Friday, April 4, 2008

Family Restaurants

Is the convenience worth the price?
After taking some time to really think about it, these corporate eateries may not be any better than the big tobacco companies we've all been taught to hate.

As I was driving back from New England thursday night, I counted 10 different corporate restaurant chains strategically planted at rest stops and highway exit ramps. They all had colorful signs luring commuters to their lares.
Now perhaps I've become a little more skeptical in my old age, but for every publicly announced action, there seems to be an insincere anticipated opposite reaction.
Many of these chains paint a homey, comfortable and healthy alternative to dining. When in fact, the chairs and booths are designed to be uncomfortable after 30 minutes, the thermostat is set 5 degrees colder than your living room, and the food in the kitchen most likely wouldn't pass 50% of the health inspector's regulations.
Not to mention, the meats and produce contracts go to the lowest bidder (farmers), which mean they rely on science to grow the tomatoes for the garden salad in december and the bigger and whiter chicken breasts for your chicken sandwich.

One can easily make the argument, it's amazingly convenient, and after meetings through out the day, and hundreds of miles in the car, you get to sit down and are served a drink, an app, a warm entree and dessert, all for under 25 bucks. There are probably hundreds of thousands of people living this scenario everyday.
Corporate America is manipulating us, guys!

Your average Joe...
"Well, big companies wouldn't dare serve us unhealthy food right?" "Its dangerous and more importantly, unethical".

Which brings me to my final point, can we afford to just take their word for it, or do we do something about it and demand better.

We all need to spend a little more time in the kitchen and learn the basics to cooking.
If we all have the basics hunkered down, chain restaurants have no choice but to up their game and serve us better food than the junk they are currently right now.

Together, we can harness change.


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