Why is fast food so big when everyone says that they really don't eat it much?

I'm someone who eats fast food often. We eat it maybe once a week most times. Not just because we're in a hurry, but because we like it. And we're a large family, so we'll drop anywhere between $20 and $40 on a fast food dinner. Sure it's a lot more expensive than a store bought dinner, but it's easier, and usually tastes pretty good. I don't feel guilty about it, and I'm not afraid to admit that I eat it. But I'm not a health food junky anyways. I actually know a lot of people who eat fast food a lot. My in laws eat fast food 3 times a day, they don't have a stove. My kids are in a lot of activities, and all the other kids parents will buy fast food on those nights because they won't have time to cook. People at work usually grab fast food at lunch time, or sometimes the boss will buy for the whole store.

i have a friend who has fast food every time i see her, n of course she denies it! i see her often especially during football season. I really don't eat it often, maybe twice a month because i can't afford to eat it all the time. i buy groceries once a week for all week breakfast, lunch and dinner. i know my friend denies it b/c i tease her, like dang don't u cook, saying things like that.

I have noticed that a lot of people won't admit how much fast food they really eat. I eat fast food about twice a week. That is the truth. I don't care what other people think about me eating fast food. I don't know why anyone would. I don't think that it is that big of a deal.

I think that because the health authorities says that it is wrong to eat all those junk persons always feel guilty. So he/she does not want to acknowledge the wrong of it and so will continue to deceived themselves. Fast food are all big industry and they are really getting the support. I remember when McDonald pull out of Jamaica. They said that they were losing money because Jamaicans loves KFC. Wendy only has two location here. So you see they are really doing business. Instead of lying we all need to be ourselves remember we don't own anyone any obligation.

..well, i think fast food nowadays is not really only used for "emergencies" like when you are in hurry.. Fastfoods now are part of luxury.. Children usually chose fast foods to eat their favorite meal.. and we can't blame them because fastfoods serve tasty meals.. However, if we consider our health, it would really be nice to look for restaurants or just cook at home.. Atleast, we are sure that the nutrients present on the food we eat are there.. I don't think we have to justify fast foods to strangers because I think all countries now have fastfoods and those people from provinces would also logve to eat in fastfoods because they are famous..

I haven't visited in McDonalds for long time. Im trying to keep my weight in control so if i don't have time to go home for eatin ill go to Subway. It provides very healthy food if you choose your bread and vegetables right. Im not conna die in future for being fatty so i havent got any choises to make. So i don't recommend McDonald to everyone who dont have time or wanna have fast food, go to Subway!

Hello, rocketj1. People might not admit it, but there are a lot of people visiting Fast Food stores (such as Mc Donalds) weekly. Even though it is not everyday, if they go every week the establishment will already get a lot of money. There are people who say that they frequent it often. Others don't. And others say they don't, and they really do not eat in Fast Food stores so much. You have a nice point of view. If people were not frequenting those places, why would they be so big? By they, I mean the Fast Food stores and not the people. If the Fast Foods are so big and growing, then it is because there are a lot of consumers. Respectfully, Munhozmib.

I think that people aren't really paying attention to the amount of times they actually go out and grab a bite. Lunch time is especially bad, if those restaurants are nearby. I don't really think that the amount people spend on fast food gets calculated as part of the budget. It is more of a disappearing money type of thing. Its like buying coffee every morning, the actual cost disappears. The money is not actually calculated until someone sits down and does the math. I think the food guilt comes from two places, all those people who tell us we should eat healthy and our own body. Obviously, our own body is the most influential. Although, fast food is a major contributor, it is also seen as comfort food. Oftentimes, it is used to combat emotional stress. The convenience of fast food also plays a huge role. Our need to justify fast food to total strangers, is basically the need to explain the cultural difference. I think it is astonishing to some that we have twenty-four hour access to food seven days a week.

Some people really do eat fast food "when I'm in a hurry" or "only once in a while". But think about it, there's millions in the world. And if everyone does that every once in a while or when they're in a hurry, they would at least eat it at least once a year. And if one person has that reason once a year, isn't it more than enough for the fast food business to be thriving? There are millions of people.. and how many of them would have the that reason? So even if one person have the reason once a year, there are millions, how many would have the same reason the same day? The probability of it is quite high, wouldn't you think? Sure, there are plenty of kids as well, who loves fast food and their parents will bring them there to make them happy once a month or even once a week. I guess also, that people do not realise that they're always in a hurry. So basically, it may be just stating that they do get fast food everytime they are in a hurry that is almost every day!! LOL. As for the food guilt? I'm not sure why people would lie, but it could be because they would be seen as unhealthy..

Fast food doesn't have too much nutrition but like its name: "fast food". You know our society is in a fast speed so many of us need it. So it is so big.

Alot of people and alot of locations. Part of having a eating problem is not being totally honest about what they do eat. These places are kept very busy.

Does this not all stem from 1955 California, McDonald brothers, Ray Kroft and the Swanson companies Frozen TV Dinner? Is it not marketing that sells us on the idea that: our lives are just too busy to make meals for ourselves? Would it not just be better if there was some magical place that would have food ready in a matter of minutes with no fuss, no clean up etc. There is money in fast food because we have been sold on the American Dream. The American dream being get a good education, get a good job, get a house w/ a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, cars etc. To fund this lifestyle you pretty much need to have both parents working full time just to make ends meet. People don't get that they are about 2.5 pay cheques from being financially ruined. Do this in some way explain our apparent need to justify fast food to total strangers?

I think it is because if you admit you eat out a lot people are thinking you dont care about saving money, that or that are going to think your fat...because you will:)

Because there are a lot of spoiled people out there that think that 3 or 4 times a week isn't that much. It's so weird to see our country always eating food that's covered in grease and completely disgusting looking and bad for your body. To be honest I would much rather have a home-cooked meal any day over fast-food but that's just me. Fast-food restaurants were a terrible idea, why don't we just sell deli-sandwhiches like back in the day.

I eat any place that I can find something at least filling, I am not going to say Fast Food and good food in the same sentence.. When we are on the road and will not be home for awhile, we do eat at Burger King or McDonalds.. The food isn't that good but it is filling.. I admit it, I am not proud but I do admit it.. According to the news, since McDonalds came up with the dollar menu and the economy is so bad, their business is booming..

i like eating in fast food and i am not ashamed to say it :) haha! i especially LOVE MOS burger's Rice burgers. Long John Silvers is cool too and of course Mc Donald's fish fillet sandwich with fries :) But even if i love fast food i really try to limit my visits especially after seeing the Supersize documentary. I also lessened my visits because i think it is cheaper to get groceries rather than buy a whole meal in a fast food joint. Say i will spend about 8SGD (8.5 usd) on a meal but if i go to the grocery i can buy a few veggies, chicken and some other stuff for the same price.

I sometimes go to McD's for a breakfast sandwich on the way into work. My hubby and I do Taco Bell Once in a while if we are running late after work and do not want to cook. But think of how many people live in this country. If everyone did fast food just twice a week..that is still a big money maker for the companies.

I eat fast food once a week. On a Friday I do not cook so I give my family a choice of a fast food restaurant and they usually pick Burger King. I am not so keen so I usually get a Chinese but this is also fast food I suppose but as long as it is not everyday I do not see a problem with it. If we knew what was in the fresh and local food we buy we would worry about that also as everything these days is all wrong and not what it should be,

I eat Taco Bel Whenever I can. I am not afraid to admit it. I always feel kind of icky after burger king or McDonalds, but there are times when you have to eat those too. When traveling I eat almost exclusively fast food because I don't have time or cash to eat at the sitdown places. If you are smart about it, you can actually get a good meal at many of these places, but for some reason a Big Mac is just more apealing.

I think people aren't really telling the truth when saying they don't eat it much,and even if that were the truth and everyone,let's say eat it once in a week,with the number of people we have around,that is already some big number you know? or what do you think? As for me,I classify fast food under snacks,so I eat it whenever I want most especially when I am quite busy to get some normal food and don't feel any guilt eating it.