I know what you’re thinking – is he going to dump all over the fast-food industry this morning?  Well, in a nutshell – yes.

Starting with the first ‘White Castle’ back in 1921 (which is widely considered the first fast-food restaurant that opened in the United States, offering burgers for five cents apiece), Americans have been enamored with fast-food.  We’ve gone from a society where almost every meal was home-cooked to one where 1/3 of Americans are eating fast food on any given day, and most are eating fast-food anywhere from 1-3 times a week.[1]  Look at that line at your local ‘Chik-fil-A’ during the lunch or dinner rush or just watch how many people veer off after entering ‘Target’ to hit up the in-store ‘Starbucks’.  It’s eye-opening.

Is that food tasty?  I’ll admit that in many cases, it is.  Is it good for you?  Absolutely not.  Today’s fast-food offerings are loaded with processed oils, sugar, trans-fats, and other chemicals that lower their nutritional value and cause nothing but health problems over long term and continued consumption.  American obesity rates have skyrocketed, long-term health impacts like diabetes and cardiovascular disease make up the bulk of older Americans’ health issues, and according to the World Health Organization, the number of children and adolescents who are considered clinically obese worldwide has skyrocketed from just 11 million in 1975 to over 124 million in 2016, that’s not even counting the 213 million kids who are considered “overweight”.[2]   That’s just the younger generation.

So, as a society, why do we flock to these kinds of processed, sugar-laden, calorie-filled meals? 

They are cheap, easy, and plentiful.

With both parents working in most homes, time for meal planning and preparation is traded for traveling to after-school events, keeping the house in order, and just sheer exhaustion.  In under-served communities (such as communities of color, low-income neighborhoods, or other ethnic concentrations), access to healthy food and groceries is limited.  Simple ingredients, fruits, vegetables, and pantry staples are just not available, and if they are an option at the local convenience store (highly unlikely), they come with a price tag that is often much higher than a conventional grocery store or market.  What do these “food desert” communities rely on to make up the bulk of their family’s diets?  ‘McDonald’s’ “Happy Meals”.  ‘Wendy’s’ “Biggie Bags”.  ‘Taco Bell’ “Luxe Craving Boxes”.  ‘Little Caesar’s’ $5 “Hot and Ready” pizzas.  You get the idea. 

In addition, government subsidies artificially lower the price of ingredients utilized by fast-food companies[3].  In fact, it is estimated that without government price support and other benefits for farmers of ingredients heavily utilized by the fast-food industry, the price of a typical fast-food meal would nearly triple in cost.

So, what’s to be done? 

Education and accessibility is the key.  There are countless websites that instruct caregivers and families on ways to create healthy, affordable meals at home, utilizing seasonal ingredients to produce simple and delicious food that is healthier and cost effective, right in their own kitchens.  Access to healthy and affordable options in lower-served communities through farmers’ markets, community gardens, and even home cultivation should be offered and championed. People incorrectly assume that it costs more to make something at home than it does to buy it out at a fast-food restaurant and in many instances, that is simply not the case.  Pantry staples and seasonal, raw ingredients (not processed or completed meals) are often quite affordable.  It just takes time and know-how to prepare them.

I would argue that with today’s ever-rising fast-food prices, many of these “brand-name” meals can be duplicated and improved upon by a competent home cook.  For example, my own family prefers my version of the ever-popular “Chipotle” bowl, and I can produce an almost exact copy of everything they get at the store (right down to the cilantro rice) far cheaper than it costs for a family of four to purchase during a restaurant visit.  I also know every ingredient that goes into each component, and it’s not loaded with unpronounceable chemicals or additives.

Now, I’m not saying that folks can’t have a ‘Wendy’s’ “Double-Double” with bacon now and then, but if you’re pairing that with a round of Ozempic and a Lipitor for dessert, you may want to re-evaluate your life choices.

I don’t care how many toys come with the “Happy Meal”.  In the end, it’s probably not wise to continually stuff you and your family’s faces with this garbage, no matter how good it tastes (or how cheap it may seem).

Take some time and explore your healthy ingredient availability, grocery lists, and eating options.  You and your family physician will thank me for it at your next annual physical.   

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[1] https://thebarbecuelab.com/fast-food/, “Fast Food Statistics (Updated May 2025)”, referenced on 5/28/25.

[2] https://www.who.int/news/item/11-10-2017-tenfold-increase-in-childhood-and-adolescent-obesity-in-four-decades-new-study-by-imperial-college-london-and-who, “Tenfold Increase in Childhood Obesity in Four Decades: Study by Imperial College and WHO”, referenced 5/28/25.

[3] https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1639302, “Fast Food:  Oppression Through Poor Nutrition”, accessed 5/28/25.