Tolerable chain fast food?

[SeattleUte]

I don't like fast food, especially chain fast food. It's not really elitist. I actually consider this very fortunate that I don't like it; the stuff really is as poisonous as cigarettes. (Someone at Jack in the Box got the bright idea to post calories below menu items, and I've been traumatized ever since I saw this.) I try hard to cultivate in my younger children a hatred and disdain for fast food. I belive it's one of the most important things I can do for them. But it's a constant struggle, especially with the ever present need or exigency of having to bribe them.

But here is one that I think is pretty good for a few bites: McDonald's fried chicken cutlets dipped in that sweet hot Chinese sauce. Others?

[YOhio]

I try hard to cultivate in my younger children a hatred and disdain for fast food. I belive it's one of the most important things I can do for them. But it's a constant struggle, especially with the ever present need or exigency of having to bribe them.

This reminds me of a story from Anthony Bourdain's book Medium Raw:

My wife and I are speaking in hushed tones directly outside our daughter’s bedroom door, where we’re sure she’s pretending to be asleep.

“Sssshhhh!! She can hear us,” says my wife, with a theatricality intended to sound conspiratorial.

“No, she’s asleep,” I hiss — a little too loudly. A stage whisper.

We’re talking about Ronald McDonald again. Bringing up the possibility of his being implicated in the disappearance of yet another small child.

“Not another one?!” gasps my wife with feigned incredulity.

“I’m afraid so,” I say with concern. “Stepped inside to get some fries and a Happy

Meal and hasn’t been seen since . . . ”

“Are they searching for her?”

“Oh yes . . . they’re combing the woods . . . checked out the Hamburglar’s place — but of course, they’re focusing on Ronald again.”

“Why Ronald?”

“Well . . . last time? When they finally found that other one? What was his name Little . . . Timmy? The police found evidence. On the body . . . They found . . . cooties.”

This is just one act in an ongoing dramatic production — one small part of a larger campaign of psychological warfare. The target? A two-and- a-half-year-old girl.

McDonald’s have been very shrewd about kids. Say what you will about Ronald and friends, they know their market — and who drives it. They haven’t shrunk from targeting young minds — in fact, their entire gazillion-dollar promotional budget seems aimed squarely at toddlers. They know that one small child, crying in the backseat of a car of two overworked, overstressed parents will, more often than not, determine the choice of restaurants. They know exactly when and how to start building brand identification and brand loyalty with brightly colored clowns and smoothly tied-in toys. They know that Little Timmy will, with care and patience and the right exposure to brightly colored objects, grow up to be a full-size consumer of multiple Big Macs. It’s why Ronald McDonald is said to be more recognizable to children everywhere than Mickey Mouse or Jesus.

Personally, I don’t care if my little girl ever recognizes those two other guys — but I do care about her relationship with Ronald. I want her to see American fast-food culture as I do. As the enemy.

[marsupial]

I like Chick-fil-A's grilled chicken sandwich. It's all about that honey roasted barbecue sauce.

[jay santos]

I've eaten a lot of fast food in my life and it's a guilty pleasure. Since getting serious about my diet a year ago, it's very hard to justify.

I go on cutting and bulking cycles, and I'm not a nazi on eating "clean", but I try to get my calories within a general level and split the right way between protein, carb, fat.

The problem with fast food is the fat content is just so high it's hard to justify any of it, even on a bulk.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Subway.

[Flystripper]

It depends on your definition of fast food.

I like Noodles and Company but some might not consider that fast food. I also like Pei Wei but again for some this is not fast food. Does fast food have to have a drive through? What is the definition? I like Subway on occasion. Is that fast food? WHole foods has fresh cooked lunches that are as fast as many fast food places...is that fast food? I like In-N-Out and Five Guys but there is no way I would ever endorse eating that food regularly.

If you are talking McDonalds, BK, Jack in the Box, KFC, Taco Bell...then yeah all of that stuff is crap.

I like Chipotle and Qdoba ok.

[YOhio]

The Fresco Style menu at Taco Bell isn't too hateful, by far the best option there.

[Jeff Lebowski]

It depends on your definition of fast food.

I like Noodles and Company but some might not consider that fast food. I also like Pei Wei but again for some this is not fast food. Does fast food have to have a drive through? What is the definition? I like Subway on occasion. Is that fast food? WHole foods has fresh cooked lunches that are as fast as many fast food places...is that fast food? I like In-N-Out and Five Guys but there is no way I would ever endorse eating that food regularly.

If you are talking McDonalds, BK, Jack in the Box, KFC, Taco Bell...then yeah all of that stuff is crap.

I would say fast food is anything with a drive-through option.

Pei Wei is what they call "fast casual".

[Flystripper]

I would say fast food is anything with a drive-through option.

Pei Wei is what they call "fast casual".

Most Subways are not fast food then

[TripletDaddy]

The Fresco Style menu at Taco Bell isn't too hateful, by far the best option there.

Taco Bell offered/offers these tacos that are actually real tacos...soft corn tortillas, onion, asada, cilantro. I was surprised.

[YOhio]

Taco Bell offered/offers these tacos that are actually real tacos...soft corn tortillas, onion, asada, cilantro. I was surprised.

I have had them a couple of times. Not a horrible attempt at street tacos, but because of the pathetic salsa/hotsauce options at Taco Bell they end up being pretty dry.

[TripletDaddy]

I have had them a couple of times. Not a horrible attempt at street tacos, but because of the pathetic salsa/hotsauce options at Taco Bell they end up being pretty dry.

Mexicans don't eat Wild sauce or Fire sauce?

[BigFatMeanie]

Chik-fil-a: expensive but the best quality fast food out there.

[MarkGrace]

(Someone at Jack in the Box got the bright idea to post calories below menu items, and I've been traumatized ever since I saw this.)

Every national food chain you see around here does this. It's required in King County.

[LiveCoug]

Chik-fil-a: expensive but the best quality fast food out there.

I went to Chik fil a yesterday.. it really isn't that expensive.. 5-6 bucks for a combo meal. No, it's not cheap like the crap on those dollar menus, but it's not a bad price.