Fast food ain’t so fast anymore.
If you’re like me, you don’t eat fast food very often. You understand how important it is to eat healthy foods and you try to stick to a nutritious diet. But let’s face it, every once in a while – like when you’ve had a very busy day and just don’t have time to cook a meal – you give in to the urge. When eaten in moderation, fast food probably isn’t going to kill you.
But at the rate things are going, they may have to start calling it “food” instead of “fast food.” A recent report conducted by Insula Research for QSR Magazine, a fast-food industry trade publication, reveals that the amount of time customers wait in line at the drive-through window at fast food joints has increased by an average of 8.19 seconds over the past year.
The study included these restaurants: Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Krystal, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Taco John’s and Wendy’s. Wendy’s was the only chain to improve on its average service time over last year, while Chick-fil-A and Burger King were rated the most and least accurate, respectively, when it came to filling orders properly.
The slowdown is being attributed to the increased complexity of fast food restaurant menu items. For example, the burritos and bowls in Taco Bell’s new Cantina Bell menu have up to 10 ingredients.
Of course, those of us who know how important it is to store food for an emergency aren’t going to be thinking about fast food. As you may know, I’ve developed a new line of emergency survival food called Food4Patriots (www.Food4Patriots.com). We use a “low heat dehydration” technique for our food so that the flavor and nutrition stays locked in, yet it lasts every bit as long as freeze-drying without costing an arm and a leg.
Packaging is also very important when shopping for off-the-shelf emergency food. It’s vital to keep air and moisture out, and to have a durable package that can take a few bumps over the years without bursting. Look for sealed Mylar pouches with less than 2 percent oxygen content rather than cans or buckets.
Whether you build your own food stockpile or purchase a ready made solution, the bottom-line is that just believing that storing food and water for a crisis is a good idea isn’t enough – you actually have to do it. And when you do, make sure that it’s stored in a manner that will ensure its value and longevity. Then and only then can you rest easy, knowing that you’ve done what you could to be prepared for whatever comes our way.
Does it seem to you that fast food service has slowed down? And what about accuracy? Do you often get the wrong food when you go through a drive-through? Let me know about one of your most interesting fast food experiences.
Making the numbers never made a good salesman anymore than a smooth sea ever made a good sailor. If you put quotas in place people will find a way to beat the system just to survive; then animosity creeps in as the quotas get harder and harder to meet. What we are seeking at the drive up window is what we would expect, fast and furious food. In any particular drive-through, the employees situation is that they are under the gun to produce eatable food right now faster and faster every time. Their paycheck and maybe their school tuition depends on it. The problem is, we don’t seem to understand that we are in more of a rush than are they. Treat people like you want to be treated and talk to them the way you would expect to be talked to, laugh a little with them; and show some understanding that you are just as rushed as they are; and see how different the outcome is. You might even make a friend at that window, they may give you some extra ketchup with a smile, or at the least you might both have a better day. No one said life was going to be easy; not for you or for them, especially in the fast food check out lane. If you want a good meal, get to know the owner at your local sit-down restaurant. Ask what he or she recommends. Sit down and wait to be served a meal that maybe you weren’t able to or didn’t have the time to prepare for yourself. 70 MPH food tastes like 70 MPH food, why bother to eat it except you gotta have it now, Instead, drive to a destination and take a break, enjoy a moment with people who care about serving you the best they’ve got. Even the fastest of the fast food restaurants will treat you well, when you make time to engage them in what they like doing the most, serving you the best they’ve got, so long as you are willing to wait just a little bit longer and if you are kind to them.
I try to never eat fast food but when I do I usually get a fish sandwich because its more likely to have a little bit of fish in the blob! That being said, I, too, have prepared foods and sealed them in foil and put on my engine a while before stopping to eat. Really it is not a bad way to go! I never trust food that is of the fast food variety!
I can give you a couple of more reasons, families with children as the kids cannot make up their minds, always changing and the parents do not care about other people in line. I sometimes stop at fast food stores, but I always go in and order and bring my food to my vehicle. The lines are getting longer as people are too lazy to go inside, especially at Starbucks, with the longest lines I have ever seen. Convenience always has a price.
Convenience Has a price. None worse then easy pass for tolls. Now your driving habits are tracked for convenience, GPS in phone tracking location f
or your convenience, or purchases being traded on personal phone and computers tolerated for Mr. Bates’ marketing convenience.
Get a grip! Just what makes you think your purchases are so important? What do you imagine you are giving up to the “evil Blue Meanies”?
I once got a blood soaked bandaid in my french fries at McDonald’s dry thru. I went in and the manager told me I could have removed it myself. She thought I was joking. I was so mad I grabbed a fry and shoved it in her face and told her to eat it then to prove me wrong. She refused and asked the police officer behind me to do something. He told her to eat the fry and stand behind her words and product. She gave me my money back and she lost all the customers who witnessed what happened. She didn’t care one lick about the food she gave out. Just that it was fast.
The Best way to fight this B.S. is to not buy thier shit. I think it all started with the Fuck you generation. That generation is haveing more kids, with the idea that they are something special? I don’t think so ! We all have to clamp down on what the problem is and fix the problem. Talking all this shit only makes the idiots better at Fucking us all. Uneducated people haveing children, and going on the welfare system is not right, but people do it all the time. It’s the new way of Life. The same scam artists learn to work the system. So, If one of these people is working at Mcdonalds, or any other food chain, they know how to get around the working system. They will just shit on you and take the time they want, or give you a meatless hamburger or a cold hot dog. To much profit and less time. Quality takes time to make. Rush quality and you have sub-quality. The only way to make a point is not to buy from them. Stay home and make yourself a delicious nutricious meal. Say Fuck you to the Fast Food Industry. It’s better for you anyway.
My parents taught me that any use of profanity shows a lack of education, integrity, and reflects badly upon my parents. It is unfortunate that this site does not allow the flagging of vile and unacceptable profanity posts
Exactly. Right on target. Thanks !
How many more times are you going to say the same thing?
As many times as it takes to get the message across.
I worked at the 1st Wendy’s that opened in Georgia in the 70’s. It was the only drive thru most of us had ever seen and we thought it was an amazing concept. We were trained that the goal of every order, whether drive thru or inside, was to provide food win 45 seconds of the customer placing the order. 45 seconds for hot, freshly prepared, to order, food. But (and I think this is key) we had a menu with 5 items – burgers, fries, chili, frostys and soft drinks. We were told that Wendy’s goal was to do just a few things well and not try to be all things to all people. I learned a lot working there – how to provide great customer service, the reward for honest hard work, and the importance of teamwork to meet that 45 second goal. . It was a great experience and I regret that Wendy’s lost their focus.
I have even filed complaints like these with their corporate offices. Their responses have been “sorry, i,’all file your complaint, I will have someone call you back (they never do), to hanging up on me! At Sonic drive in I ordered a Chicago dog and got a naked Weiner on a dry bun, another try I again ordered a Chicago dog, this time it looked great and had all the fixings but the Weiner was frozen solid. I complained to man both times,
I went to McDonalds and they gave me a burger with no meat. When I told them about it they just laughed.
I know why these so called fast food restaurants are slowing down – – – they hire only the handicapped. No, not the mental or physical disabled; but, people that can’t count change back properly, people that can’t follow simple instructions like, “may I please have extra ketchup, or put a straw in the bag for you, or even get your order right.
Case in point; there is a McDonalds close to my home. Once in a blue moon, I will stop in early the morning to get some coffee and something to eat before starting my long day. I ask for a large coffee, sugar on the side, and a deluxe breakfast. A deluxe breakfast is two pancakes, English muffin, egg, two slices of bacon, sausage patty, and hash browns. The condiments that come with this order is 2-3 packs of sugar for the coffee, package of jelly for the English muffin, butter and syrup for the pancakes, salt and pepper packets for taste, and stir stick, for the coffee, fork and knife for the pancakes. The amount comes to $6.67. I give the attendant $20.07. You would think I would get back $13.40. I guess I really stump the lady with the seven cents I gave her with the twenty dollar bill. She couldn’t figure out that I should get a quarter, dime and a nickel back. She had to look it up on the cash register. With the money wadded up in her hand she handed me my change. That is when I noticed that I was missing the dime. After bring it to her attention I got the correct change. Now the wait for my meal to be brought to me.
My breakfast finally arrives. I asked about the various items that I require for a great meal and I am told it is all in the bag. So off to work I go.
I arrive to work. I sit down at my desk and pull out my breakfast. What do I get: Coffee, no sugar or stir stick. Pancakes, no butter or syrup or fork and knife. The hash browns were sliding around in the bag; the English muffin burnt black (just on the inside of the muffin), the egg was ice cold, and there were no paper napkins. Well, I was at work when I discovered mess. I was so angry that I gathered everything together, jumped back into the car and raced down to that McDonalds.
I marched inside and asked for the manager. I showed the poor lady my receipt and handed her my breakfast bag. The manager looked at the receipt and peeked into the bag. She said that she would fix it for me. She was going to let it go at that. I looked at her and asked her to pull the breakfast out so that she will know what the true problem is: Coffee, no sugar or stir stick. Pancakes, no butter or syrup or fork and knife. The hash browns were sliding around in the bag; the English muffin burnt black (just on the inside), an ice cold egg. (it was made about a half an hour before I arrived), and no napkins. I asked her how does McDonalds train their people? How can someone enjoy a meal when there is such disregard to customer service? Then I asked her how would she like it if she order a meal, received this type of service, only to discover this screw up when she was at work? I told her that this stunt cost me an hour and a half of my morning. I told her to do me a favor and train these people. There is no excuse for poor customer service.
Needless to say, on the rare occasions that I go this McDonalds, they never ever get my order right. I always remain at the drive-in window before accepting my meal in full, inspecting every last item to make sure they got it right. I can tell that the attendant is annoyed with me for holding up the drive thru line. But, when I point out their error of missing items and ask for the missing item; the server just shrug their shoulders, roll their eyes and hand the missing item over to me.
Now this is just on restaurant. What if I told you that this happens at a lot of restaurants in my area? It is no wonder that I eat at home a lot. The prices are so high, the service so poor what can a man do now-a-days?
Very very very very very very very well written!
Coming from retail, self employment, constantly dealing WITH OTHERS, of course the public ,….. backround, Thiis shift away from customer service kicked into high gear about 10 years ago. They ALL just figure you will patronize their business ……………… so sad.
Another aspect is how these people are treated as weak workers. Happiness in the work place is becoming non existant.
At my Mickey D’s they have the double check program, and you would think that they would catch any failures, but the truth is that the second guy figures that since the first guy checked it, it has to be right, and number one dude figures any flubs will be caught by number two!
And another thing: When you order an ice cream cone with your food, why do they always bring that first, leaving you holding the cone while you’re struggling to pay for lunch? It should be that last thing handed to you, but nobody trains young minds…Ahhhh!
Our parents taught us that any use of profanity shows a lack of education, integrity, and reflects badly upon our parents. It is unfortunate that this site does not allow the flagging of vile and unacceptable profanity posts
I guess you only reply if somebody cusses, it almost sounds that you are pushing your morality on us. If you do not like the language I do not see anybody saying you have to subscribe, get a life.
My husband and I went to KFC for chicken and the place was out of chicken so we went for A & W root beer and they were out of root beer.
ha!
I want you to know we had an A&W Rootbeer DRive Inn for 24 years.We were there most of the time. We had good food and good service. WE made a very good income
Some years back I would travel a short distance on my Harley to a little biker hangout in a nearby city. This city is near a popular river recreational area. About the time I arrived at the Jack in the Box drive through so did everyone coming off the river. I would order a hamburger and then take it to the biker bar and order a drink there. When I arrived at the pickup window they handed me an extra-large drink which I did not order. When I asked why they said, “so far, you’re the only one who hasn’t sworn at us”.
The wait time has increased by 8.19 seconds! My God what has this country come to!? Do we have to start cooking for ourselves now? When a red blood American wants to stuff his/her face with artery clogging greezy food that’s a right we shouldn’t have to wait an extra second for. This isn’t what the founding fathers had in mind!
Love your sarcasm…right on!
We went to a mcdonalds for a coffee and my wife was in there 15 minutes when I went to check her out and she was still 3rd back .when she got to the front they asked her to wait 3more minutes so they could make more.Edmonton Alberta.
Recently went to McDonalds on a long trip home. Reminded me why I don’t eat at McDonalds. Went in, while getting gas for my car. Waited 13 minutes. Grabbed bag and left. Opened on the way and found out I didn’t have what I ordered. Am sorry I didn’t take enough to eat on the trip. Will remember next time.
I don’t eat fast food but I’m glad they are slowing down and not working the slaves to death. If you want fast food, go home and make it yourself!
I so agree with you Linda. Growing up, my family spent most of our time cooking in the kitchen. My mother always told me that cooking is the best way to show your love. My dad always told us kids that learning how to cook and learning our herbs and spices are survival tachniques. So, when I first married my wife who is Mexican, her mom had the hardest time allowing me to cook. But, she grew to accept the fact that I love to cook, especially for her because she’s always cooking for others and I just want to show her how much I love her and cook for her.
Hi Jeff; I like everything you wrote, especially the part about cooking for your Mother-in-Law! Cooking is a wonderful way to show family, and friends you care. It is important to know how to cook! I was laid off from my job three years ago. I did off jobs while looking for work, my food budget went from almost unlimited to around $400.00 to $600.00 a month. That is nothing for three people, and I did not take assistance. Knowing how to cook since childhood, I was able to shop and provide good healthy meals two times a day, breakfast included fresh fruit and… That’s why I didn’t include it. Lunch and dinner were very good and tastey, and we even had I’ve cream in the freezer. I was able with my knowledge to shop, sometimes at three different stores to take advantage of sales, and take things like Chicken and cheaper cuts of beef, and turn them into masterpieces with salad, veggies from the farmers market, and a healthy batch of Quinoa and rice purchased in bulk. As you said Jeff, the importance of cooking go much further than serving guests, it enabled me to still show my love by cooking cheaper food, and having my family enjoy it as if nothing had changed. I never wanted my son to know that we were having a tough time, and wanted my wife to feel as if we were not having that struggle. I’m employed once again, and I’m still using some of the things I learned to save money. That extra saving has gone into a jar, and will probably fund our next vacation. Thank you Jeff for starting this topic with your post. It truly is important these days with the criminal pricing they are nailing us with at the grocery stores, and blaming the California Drougt for all of the high prices we are being forced to pay. I live in California, and while this drought is extremely bad, it in no way is responsible for all this price gouging. Here in California we never have produce stocked in our stores from our own State, everything we purchase is grown in Mexico! I’m not sure where our States produce goes, but I have my ideas. I think out produce is used to stock stores in other States at ridiculous prices. I’d like to know the whole story behind this produce SCAM that persists in our country! I’m sorry I can’t shed more light on this topic. All I know is “FOOD” should be an in depth topic on this site with as much participation from all of us as possible. Something’s shitty is going on, and I have a sinking feeling it’s so complex we may never get to the bottom of this SCAM! This trade agreement with Mexico is sketchy at best.
Thank you for your time in reading this, and much appreciation Jeff for your post!
Nic
Nic, didn’t you know that Mexico sends us their produce and we send them ours? LOL
Mo, our produce in California is earmarked for the rest of the country and the rest of the world. We never see any of it because California produce brings a pretty penny of profit compared to the give away prices that would get in their own state.
This matter has been addressed by the governor and other politicians in our state. But it all comes down to who will pay the most for California produce.
You hit the nail right on the head. I am in Florida and a lot of out produce comes from CA., and we also get a lot from Mexico, Central America, and South America. I think you will notice that during our winter peaches, plums, and nectarine’s are mostly from Chile.
I too lived in Cali all my life…I’m a grandparent now. My grandkids still live their with my son. I understand the importance of good food but I also see my son’s family on tight timeframes with school, after school spirts, s
SCOUTS, my son’s CEO of his own company, and his wife (mother of the kids) also works at the company. When we visit during the week it’s crazy trying to get everyone together. I so wish they all had more time to share together because when they do, my son cooks wonderful meals…but that isn’t vrry often…timr constraints. Cali is a fast paced state now bursting at the seams with actually way too many people. When I was a child in the 50’s, there were green rolling hills and two way highways with “blue” skiies every day. Now there are hills chocked full of homes crammed in on evrry inch and so many people flooding the highways into slow moving parking lots and blue skiies have been replaced with gray haze. California hasn’t changed for the goid but for the greedy “Contractors” WHO have overdeveloped it with housing and increased the population tenfold. Cali was my birthplace and I watched all this hapoen wit tears in my eyes and it started with Gov Brown Sr. and when Brown Jr. came along he ascerbated this takeover and made the mess Cali experiences every day. Now with Brown Jr back in the picture, Cali is suffering even more…poor law making and hidden agendas…nothing good for my birthplace. I so understand what you are saying about food and how things have changed. Wish it was like Cali used to be…
Fast food restaurants are about the only jobs left here in the US. although most are filled by Mexican Americans. Everyone else here is on the dole.
And for those of you who SPECIAL order your food of order for more than 4, TAKE your LAZY butts inside so the rest of us can get thru the DRIVE-THRU faster and not wait on your inconsiderate souls (being polite, not the word I wanted to use!)!!!
I didn’t realize that asking for no pickles would hold you up much less constitute a special order.
I guess your radio is still broken and the AC still doesn’t work. :-(
There’s a documentary on Netflix called Food, Inc. After watching it, I’ve never looked at fast food the same ever again. I get grossed out just looking at a McDonald’s.
I didn’t see that Netflix video but when my son was a teen he worked at one of the first fast food places which I frequented until he told me what went on there. Some people just can’t keep their hands away from their noses and mouths and don’t wash hands or wear gloves when they are required. They are supposed to be sanitary, but they are not many times. And if a customer was rude or bitchy ir demanding, well you don’t want to know what was put in their food…YUCK.
That was in the early 80s but I have seen the same thing happen in some of today’s fast food places. Guess it’s a good thing. Makes me not want to go there very often. That’s a very SMART thing!
Hey Frank,
This is just a question, have you heard anymore about the coloney that was going to build themselves a walled and fortified village up in Northern Idaho?
Earl
The Citadel? http://www.patriotheadquarters.com/the-real-land-of-the-free/
I haven’t. Updates seem to be available, currently, to members.
Im still canning food the way my grandmother and mother did . Grown in the garden the way my dad taught me.
I am new to all of this and have never canned anything before. Do you have any tips?
http://www.freshpreserving.com/getting-started.aspx The Ball canning guide is well respected in the canning community. They tend to run conservative on safety and have easy explanations.
Get the hard cover Ball Canning Book. It has more recipes and better photographs and tips for canning.
In addition to the Ball canning book you can go online and look up instructions for canning specific items such as green beans or tomatoes. There are classes on canning available in some areas but they are not widespread. Another source would be your state’s Cooperative Extension Service.
Do you have food kits that can last a long time for my dogs and cats similar to the ones for people….how about for rabbits ..horses goats cows etc.etc…I am very concerned about my cats and dogs…I would like to purchase those kind of food survival kits for my pets as well Thanks.
Once the government confiscates your supply, you just might need them to survive on!
You can make your own dog biscuits plus you can add rice, peas, and a few other items. You can purchase bags of dry food, but, rotate them so that they don’t go stale or bad.
Cats and dogs they require meat, if you only have vegetables, rice and flour; you will either have to train your animals to eat these items or get their own. As for the other animals, they can eat the surrounding vegetation.
I can’t believe I’m reading an article whose primarily point seems to be to complain that fast food took an average of 8 SECONDS longer this year than before.
I hope we’re not REALLY that impatient
It will certainly take longer when they ask you to pull ahead. The last time I did that I waited 10 minutes. Now I refuse to do so, I respond with a pleasant no, you have my money and I will gladly move when I have my correct order. Mickey D replied with ” there are people waiting for their order behind you. I responded with “and that’s where they’re staying” first come first serve.
Rude, Jeff. Would you feel different if you were in the car behind someone who did that?
I had a similar experience at a KFC. I pulled ahead and waited about 10 minutes before going inside to find out what was going on. They just forgot about me. These are the same people that want to get paid $15 an hour.
I have purchased a few things for survival, my family thinks I an crazy. My question is, wont the come and confiscate my supplies if the president calls a state of emergency?
They cannot confiscate what they do not know about so do not tell anyone outside immediate family what you are doing and if you do not fully trust the immediate family put aside some things they do not know about.
On the subject of fast food: We when travelling try to take along: walnuts, almonds, dates, apples and banannas along with filtered water and when we forget and do eat fast food it does take a toll on the physical system though we understand that when we begin to partake.
On storing up we have started and are making items for canning though there are always questions that pop up on storage and preservation for items such as flour and dry storage of items such as eggs. So then would be interested on information in the latter category.
Ciao, Glenna or Multiplicity Hall
I have eaten in France Italy England . Have noted in So Calif they serve a different Everything comes out like a taco. i FOUND out the reason , the pictures are not Bi lingual That is a direct quote from a XXXXXXX
How can we preserve flour and rice?
glass mason jars would be the best i can come up with just seal the lids w hot water an it should keep for a long period of time i am no expert but that would be my guess
Actually, for rice and flour, vacuum packing or oven canning (not good for sugar) are all you need. You just want to keep it sealed, dry, and out of contact with air. Water bath canning would introduce water into your cans which is detrimental to rice, flour and sugar and would not be recommended.
I’ve seen folks oven can rice and flour. I’ve not done it, myself, but you could look it up.
Charlene, Frank is correct. You can store grains in a mason jar like rice, flour, oats and so on. I would suggest getting a half gallon mason jar, fill it with your grain. Place it in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then carefully remove the jar from the oven, (The jar will be very hot), put the jar on a towel on the counter top and screw on the lid, (Again be careful because the jar will still be hot.) Then let the jar cool naturally. As the jar cools the lid will pop indicate that there is a seal. You now have a seal grain that will last years.
You can do sugar in a mason jar the same way as the grains. However, sugar does have a shelf life to it. You see, sugar is made up of molecules that form water and water is bad for sugar because sugar will melt/ dissolve into a mess that you can not use properly. what I usually do is put sugar in a mason jar do the oven technique as described as above but before I slap on the lid, I put in 2 saltine crackers to act as an absorbent of moisture. This will allow the sugar to last about 2 years in a mason jar.
When the grain, in the mason jar, is in the oven, the moisture is evaporated from the grain. As it evaporates it rises out of the jar because it is lighter than the outside air. When you put the lid on the jar all the air is forced out due to the heat creating a vacuum. Thus, you will hear the popping sound of the lid on your mason jar indicating that you have a seal. I hope this helps. Good Luck.
It is a good idea as well, after packing dry goods into sealed containers, to expose them to freezing temperatures for a few days. This is easily done in colder climates by leaving them outdoors for a time in the winter. That should kill the eggs of any nasty critters that may have found their way into your food supply, and prevent them from hatching. You don’t want to later find the grain you carefully stored full of pantry moths.
How can I know that the packaged food supply is going to taste good to eat, without eating some of every food?
When your hungry good is not important as survival.
you can’t taste every one and keep sealed at the same time. I recall an account of the people boiling leather
to get something and chewing leather. Put it away and hope you never have to relay on it, but you will have it. Shalom Betty
Joanne, I would recommend that you try eating some of the food that you have packaged. As you can your own foods and grains or get Frank’s, prepackaged food at http://www.Food4Patriots.com, I would rotate your stores so that your food will remain fresh and viable for you and your family.
By rotating your inventory, you will be able to add to it or subtract from it as your tastes and needs change. If you get Frank’s prepared meals from http://www.food4patriots.com you will find tasty individual packets of good food that you yourself would have made yourself. Furthermore, you will discover that your family will ask for more. Mine does. I hope this helps.
Mr Bates
I have to say that at least McDonalds is slowing down, even the fastest one that I go to
occasionally. I am trying not to eat that junk but, like you said sometimes I slip.
Thanks for all the information you but out there.
Jessica Canfield