W5: Our Fast Food Nation

Today people look at the fast food culture in America and may say, “Americans are fat and lazy and that is why fast food is such a big part of their culture.” I don’t believe that statements like these are necessarily true. Most Americans work hard and are extremely busy, so fast food exists not only to please the appetite of a lazy slob, but to cater to the palate of the busy worker. People do not even have step out of their car to get a full meal, making fast food a common choice for people on a time crunch, as well as lazy slobs. Also, the fact that fast food taste good and is relatively cheap helps out its popularity. Why is fast food so distinctly American? The reason is fast food originated in America, and other countries have a much richer food history. The United States is a relatively new country, so the culture of fast food is what Americans know. English people have their tea time, Italians have their big pasta dinners, the French have their crepes, and other European countries have their own food procedures. These countries have been eating and living like that for hundreds of years, so when fast food gained widespread notoriety in the U.S., these countries were not just going to stop what they have been doing for generations and jump on the fast food bandwagon. Because the U.S.’s food culture consists of hamburgers, hot dogs, and fast food joints, America is identified by fast food.

When I traveled to Germany, I stopped in a McDonald’s in downtown Munich and noticed a variety of differences compared to the ones in the U.S. Although they had the famous items like the big mac, the portions were much smaller than seen in the U.S. People also seemed to treat the McDonald’s like an internet café, sitting around drinking coffee and browsing the web on their laptops or smart phones, opposed to stuffing their faces with the food and leaving abruptly. The menu had food not seen in the U.S. McDonalds, specifically popcorn shrimp with tartar sauce that came in the same packets as the barbeque or honey mustard. A major difference was in order to use the bathroom; I had to deposit some money in to a turnstile. The bathrooms, along with the whole restaurant, were much cleaner than the McDonalds of the U.S. The Germans did not use McDonalds as a convenient and fast meal, but for the enjoyment of American cuisine. It is like they perceive McDonald’s differently; like it is a real restaurant as opposed to a fast food joint. And so instead of ordering, eating, and leaving in a fast and orderly manner, the Germans hung out a while and took their time. It only goes to show the cultural differences between Europe and the U.S. when it comes to fast food.