To Survive, Fast Food
will have to Think Fresh.
According
to an article by Tom Laskawy on grist.org, the fast food industries better double
time it with getting healthier options on the menu, or they are in real
trouble. This article offers a blurb from another article in The New York Times
and the author there agrees that more Americans are ditching McDonald’s for healthier
and more animal friendly chain options like Chipotle, Maoz, Chop’t, Veggie
Grill, and more. These places are far better than “bad fast food” on all
levels. Less GMO’s, fewer additives, less fat, less sugar, all in all- they
sell actual food. Our “Millennial Generation” is starting to realize that the
proof is there, obesity does not lie and these fast food companies are
contributing to the epidemic.
Fast
Food companies, like McDonalds, are realizing what is happening and are trying
to come out with new “healthier” options, but as the author points out, if they
are seen coming out with “healthier” options, then they are admitting to people
that the original options are not at all healthy. They give people salads,
parfaits, and “healthier options” but in reality people do not know that these
options are just filled with high amounts of sugar instead of fat. They are not
truly healthier options by any means.
I agree
with the author when he points out that companies like Chipotle are growing
exponentially more popular and are providing much better options for people
than these fast food companies offer. Plus, they are offering it at a
reasonable price. Chipotle is just the start of it. Young people are more educated
on what they should be putting into their bodies, and in turn there are numerous
healthier options like Chipotle springing up all over the country to meet these
new needs. I do believe we are in for much change in the coming decades, as the
author points out, with the coming warming period that will hit Texas, beef
country will take a huge hit and food companies are going to have to adapt to
the huge changes this will bring. All in all, it just means that things are
starting to look down slightly for the fast food companies and any change, no
matter how slight, is good news.
I know
it will take a hell of a long time for a company to achieve the level of
success McDonalds has, so right now I am just waiting for the food industry to
start some initial changes right before our eyes. They will not be huge leaps
but the hope is that the fast food industry is in for some “slow motion changes”
and that they start incorporating actual “less-bad” ingredients into their menu
choices.
After reading this article, it really does put a perspective on the changing attitudes towards fast food. As a vegetarian, it is hard eating at fast food restaurants because most of them serve meat-based entrees. Organic foods are being purchased more now than in the past, showing that people are being conscious about what they are eating, instead of choosing the easy way out. Although the fast food industry may be changing, I think it is changing in a good way, and can potentially get our country to eat healthier and care more about what we are putting into our bodies.
ReplyDeleteI am sure we are going to see some sort large/small scale change in fast food in relations to a healthier menu. America is shifting already, I looked up top grossing fast-food chains in 2010, this is the latest data apparently on google. Mc'Donalds takes the lead with 32.4 Billion with 14,000 locations in the USA. Subway comes 2nd with grossing 10.6 billion with 24,885 locations in the USA. Subway has came up fast in the last 5-10 years and with the 5 dollar footlong (DONT SING THE SONG) I wouldn't be surprised if subway has closed that gap dramatically. Knowing that fast-food isnt going away i would like to see a healthier place on top rather than Mc'Donalds.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that younger people are becoming more aware of what real food is and looks like. I think it's a snowballing effect and the demand for better food, especially organic, will continue to increase. However, I still think there needs to be more education promoted educated about how food is produced and the methods behind it's production.
ReplyDeleteI for one hate all over processed, let's heat it and eat it fast food. Not only is it unhealthy, there is just no love and thought put into the creation. I avoid McDonalds because there are far better alternatives as you pointed out, the best part is that they just keep growing in number. A company trying to enter into the food industry doesnt stand the chance that mcdonalds had when it originated. That style of quick cooking is fading, and that is a good thing for America. Obesity is a problem among younger kids, especially those who are allowed to drink all the soda they want.
ReplyDeletePart of me hopes the Mcdonalds will change and the other part just wants them to shut down and only have healthy option places to eat. I for one am getting kind of sick of seeing one on every street corner and maybe one or two healthy places in an entire town!
ReplyDeleteIt's never good to hear that there is going to be climate change and it's going to seriously affect a region in the near future, but causing fast food to go out of business is good to hear. I would hope that gives the local restaurants a chance to open up and give the big companies a run for their money. I also really like the picture you posted. It looks really good.
ReplyDelete