Why do people eat out at McDonalds?

[lisalover1]

I've tried to change my eating habits over the past few years, and have actually made a great deal of progress (Down from 210 to 160lbs). That said, I hardly ever eat fast food or restaurant food in general anymore. My daily diet mostly consists of a bowl of cereal for breakfast, something light for lunch like oatmeal, turkey sandwich, or eggs, and a bowl of soup for dinner. Occasionally I have something like animal crackers and tea for dessert, but that's about it. I stay away from restaurants whenever possible.

[BurningDoom]

Just had a Quarter Pounder with Cheese for lunch. And it was delicious, that's why people eat there.

[J T]

I have this theory that people don't like themselves enough to eat well, so they find a certain appeal in mediocre food and products. They want something simple and reasonably flavorful without being outright disgusting, but if it's too good they don't think they deserve it or that the food is too uppity and fanciful. If they are eating something on the go, then they especially don't feel that the food is worthy of being special, so they prefer mediocre garbage food that gives them diarrhea or indigestion. They don't care about nutrition, or having a delicious meal to savor, or an above-average dining experience; they just want something they can shove in their big self-loathing face-hole that will make the hunger go away long enough that they can carry on being miserable in their lives. This is why Qdoba keeps expanding and why Subways are everywhere and why Domino's Pizza has managed to stay in business despite having pizza that tastes worse than the box it gets delivered in.

I've often said that Qdoba's slogan should be "It's not good Mexican food, but you'll eat it because you know you don't deserve any better."

Buuuut I have been told I have kind of a pessimistic view on things...

[elmagicochrisg]

I have this theory that people don't like themselves enough to eat well, so they find a certain appeal in mediocre food and products.

More like...

- our brain that likes certain (chemical) stimuli.
- people thinking they are indestructible until something bad actually happens.
- people forgetting something bad happened once they feel better again.
- easy accessibility.
- lack of time that makes one reach for 'fast' food.
- lack of knowledge on the matter.

People not liking themselves? You should know better...

[prfsnl_gmr]

I've often said that Qdoba's slogan should be "It's not good Mexican food, but you'll eat it because you know you don't deserve any better."

Buuuut I have been told I have kind of a pessimistic view on things...

My wife's slogan for Arby's is: "Isn't it random that you kind of like this."

Also, I don't think that you are being pessimistic. I think that your theory is largely correct. (DISCLAIMER: Being food snobs, neither my wife not I eat any fast food...except Arby's.)

[J T]

My wife's slogan for Arby's is: "Isn't it random that you kind of like this."

Also, I don't think that you are being pessimistic. I think that your theory is largely correct. (DISCLAIMER: Being food snobs, neither my wife not I eat any fast food...except Arby's.)

I always liked the Simpson's phrase "I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's."

[prfsnl_gmr]

My wife's slogan for Arby's is: "Isn't it random that you kind of like this."

Also, I don't think that you are being pessimistic. I think that your theory is largely correct. (DISCLAIMER: Being food snobs, neither my wife not I eat any fast food...except Arby's.)

I always liked the Simpson's phrase "I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's."

[flex wood]

My wife's slogan for Arby's is: "Isn't it random that you kind of like this."

Also, I don't think that you are being pessimistic. I think that your theory is largely correct. (DISCLAIMER: Being food snobs, neither my wife not I eat any fast food...except Arby's.)

I always liked the Simpson's phrase "I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's."

There is an arby's across the street from my closest gamestop that whenever I go to said gs that I have always ended up going to arby's as well. Damn I'm hungry now. Trying to come up with a nice restaurant to get food at is hard.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I like fast food because I like greasy food. I dunno, my diet is horrible. Partly because of shitty fast food, the rest is cultural. I've also found that changing my diet, even over long periods, has little effect. Cutting soda did nothing, and getting on a "healthy" diet made me feel hungry.

But I still don't get people liking McDonald's. Such shitty food.

[Jrecee]

Ha, I was about to quote the simpson's with Marge's "People do crazy things in commercials, like eat at Arby's"

The whole eating bad food because people hate themselves? Wow, I don't get that one at all. I've only eaten at Qdoba a couple times, but what's so awful about it? I eat food that I like the taste of. Some of it is bad for me, some of it isn't. I think McDonalds tastes mostly terrible, but it also happens to be very low quality and unhealthy as well. It's a triple threat of crappiness. Wendy's on the other hand I like. It's still unhealthy, but it's slightly better quality, and happens to taste good. Most my fast food eating is not major chains but could still be considered fast food. A local burger shop, gyro restaurants, etc.

I guess I'm confused at this quote;

"They don't care about nutrition, or having a delicious meal to savor, or an above-average dining experience;"

How often do you get all three of those things? And how often is getting all three of those things a requirement for a non-self loathing meal?