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The Frequency of Fast Food
And our insatiable cravings for more
All food is fast food, isn’t it?
It sure seems that way, with the proliferation of restaurants and food establishments that cater to those who have to budget their time. And let’s not forget about food trucks. Heck — there’s even a whole TV industry built up around this recent phenomenon.
Just decades previously, there were two kinds of dining out establishments: the ones where you drove up — literally — and ordered your food and very quickly, it would be served to you, or you’d take it “to go,” end of story. In this category were the tried and true “fast food” classics: the McDonalds, the Burger Kings, the Dominos.
The other type of food establishment was a bit more upscale, ranging from casually family style to all-the-way chi-chi, requiring one to put on their finest just to get through the door.
This dichotomy of eating establishments was appreciated by all, as it allowed us to separate our food choices and excursions into binary elements. You either grabbed some fries and a burger and called it a day, a la “fast food,” or you put on your pearls, your hoop skirt and your most ingratiating smile and walked elegantly into the new, tony restaurant. No takeout at the latter; you were expected to clean your plate while there.
