Scott and McDonald’s, Michael Jordan and McDonald’s, and Doritos and Taco Bell are matches made in heaven. Travis Scott, a famous rapper, took the world by Storm(i) in the midst of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic with his Travis Scott Meal at McDonald’s. The $6 meal includes a quarter pounder with cheese, onions, and lettuce, medium french fries with barbeque sauce, and a Sprite. The news of this collaboration took over social media and had both McDonald’s and Travis fans running to their closest McDonald’s. 

This meal was similar to the McJordan, a collaboration with the world famous basketball player, Michael Jordan. The cheeseburger on a sesame bun with pickles, onion, bacon, and barbeque sauce was only sold in limited  franchises, but was a hit. And last but not least, Taco Bell paired up with  Doritos to create their famous Doritos Locos Tacos, one of their most iconic menu items. The Nacho Cheese taco was released in 2012 and people were hooked. It led to the creation of 3 more Doritos taco flavors. The popularity of these collaborations brought customers to their stores, created  word of mouth and social media advertising, and earned the companies large amounts of revenue.

[fastfood-friends]

Does Fast Food Really Save Customers Money?

By: Maddie Graves

One of the first things that comes to mind in regard to fast food is cost. Fast food chains are known to be cheap and pride themselves on being an inexpensive alternative to home cooked meals. But is it really cheaper? And at what costs? I dove into the costs of cooking meals at home versus fast food chains. 

First, I wanted to compare money. An article in The Simple Dollar called 26 Cheap and Easy Meals is an accumulation of family favorite, super cheap recipes. Most of the recipes are around $10 or under for the whole family. Mind-blowing! Grilled chicken with sweet potato fries is $11 for 6 servings, 4 tuna melts costs $6.50 for 4 servings, $8.50 will get you 5 BLTs, and you can make a vegetable pot roast for 10 for $14. Ten dollars can go a very long way and there are plenty of dirt-cheap options that will still fill up your family and taste delicious.

How do meals from fast food chains stack up? Four Big Macs with medium fries and a drink included costs just about $20. Four 10 piece Chicken McNugget meals comes out to about $22. It’s very clear that you can get a lot more bang for your buck by eating at home rather than fast food meals. 

However, there are additional factors to consider. There are other reasons people choose to grab fast food aside from just thinking it’s cheaper. It might be a busy day and you don’t have time to cook a meal for the family. Maybe you’ve cooked every day of the week and you need a break. Or maybe you’re just not a good cook. In that case, the time and effort getting fast food instead of cooking saves you might outweigh the extra money. 

On the other hand, although it can be quicker to swing through the drive-thru on the way home, the extra time and effort of a home cooked meal might not matter to you. By eating at home, you can eat fresher and less processed foods. You can also prepare meals exactly how you want. 

It is hard to give a black and white answer as to which option is cheaper. There are many factors that can alter the outcome. And to make things more complex, there are other costs and benefits to each option, aside from the money. Although eating at home can often be cheaper in the long run, it comes at different costs. But at the end of the day, if you are strictly looking for the cheapest option, cooking at home takes the cake over fast food restaurants.