Fast Food
There were examples of fast food restaurants prior to the 1950s, but they were scattered about the country. Today they are ubiquitous. They became part of the American landscape and diet as part of the great migration to the suburbs following the Second World War, and the creation of the Interstate Highway System which connected the country. At first they seemed to be all about hamburgers and hot dogs, now there are fast food chains which offer every conceivable style of cuisine.
The United States fast food industry is the world’s largest, and it is probably no coincidence that over 100,000,000 Americans are considered to be obese according to the CIA’s World Factbook. Prior to the growth of the fast food industry Americans ate the majority of their meals at home. As food to go has become more and more readily available, with most service stations being convenience stores which sell prepared food, Americans have spent less time preparing meals at home. When they do it is often in the form of convenience foods.
In 1970 Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food, by the end of the first decade of the 21st century the amount spent was over $160 billion per year. But the amount being spent on fast food as an overall percentage of restaurant sales is dropping. This is due in part to direct competition between the industry giants. Pressure from casual restaurant sales is also having a negative impact on fast food sales as overall restaurant sales are continuing to rise.
Another factor which contributed to the fast food industry changing the way we eat is the price of its products. The US government, through subsidies to the food industry, has indirectly subsidized the fast food industry. Dairy products like milk and cheese, beef, and soy are all supported through government subsidies. This makes them more affordable to both the industry and the consumer, and contributes to the fact that Americans spend less of their income on food than other countries around the world.
The fast food industry has changed the way Americans eat even when they aren’t eating fast food. Fast food chain products are widely available on grocery shelves and refrigerated cases, to be heated up at home. It has created a nation in which the automobile frequently doubles as the dining room. It has replaced the dinner hour with the drive-thru window. It has enormous impact on the economy, lifestyle, public awareness and the ecology, but most of all it forever changed how America eats.