Fast food is just that, it is fast. Americans eat at fast-food establishments because we want something fast, we don’t want to cook, or we are craving something that just doesn’t taste the same if you cook it at home. There is something about a fast-food cheeseburger that you just have to have, on occasion. Some individuals eat at fast-food establishments a lot more than others. They are single, don’t want to cook, are on the go a lot, or a variety of other reasons. Then you have families, like mine, who rarely eat out. Maybe once or twice a month we will give the family a ‘treat’ and we will eat at a fast-food establishment. But for a family of 4+ eating out, no matter where can get expensive.

The answer; stop going to fast-food establishments. Go to the grocery store and buy food. Think of all the wonderful food that you could purchase from the grocery store. Imagine all the amazing dishes that you could cook at home, in your own kitchen, hot and fresh. No one is forcing you to go to a fast-food establishment once, twice, or four times a week. That is your decision and all you have to do is make a commitment to STOP. There is no complex answer, no complicated reason on how to stop eating fast food. If you sat down and calculated how much you spend in a month on fast food, you would be in awe.

The biggest reason that individuals eat at fast-food restaurants is the convenience. We also choose to ‘eat out’ because we don’t have anything in the house that is appealing, we have had a very busy, rough day and do not feel like cooking, or we want something that only our local fast-food restaurant offers. But as mentioned above, it is super easy to stop eating at a fast-food establishment.

Can Eating Unhealthy Food be Addictive?

Unfortunately, yes, eating unhealthy can be addictive. According to healthline.com, “junk food stimulates the reward system in the brain, similar to the way that addictive drugs do.” Just as with any other health condition, you may be susceptible to being addicted to ‘junk food.’ Some individuals can control the cravings for unhealthy food, while other people can not. This has nothing to do with an individual’s “will-power.” It is actually a much more complex situation. In order to explain this complex situation, we would need a whole other article. So, before you criticize someone for consistently eating at a fast-food establishment (or eating other unhealthy food), look back on this article and remember, it is an addictive issue and not something that they can easily control or walk away from.

Can You Withdraw from Fast Food?

This is also a simple, yet complex question to answer. The simple answer is yes, some people can experience withdrawal systems when they stop eating fast food or other highly processed ‘junk food.’ Those that have the predisposition for getting ‘addicted’ to unhealthy food, can actually go through anxiety, depression, irritability, and have headaches when they attempt to stop eating the unhealthy food. These withdrawal systems make changing your diet very challenging and a lot of people will just go back to their unhealthy eating habits because it is easier than dealing with the symptoms that come with giving up the unhealthy diet.

How do I Break My Addiction to Fast Food?

My personal suggestion, because of the statements above, would be to slowly ween yourself off of the fast-food and other highly processed foods. Instead of stopping suddenly, gradually decrease how many times you eat out and start eliminating any ‘junk food’ that you may have in your house. If you try to quit “cold turkey” it will be similar to quitting smoking. You may very well have the withdrawal symptoms that are listed above. So just as with quitting smoking, you have to gradually cut out the ‘bad foods.’ Allowing your body to get used to not having the overprocessed items. If you eat out five times a week, cut it back to three for a week. Then cut it back again the next week and continue doing so until you are not eating at a fast-food restaurant at all. It is not going to be easy for some individuals and you may have ‘back-slides,’ but keep trying, you can do this.

Why Can I Not Stop Eating Fast Food?

The fast-food industry has found a way to maximize the pleasure of eating their food. They have the perfect blend of fat, sugar, and salt. For some, that is a huge problem, as stated above. For others, it doesn’t affect us at all to stop eating junk food, fast food, or other unhealthy items. Most individuals do not realize that getting enough sleep and eating balanced meals will greatly reduce your cravings for junk food and fast food. When we are tired, depressed, or upset we turn to unhealthy food (chocolate, greasy cheeseburgers, french fries) to make us feel better. Your brain eventually is programmed to crave those items when we are not happy or when we have not received enough sleep.

Conclusion

Fast food and other over-processed foods are very addictive. Some people are more prone to ‘addiction’ than others, just as with addictive drugs. When you try to stop eating over-processed foods, there is a chance that you will have the same withdrawal symptoms as individuals who are trying to stop smoking (or getting off of other highly addictive drugs). This article has given me some insight, as I didn’t realize that you could actually be addicted to fast food. My addiction is chocolate! I have a very hard time not having ‘dessert’ after dinner. Thankfully I do not have any of the withdrawal symptoms listed above. For those of you that do and want to eat healthier, take your time. Ween yourself off of the highly processed items, do not try to do it ‘cold turkey.’ Stay positive, do your best, and don’t give up!

We are always in awe, at how quickly you receive your food when you go to a fast-food establishment. Depending on the company, it may take longer than others. If it is rush hour then it is going to take a little longer. Nowadays, because of the employee shortage, it is also going to take a little bit more time. But for the purpose of this article, we are going to assume everything and everyone is working as it should, as it was 15 years ago. You pull up to the drive-thru speaker, you order your food, you pull forward and pay and they hand you your food. How in the world does this happen so quickly? Well, we are going to explain this to you.

Fast-food establishments have a very large cooking area in the kitchen. Whether it is a grill, a conveyor system, or some other equipment. This allows the kitchen staff to mass cook the burgers. Depending on the time of day and the company policy, they will cook a certain amount of product at one time. They will then put it under a warmer, to keep the product hot. This is mainly done during lunch and dinner ‘rush.’ This allows the establishment to keep their ‘times’ down and get patrons their food quicker.

There are many positives and negatives about the way that some fast-food establishments prepare their product. Having worked in the industry, for three different companies, I have a unique insight into the preparation of the food. Over the years, some companies have changed the way they do things and a lot more are going to the ‘prepare as it is ordered.’ Instead of the mass production of burgers for dinner and lunch rush.

How does McDonald’s cook their burgers so fast?

In a nutshell, because it has been many years since I worked at Mcdonald’s, they have a large grill that will cook a dozen hamburgers at a time. Initially, the burgers come to the store frozen, and once put on the grill it only takes 30-45 seconds for the burgers to cook all the way through. The cooks then put them, in what looks like a drawer, and it keeps them hot. As the orders are placed, they are pulled out of the drawer and assembled. Even though it has been 30 years since I worked at a Mcdonald’s, I am sure they still do it the same way. Though I can tell you that our local McDonalds, has started “cooking to order.” There is no more cooking the burgers and keeping them ‘warm’ in a drawer. They do not make your burger until your order is placed. I can not speak for any of the other establishments, as to how they prepare their product.

How do fast-food restaurants cook their food faster?

When you decide to go to a fast-food establishment for a meal, it isn’t going to take much time between when you order and when they hand you your food. This is because they ‘mass cook’ their burgers. They also mass cook the chicken nuggets, the chicken patties, and any other sandwich product. The cooked products are then put into a ‘warmer’ that resembles a large drawer. As the orders come in, the product is pulled out of the drawer and assembled. Though there are many fast-food establishments that actually cook your food to order. Which means it is very hot, fresh, and delicious. If you go to a fast-food establishment during lunch hour, then you are going to get something that is fresher than if you go at 1:30. Though there is a time limit on how long they are supposed to keep the food in the ‘warmer.’

How do fast-food chefs cook quickly?

Fast-food ‘chefs’ have very large grills or conveyors that they use to produce large amounts of product at the same time. McDonald’s has the large grills, Hardee’s has the conveyor system, and at Arby’s, they consistently have roast beef in the oven; then they put it on the slicer and go to town. Every fast food has some kind of ‘warmer’ system to keep the product in after it is mass cooked. Even the establishments that cook your food to order. They all use multiple fryers to prepare french fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets, etc. These set-ups are extremely handy and make the fast-food ‘chefs’ jobs much easier. Whether it is safe and healthy to prepare and store food this way, is a matter of opinion. The only problem that I have ever had is that my lunch was not very warm.

Conclusion

Fast-food establishments are good places to work, good places to eat, and they can be found in every town in the United States no matter how big or small. Food is cooked in mass quantities to make the process go quicker, hence the name “fast-food.” Though some fast-food establishments are cook to order and not ‘fast.’ No matter whether it is cook to order or only takes three minutes from order to in-hand American’s absolutely love to eat at fast-food establishments.

There is a very simple answer to this question and there is a more complicated answer. I am going to give you both of the answers today. Think about it, how does any company make money? It doesn’t matter what industry you are talking about, all businesses make money the same way. They sell products to consumers. I, as a writer, sell my services to others. Grocery stores sell their items to us, as do clothing stores, restaurants, and fast-food establishments. But, there are ways that they make ‘more money.’ Which also goes across the board for most businesses. There are sales, clearance, buy 1 get one 1/2 off, and a multitude of other ways. When you really sit down and analyze how a fast-food establishment earns money, it is going to make you really stop and think. I am going to tell you little secrets that nobody but the fast-food industry knows.

How do fast food restaurants make money? They have secrets! They have a special combination of ingredients that makes their cheeseburgers taste so much better than when we cook them at home. When you buy multiple items, they make more money. Fountain drinks actually have a higher profit margin than just ordering a burger. That is why they push for you to include a drink, no matter what your initial purchase is. They offer combo meals, you can up-size for a small/cheap fee, and they make money.

I am going to provide you with information that fast-food establishments don’t really want you to know. I will enlighten you on how they make so much money, besides the obvious (we all LOVE fast food). I am going to explain the tips and tricks they use to get you to buy more food, which in turn makes them more money.

How is a fast-food restaurant profitable?

It goes without saying; there are multiple fast-food establishments in every single town in the United States. They are the first places we go to when we do not feel like cooking or when we are craving those amazing fast-food french fries. That is how the fast-food industry is so profitable. Think about it, when you go to a fast-food restaurant, 98% of the time you order the ‘combo.’ You get your burger, fries, and a drink. Everything that you want and need in a meal. Sometimes they will offer or talk you into a dessert option, which adds to their profit. If you order just a burger and fries, they tempt you to add a drink. “Make it a combo?” Normally, we do so. Or you go there to order a certain thing, you see all of the wonderful looking pictures, and you end up ordering more food or you order something different that you initially went there for. That is how fast food is profitable.

How do restaurants make the most money?

Restaurants make the most money by offering their combo meals. But are you really saving money by ordering them? Next time you go out to eat at any fast food establishment, add it up. Normally you are only saving between seven and twelve cents when you order the combo meal. Whether it is a fast-food restaurant or a regular restaurant, money is made when they sell more products than what they are spending on said product. It is a balancing act for any restaurant to make a profit. They have to take into account their monthly expenses; rent, electricity, food costs, wages, and a lot more. It is not an easy task to run a restaurant of any kind. But fast food has it down to a science as you can tell just driving through your town. If they were not making a profit, they wouldn’t be in business and wouldn’t be hiring employees.

What is the number one fast-food chain?

Did you realize there are actually fifty fast-food chains in the United States (and abroad)? I knew there was a lot, but I had no idea that there were fifty, even though I know most of them on the list, it never registered just how many. So, who do you think is the number one fast-food chain? I bet you guessed right! Mcdonald’s is the correct answer. In 2018 they made over 38 million dollars, compared to 19 million for the number 2 fast-food chain on the list. Numbers three, four, and five made right at or slightly above the 10 million dollar mark. It was no surprise to me that Mcdonald’s was on the top of the list. It does surprise me, however, some of the establishments that are on the list, as I do not consider them “fast-food.”

What is the cheapest fast-food franchise to open?

There are a lot of expenses that are involved in opening a fast-food franchise, depending on the fast-food chain. For example, McDonald’s costs you between 1.2 and 2.2 million dollars. There is a franchise fee, a minimum liquid asset requirement, plus ongoing fees. Chick-fil-A is the cheapest fast-food franchise to open. It will only cost you $10,000. Yes, that is still a lot of money, but nowhere near what you will shell out to open a Mcdonald’s. The $10,000 is for the franchise fee. There are no start-up costs, no minimum liquid asset requirement, no minimum net worth requirement. Chick-fil-A funds your start-up costs and there are ongoing fees. But again, $10,000 beats having to pay millions to get started.

Conclusion

That was a lot of information. McDonald’s is number one on the list for making the most money in the fast-food industry. Chick-fil-A is the cheapest franchise to open and everything in between. Don’t forget, next time you go to a fast-food establishment, just for the sake of knowing; do the math to see just how much money you are saving by purchasing the combo meal. By all means, enjoy the largest combo that they have!

Quitting a job is not something that anyone should take lightly. You need to ensure that you have another job because you have responsibilities. I am sure you have rent/mortgage, electricity bill, car insurance, maybe a car payment, and other bills that need to be paid each month. It is never a good idea to quit a job without something else set up. Even a week in between quitting and starting a new job can put you behind on your monthly bills, which will only cause stress and chaos in your life. Yes, you get very angry while at work, and some of us (I am guilty) just quit without thinking. Then we have to suffer the consequences for our hectic actions which is most likely a lot of added stress and worry.

If you are truly not happy in your fast-food position, and you have another employment opportunity lined up, then by all means; quit your job. But be respectful, courteous, and polite about it. Do it the correct, responsible way. As I have always been told, treat others how you want to be treated. If you do not vacate your position properly, then it looks negative on your future job applications.

Whether you work in the fast-food industry or somewhere else, there are proper steps to quitting your job. Today, I will answer some important questions concerning quitting a job, how to do it properly, and the possible consequences of not being responsible and respectful when quitting.

Do you have to give two weeks notice in fast-food?

As stated above, no matter what employment industry you are in, there is a right way to vacate a job position and a wrong way. It doesn’t matter if you work in a doctor’s office, a grocery store, a car dealership, or fast-fast food; you always give a two-week notice to your employer. There could be many different negative consequences if you just walk out in the middle of a shift, not show up for your scheduled shift, or quit without any prior notice. Giving a two-week notice to your employer shows respect and responsibility. It is a positive mark in the employers’ book and it is a positive read on your future applications. Giving two weeks’ notice allows your employer to hire and train your replacement. When your next prospective employer calls for a reference, you will receive positive feedback, which will aid in getting you your next employment opportunity.

Does quitting a job look bad?

The only way that quitting a job is going to look bad, is if you do not give the proper notice. Which as stated above, is two weeks. If you work a shift and then just stop showing up, that is a negative mark. If you walk out in the middle of your scheduled shift and never return, that is another negative mark. If you walk into your place of employment on your day off, hand over your uniform, and say, “I quit,” that is also a negative mark. Inexperienced workers, such as teenagers, have a bad habit of quitting their jobs in this fashion. My advice, do not do it!! If you are responsible and courteous about it, giving your two-week notice, then no, it doesn’t look bad at all when you quit a job. You are moving on to something that suits you better, something with more opportunities within the company, or maybe something that pays you more with better hours. Whatever the reason is for quitting your job, do it the proper way.

How long does the average fast-food worker stay on the job?

From my experience working in the fast-food industry, the majority of employees (especially teenagers) only stay in the fast-food industry for a year or less. Though there are some individuals who start in fast food as their first job, legitimately love what they do, and continue to climb the fast-food ladder. A lot of the assistant managers and managers, started out in fast food when they were in high school. They learned everything that they could learn about the company, its values, and they worked their butt off to climb up the ladder. For most of us though, fast food is just a stepping stone in the vast sea of employment. It is the easiest and best job to get as a high school student (sometimes the only job), we gain some much-needed skills, earn and save some money, and then we move on to the next stepping stone.

How do I quit fast food over the phone, should you?

Never ever quit a job over the phone, ever! That is worse than walking in on your day off and quitting. It is irresponsible and disrespectful. No matter how much you dislike a job, the management, or your co-workers you still have the responsibility of vacating a job the correct way. Give your two-week notice, preferably in writing. It is your best, actually, your only option, to receive a good reference from the employer. If you call and quit over the phone, you are setting yourself up for a negative reference. Also, if you should ever need to fall back on that fast-food position in the future, it is not going to be there. They will remember and they will have it documented; how you quit your position. When you do not quit a job position in the correct way you are setting yourself up for a negative reference that will follow you for at least a few years.

Conclusion

Whether it be the fast-food industry or something else, you always want to vacate your employment in the correct way. It looks good in your file, it looks good on your future job applications, and it gives you a positive reference when future employers call your past employers. Yes, you may dislike your job, you may feel that there is no way that you will make it another two weeks; but you will. You can make it that last two weeks, you will make it through the last two weeks! Do it for your pride and your future job opportunities.

There are many reasons that someone is looking for a job, but what you actually tell the employer during your interview makes a HUGE difference. It could be the deciding factor of whether they hire you or go onto the next applicant. This is something that needs to be taught to teenagers. Granted, most fast-food places do not ask a teenager why they want to work there, not that I remember anyway. They either hire you (98% of the time) or they don’t. There is not usually any kind of formal interview. But as we get older, there will be regular interviews with this type of question being asked. As you have grown and graduated high school, most of you would rather not work at a fast-food establishment, but sometimes have no choice. In that case, you will be asked the question, “Why do you want to work here?”

Why do you want to work here, is one of the most asked questions at job interviews no matter what the industry is. How you answer this question could definitely be the deciding factor of whether or not you get the job over all of the other applicants. If you are new to the job market, then your answer is a pretty simple one; “I am entering the workforce and have chosen this establishment to gain job skills, work ethic, and to earn/save money.” Highlight your positive aspects; punctual, friendly, open to work any hours/shifts, always perform tasks to the best of your ability, etc. NEVER say; “because I have to” or “because there is no other place to work.”

When you are applying to fast food, this is a tricky question, because your answer will normally never be the truth. People usually do not want to work in fast food, they are doing it because there really is no other option at the time or because they have no job experience at all. I will guide you through this touchy question the best that I can.

How do you answer, “Why do you want to work here?” (McDonalds)

How you answer this question is going to depend on how old you are, how many other jobs you have had, and what job experience you have. So, let’s begin with a high school student who has never had a job. If you have an interview and you are asked the question, “why do you want to work here?” Simply state that this is your first job and that you are applying to earn your own income, save some money before college, and start learning skills to be out in the real world. DO NOT say that it is because it is the only place to work or that you have no other options. If you have had a job or two or four and you have applied at a fast-food establishment, give them the honest truth as to why. You are between jobs, you are supplementing your income, you are going back to work after extended time off. Which are normally the main reasons why adults are resorting to working in the fast-food industry.

Why do you want this job and why should we hire you?

This answer will go hand in hand with the above. Everyone has a reason for applying and everyone has positive aspects about themselves that they can bring to the job. Honesty is the best policy in everything in life, except for this. Again, you do not want to say anything like; I have no other options, because my parents are making me work, or because you are the only place hiring. You want to state that you want the job because you are wanting to earn money and save money before college. You are in between jobs, you are retired and want to still work with the public, or you are supplementing your income. As for the question, “why should we hire you?” Give the prospective employer your positive attributes. You are friendly, you are willing to work any shift, any day, you learn quickly, and get tend to get along with everyone.

What would you bring to the team?

This is another way to ask, “why should we hire you?” Do not say, “I don’t know.” Think of the positive things about yourself. Tell them that you would bring good teamwork skills. If you play any type of sports you know how much teamwork can help during a game. It is no different at a job. If the team doesn’t work well together, then things tend to fall apart and not get done correctly or quickly. Besides, bring teamwork skills, you can also say that you will bring a positive attitude to the team. You will bring organization, laughter, and hard work to the team. Think positive!! The questions may throw you off guard at first, but take your time in answering them. Again, it could make a difference in whether or not you get the position.

Conclusion

When you go in for a job interview, think positive. State the positive things about yourself, the reason you are applying for the job, what you can bring to the job/team, and what prompted you to apply for that particular position. You don’t want to ‘lie’ but you also do not ever want to state that you are applying for the job because you have no choice, because your parents are making you work, or because they are the only organization hiring. No one wants to work in the fast-food industry, because of all the negativity surrounding it, but it is honestly not a horrible place to work. I have worked at three separate fast-food companies and it is not as bad as some individuals make it out to be. It is all in your approach and your attitude.

Del Taco