In America, we love stuffing our faces and filling up as much as possible during each meal. Many people have busy schedules, causing them to need meals that are quick and easy while still completely satisfying their hunger. The fast food industry has taken advantage of this aspect of the American life by making quick meals that are super cheap but also super fattening.
Companies are always coming out with new combinations of food to keep bringing their loyal customers back. As more and more foods are getting thought up, the creators of these foods (maybe restaurant board members) have had to get more innovative, causing these creations to get progressively nastier.
Many fast food items are pumped full of sugar and sodium, which is why they taste so delicious, and also why they are so addictive. Obesity is a major health issue in the United States that causes many other complications in people’s lives. With the way things are looking, American children might as well be born with type two diabetes. Here are five fast food restaurants that show how bad things have gotten in the fast food industry:
Little Caesar’s is known for their $5 cheese and pepperoni pizzas that are always “hot-n-ready,” but recently they unveiled their newest creation. The Bacon Wrapped Crust DEEP! DEEP! Dish Pizza is a large pepperoni and bacon pizza that features a crispy crust wrapped in three and a half feet of bacon. I see how some people could think this sounds delicious, but after learning that each slice contains around 450 calories and 830 milligrams of sodium they may change their mind.
When going to Taco Bell, people often like to order two, three or even four items in one sitting. The fast food chain has many tasty choices, but I advise that you stay away from the XXL Grilled Stuft Burritos. The “XXL” in the name should be enough to scare people away, but if that didn’t faze them then knowing each one averages about 37 grams of fat should. Instead of one of these monstrosities, you could eat two regular bean burritos and still consume fewer calories.
Many sandwich chains have made their way into the fast food industry using sneaky techniques and good marketing. Claiming to be a nutritious alternative to other fast foods, places like Subway have many people believing they are making healthy food choices. While some options are wholesome, others can be just as bad as a greasy cheeseburger depending on the choice of bread, meat and cheese. A footlong turkey melt or spicy Italian sandwich can contain over 100 milligrams of cholesterol and 17 grams of sugar.
Burger King is always trying new promotions to keep customers hooked. For a limited time, the restaurant is currently offering 10 chicken nuggets for just $1.49. BK has been classically known for the Whopper sandwich, and because of its popularity it is now offered with the option of getting two or three patties. The Triple Whopper, weighing in at 1,160 calories, starts clogging arteries as soon as it is consumed.
Whenever KFC is talked about, there seems two opposite sets of opinions: the loyal customers that love it and those who would never even step foot in the establishment. I like to think that I am one of those loyal customers, but in 2010 when I first heard about the Double Down I had trouble wrapping my head, or mouth, around it. The sandwich consists of bacon, cheese and KFC’s Colonel’s sauce crammed between two pieces of chicken that act as buns. Try it if you dare, but be aware that it has 32 grams of fat and 1,380 milligrams of sodium.
Even though just hearing about some of these food items can make someone lose their appetite, let’s be glad many of the fast food items that get pitched don’t ever make it out of the test phase. Right now, Taco Bell is teaming up with Cap’n Crunch and testing out Cap’n Crunch covered donut holes that are filled with some kind of creamy milk icing. And I wouldn’t put anything past McDonald’s after they have tried to get items such as the McHotdog, McSpaghetti and McLobster to exist in the mainstream. I fear for the future of our food industry.
Follow Tanner Owens on Twitter @T_Owens21
