primitives discuss the poor dining on fast food

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2107593

Oh my.

JVS  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-12-11 11:23 PM
Original message
 
Memo to those who speculate on why poor people buy "expensive" fast food.

I don't know how some of you don't know about this. Maybe you haven't been poor, maybe you haven't even been on a road trip or day out with a limited amount of funds, but here goes.

You know those combo meals that they sell at McDonalds, the ones with the big pictures that include a sandwich, a coke, and fries? Let me tell you a little secret. Lean close because I don't want you to miss it. Are you ready? Ok, brace yourself. Poor people don't buy that. Those big ****ing pictures aren't because the poor plebs that frequent the restaurant are too stupid to read. Not at all, you see.

Those big pictures of what you get and the price of around $6 or $7 are for tourists like you. You're probably not intimately familiar with the menu and just want to get back to whatever it is you do that makes you so ****ing special, so the managers have been kind enough to say "here's a whole set up, take it and leave". And so you go on your merry old way and when you get back to you ipad at your reading nook at home, you can post on DU about how uneconomical it is for poor people to go to McDonalds when it would be so much cheaper for them to have a garden and eat the organic squash they grow there. But that part of the menu is for you, not them.

The part of the menu that poor people order off of has a different name in different places, but the section always looks about the same. It's the value menu or dollar menu or 99¢ menu. Gone are the magnificent displays of bounty that typifies the combo. There are no pictures here. Just a list of basic items at a uniform low cost. Are there options? Sure. A dollar will get me a chicken sandwich, or a McDouble cheeseburger with double the meat of a normal cheeseburger (if you want the old double cheeseburger that will be 1.29), a small salad with dressing, a small portion of fries, 4 chicken nuggets, or a cup of coke.

Now, one of the first things to be sacrificed when doing fast food on a budget is the beverage. It just isn't worth it, and people know this. They'll give you water free. Maybe if it's really hot and you're really thirsty and they've decided to sell the large soft drinks for $1, you can consider it. But first thing is first, the sandwich, and then if you think you can swing the fries, get them but it's usually better to get one huge portion of fries and split it than giving everyone a value portion.

Ok, so imagine that you're in the car with your 15 year old bottomless pit of a nephew and his 8 and 6 year old sisters. You have to feed this crew. For the nephew you get 2 of the McDoubles and a large fry. This will total $3.79 plus tax. It's not dirt cheap but it's a better deal than the big mac stuff. The 8 year old gets a McDouble, the 6 year old is a picky eater so she gets McNuggets. Now here is the tricky part, can you trust them to share a large fries without getting into a fight? If so, get another large fries, if not you need to spend $1 each on value size (i.e. small) fries.

Let's say that they can get along with sharing. That makes their portion of tonight's meal $3.79 plus tax as well. Now we come to you. Do you have a couple quarters or some dimes in that ashtray that can let you go over $10? If so, you get a chicken sandwich and a salad for $2, bringing the total to $9.58 plus tax. If not, you just get a chicken sandwich and maybe your nephew is going to have to share some of his damned fries.

Ok? That's how it's done. What doesn't happen is that someone drops 20-odd bucks on a meal at McDonalds.

Sabriel  (1000+ posts)      Wed Oct-12-11 11:29 PM
Response to Original message
 
3. Don't forget the ketchup, too

Two of my students told my class that their mom used to bring home packets for them to eat. Veggies.

proud2BlibKansan  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-12-11 11:31 PM
Response to Reply #3
 
5. I've known kids who eat ketchup sandwiches

Veggies and carbs.

CaliforniaHiker (40 posts)      Wed Oct-12-11 11:53 PM
Response to Reply #5
 
15. Ketchup "soup"

I know somebody who, when he was younger, used to go to a fast food restaurant and grab a bunch of ketchup packets. When he got home he mix them with water and cook it in a pot to make "tomato soup" for himself and his younger brother.

After which the campfire deteriorates into a yelling match between lazy primitives and industrious primitives.

[Wineslob]

Ok, so imagine that you're in the car with your 15 year old bottomless pit of a nephew and his 8 and 6 year old sisters. You have to feed this crew. For the nephew you get 2 of the McDoubles and a large fry. This will total $3.79 plus tax. It's not dirt cheap but it's a better deal than the big mac stuff. The 8 year old gets a McDouble, the 6 year old is a picky eater so she gets McNuggets. Now here is the tricky part, can you trust them to share a large fries without getting into a fight? If so, get another large fries, if not you need to spend $1 each on value size (i.e. small) fries.

Big Mac time, DUmbass.

No idiot. Each kid will want their own meal. You woulden't get out of there for less than 10-15 bucks.   

FFS kill yourself. Please.

[Chris_]

Mother Jones published an article last week that made the claim fast food was cheaper than homemade when you factored in the time it took to prepare the meal(s).  Dumbest bunch of bunk I've read all week.

http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/10/cooking-really-cheaper-junk-food-mark-bittman

[SherryBaby]

Ok, so imagine that you're in the car with your 15 year old bottomless pit of a nephew and his 8 and 6 year old sisters. You have to feed this crew.

...they whine that they want MacDonald's.  You firmly tell them to hold their horses, they're going home and each will be getting a hot bowl of tomato soup, a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, and a banana.

SHUT UP!

[dandi]

What did us poor folks ever do without McDonalds? 

We didn't even have a "fast food" restaurant in my home town until I was around 12-13 years old. There were a couple of drive-ins with carhops if you want to call that fast food, but they didn't have a discount menu.

We ate a lot of dried beans, rice, grits, potatoes, homemade biscuits, cheaper cuts of meat, stuff that would stretch meat further like beef stew or chicken and rice or spaghetti. Most of it was simple, quick and cheap to make. We drank iced tea or Kool-Aid. Rarely did we have sweet snacks or deserts around the house.

I'm sick of hearing about how "the poor" have to load up on junk food and fast food to survive.

[Bodadh]

Mother Jones published an article last week that made the claim fast food was cheaper than homemade when you factored in the time it took to prepare the meal(s).  Dumbest bunch of bunk I've read all week.

http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/10/cooking-really-cheaper-junk-food-mark-bittman

Cost of labor to cook dinner is $34? Well I guess OWS has a new demand. Subsidies for home cooked meals.

I think I am going to make bacon cheeseburgers tonight.

[Rebel]

Mother Jones published an article last week that made the claim fast food was cheaper than homemade when you factored in the time it took to prepare the meal(s).  Dumbest bunch of bunk I've read all week.

http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/10/cooking-really-cheaper-junk-food-mark-bittman

It's bunk alright. I made a pot of chili for about 10 bucks that will last me 10 meals, provided I don't get tired of f'n chili by then. ....which is already happening. I can make the same size pot of homemade chicken and dumplings that'll last me for about the same time, that would cost me about the same thing.

These are lazy bums though. Cooking? Shhhhh, that's for suckas. Gimme my Whoppa.

[GOBUCKS]

Cost of labor to cook dinner is $34?

Absurd. I will give the family a huge discount, available only to blood relatives, and charge $100/hr.

We're eating at Jimmy Kelly's tonight. We may break even.

[Chris_]

We're eating at Jimmy Kelly's tonight. We may break even.

Never been there.  Is it good?

Amerigo's is good.  Didn't care for Merchant's.

[zeitgeist]

...they whine that they want MacDonald's.  You firmly tell them to hold their horses, they're going home and each will be getting a hot bowl of tomato soup, a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, and a banana.

SHUT UP!

Actually the answer is "Next time your father has you ask him."  

Mickey D and me is a true fast food experience, better than Ex-lax,  it never fails to deliver when I am bound up.  

I have no idea what they are doing to the fries any more but they are not the fries of my misspent youth.

They do have restrooms and are plentiful (like HOJOs use to be) for folks traveling with kids. (For those "I can't wait" moments.)

[JGHB]

When I was growing up, a restaurant hamburger was a TREAT that I got to eat maybe four times a year if I was lucky.  We had beans a lot, potatoes a lot (fried, mashed, baked).  We had soup, cornbread and biscuits and gravy a lot.

My mother raised her own chickens, killed them, cleaned them and served up the best fried chicken I have ever had.  We didn't have much, but we always had plenty to eat and Mom had very few dollars for groceries.  It can be done if you are willing to cook from scratch.

[jukin]

Personally, the food assistance should consist of government cheese, rice, and beans.  Want steak or fast food get a job.

[GOBUCKS]

Never been there.  Is it good?

Amerigo's is good.  Didn't care for Merchant's.

Amerigo's is okay but a little overpriced for pasta. (Saw Naomi Judd there once.)
I'd rather go to Macaroni Grill or Carrabba's for Italian. For me, they're just as good and a lot cheaper.

Our experience with Kelly's is excellent.

Also excellent is Sperry's, though the one in Cool Springs is pretty noisy if you aren't in the back room.

Now I'm getting hungry.

[Doubleplusungood]

Sabriel  (1000+ posts)      Wed Oct-12-11 11:29 PM
Response to Original message
 
3. Don't forget the ketchup, too

Two of my students told my class that their mom used to bring home packets for them to eat. Veggies.

This primitive thinks no one remembers a leftwing propaganda commercial from years back that used this very theme to try and guilt trip everyone. It was bullshit then, and its bullshit when this primitive attempts to recycle it here. Nobody, not even homeless on the streets go hungry in this nation unless its by choice.

[dandi]

Personally, the food assistance should consist of government cheese, rice, and beans.  Want steak or fast food get a job.

Hey, my Great-Granny could do wonders with that canned, boneless chicken the government would give out as part of what used to be called "commodities". She'd make this cornbread dressing sort of thing with the chicken mixed in so it was like a casserole. Good stuff.

[NHSparky]

...they whine that they want MacDonald's.  You firmly tell them to hold their horses, they're going home and each will be getting a hot bowl of tomato soup, a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, and a banana.

SHUT UP!

Let's break that down for four people:

2 cans tomato soup: $2.00
Half a loaf of MB bread: .50
Four slices of cheese: .50 (assuming you splurged and bought the 24-pack of individually wrapped cheese at $2.99)
Four bananas: $1.00 (big damned bananas.)

Total cost to feed four people: $4.00

Even in this economy it's possible, folks.  And the figures I used are probably highballed numbers.

I've gone, as Scoobie says, "all hoity-toity" and made a batch of chili which will feed five of us for dinner and a few lunches the next day for (drum roll:)

1-lb hamburger: $2.59
1-lb round steak: $3.19
1 package Carrol Shelby's chili mix: $2.49
1 can black beans: .75
1 can pinto beans: .75
Large can chopped tomatoes: $1.50
Small can Ro-Tel tomatoes/Chiles: $1.25

Grated cheese, onion, and saltine crackers: $1.50

Total cost: $14.02 for AT LEAST 10-12 servings of chili.  Last time I made it the kids both had extra helpings, as did I, and I still had enough for a very large lunch with some left over the next day.

Try feeding five people even off the dollar menu at McD's.

[Ballygrl]

Crockpot is totally the way to go to make good homemade meals.

ETA: I just bought the new issue of Woman's Day Magazine, they have some Crockpot recipes and tips.

[jtyangel]

When I was growing up, a restaurant hamburger was a TREAT that I got to eat maybe four times a year if I was lucky.  We had beans a lot, potatoes a lot (fried, mashed, baked).  We had soup, cornbread and biscuits and gravy a lot.

My mother raised her own chickens, killed them, cleaned them and served up the best fried chicken I have ever had.  We didn't have much, but we always had plenty to eat and Mom had very few dollars for groceries.  It can be done if you are willing to cook from scratch.

I agree with this. You really can make a lot of food on a little bit of money. It may not be what you want to eat, but it will keep your belly full and you nourished.

[Chris_]

I've used cheap staples to stretch box dinners like Hamburger Helper.  How hard is it to boil a pound of noodles when you're already cooking ground beef?  H-H is almost cheap enough to buy on its own instead of making it from scratch if you're feeding a couple of people. 

[Celtic Rose]

I've used cheap staples to stretch box dinners like Hamburger Helper.  How hard is it to boil a pound of noodles when you're already cooking ground beef?  H-H is almost cheap enough to buy on its own instead of making it from scratch if you're feeding a couple of people. 

I don't remember my mom ever just using the noodles that came with hamburger helper, she always added extra, so we always had some left over the next day. 

[Rugnuts]

I have no idea what they are doing to the fries any more but they are not the fries of my misspent youth.

the fact is they now use a different oil because of the "no trans fat" kick
i work at a soybean processing plant. we refine te veg oil into lots of varieties. we have seen a major change in the "hydrogenated soybean oil" business. i can tell you the more desired oil for frying is not what they all use now.

[Celtic Rose]

the fact is they now use a different oil because of the "no trans fat" kick
i work at a soybean processing plant. we refine te veg oil into lots of varieties. we have seen a major change in the "hydrogenated soybean oil" business. i can tell you the more desired oil for frying is not what they all use now.

I heard that McDonald's used to fry their fries in beef fat, which is why they were so tasty.  In the nineties they switched to vegetable oil with "beef essence"

[Rugnuts]

I heard that McDonald's used to fry their fries in beef fat, which is why they were so tasty.  In the nineties they switched to vegetable oil with "beef essence"

well that was before my time in the oil business.
but we made burger king's oil and they had us add "smoke" flavoring. that shit reeked in concentrate form.

[DumbAss Tanker]

...they whine that they want MacDonald's.  You firmly tell them to hold their horses, they're going home and each will be getting a hot bowl of tomato soup, a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, and a banana.

SHUT UP!

Having a lot of Irish and various flavors of German in our background, potato soup with bread and butter was the norm for us growing up.  The bananas were a payday treat, and grilled cheese was a supper meal every couple of weeks.

 

[AprilRazz]

I don't remember my mom ever just using the noodles that came with hamburger helper, she always added extra, so we always had some left over the next day. 

I throw a bag of the store brand vegetables in while the HH is cooking and it will last two to three times longer.