A chicken sandwich made of cauliflower or a McDonald’s burger made from peas? In recent years, the fast food industry has tested the waters of vegetarian cuisine, and skeptic Americans have begun to question the why and what of it all. With millions of Americans committing to vegan and vegetarian diets, the availability of options that fit the restrictions of these diets is increasing, and vegetarian cuisine is becoming increasingly commonplace. However, the introduction of the McPlant, the Impossible Whopper, and the Chickfila Cauliflower Sandwich begs the question of necessity. Are Americans who frequent McDonald’s, Burger King, and other fast food chains interested in branching out? It is evident in the sales of most of these items that they are, in fact, not interested. When the McPlant was released in 2022, the average sales in test markets were an underwhelming seven “burgers” per day. The McPlant also costs customers a dollar more than the beloved Big Mac and barely qualifies as vegetarian since they are heated on the same griddle as the greasy meat burgers the fast food chain is renowned for. With all of these setbacks, it becomes clear that these new vegetarian alternatives to unhealthy favorites are not shifting the paradigm as perhaps intended.
Another aspect of these fast-food shifts to consider is the concept of “food deserts”. This geospatial term refers to the concept of a population of lower-income residents in particular being limited by convenience and costs to fast-food chains that are ultimately extremely unhealthy. Not only do these new vegetarian alternatives cost more, but they are oftentimes barely any healthier and vegetarianism may be of little interest to those who are restricted by the price and convenience of food choices. The perpetuation of food insecurity and inaccessibility makes eating healthy, convenient, and cheap nearly impossible. This complicated issue has a complicated and multifaceted answer that the United States has yet to fully address, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Chikfila’s offerings of grilled nuggets, Wendy’s salads and wraps, and other simple fast-food options give patrons the opportunity to eat healthy or at least include more beneficial fruits and vegetables in their diet. I find it difficult to recommend any fast food in alignment with healthy eating, but it is important for those that can access more expensive healthy eating options and have the time to make meals at home to avoid fast food as much as possible. Oftentimes in America, the unfortunate truth is the positive correlation between socioeconomic status and healthy eating.
In response to these inequalities and the growing health concern for the United States, many organizations, cities, and towns are attempting to take matters into their own hands. Some of the best ways to combat the issues of “food deserts” and food accessibility are the promotion of healthy eating habits and the opportunity to learn and develop them. Many Americans are unaware of the possibility to access a less expensive and more convenient healthy diet. With the encouragement of home cooking, many easy vegetarian meals can become a reality! It is almost always more nutritious to eat at home and of course, it’s better to know what goes into what you’re eating and how it was made. While fast food, and its vegetarian counterparts, can often be a fun treat, relying heavily on these sources as a means of sustenance can prove detrimental to one’s health and, in the long term, much less convenient and much more expensive than intended. Consider making more meals at home if you have the time, consider making one or two of those meals vegetarian or vegan every week, and if you already implement these habits into your own life, encourage others to embrace a healthy diet!