Fast Food

            From what I can remember, as a child fast food was always a special treat that my parents would get on occasion. I was probably more excited for the toys that came in a happy meal than the actual food itself.  McDonald’s was always the place I wanted to go.  I remember feeling like I was receiving a present whenever I opened the small, red happy meal McDonald’s box containing my chicken nuggets, fries, and toy.  If I didn’t go to McDonald’s then my parents would take me to Taco Bell.  When I was younger I couldn’t get enough of their tacos.  I always had to use their mild sauce.  I just couldn’t handle the hot or fire sauce they offered.  Getting these kid’s meals also meant I got to get a soda.  Soda always tasted so refreshing coming from McDonald’s or Taco Bell.  I would always struggle between having to choose either Coke or Sprite.  Being able to go to one of these fast food places always made me happy because my parent’s made me feel like I had done a good deed to deserve this treat.

            Now I can say I have a different perspective on fast food.  Yes, I still won’t mind getting some chicken nuggets from McDonald’s or Doritos locos tacos from Taco Bell.  The difference is I don’t see it as a treat anymore.  It’s more of a last minute decision to get food because I don’t feel like making anything for myself.  I will say that I get fast food more often than when I was younger but not by much.  Having the ability to drive is probably the reason that I get more fast food now.  If I couldn’t drive I would have to rely on somebody taking me which wouldn’t happen so I would just make something at home.  The decision between Sprite and Coke is one that I still struggle with.  Something about getting a soda from McDonald’s seems to make the drink taste better to me than when I have the same type of soda at my house.  Even though I said I get fast food more often than when I was younger, I wouldn’t say I rely on it.  Mostly because I know how unhealthy fast food is.  Even a salad from a fast food place is unhealthy.  It’s just hard to pass up getting fast food because it’s affordable and you don’t have to wait for the food, if you want to call what they sell food.

            My views on fast food have changed as I have gotten older.  However, I still like how I thought of fast food as a treat.  They created happy memories in my childhood which is something I wouldn’t want to change.  I just have a better understanding of how fast food can affect your lifestyle depending on how often you get it.