by Joyce D. Sinclair

Created on: July 01, 2009

During the 1940s and 1950s, fast food restaurants were the thing. It's innovation in the food industry brought millions of people to their restaurants. Families were starting to emerge from the ashes of World War II, and that meant travel time. The interstate system was bridging and connecting all the major U.S. cities, and the fast food nation was its twin sister.

Over the next few decades, names such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, White Castle, and Taco Bell became the typical Friday night decision du jour. And within another decade or two, you could find many of these restaurants on all corners of the globe. Of course, these global versions offered a slightly different fare than their U.S. counterparts. In Japan, McDonald's serves a McChicken Teriyaki sandwich (which by the way, is quite tasty, if I may say so myself). The McDonalds in Brazil used cheddar instead of American cheese, adding a subtle change in flavor. A friend of mine went to a Pizza Hut in the Dominican Republic, and her pizza came with corn on it.

What was a treat for my parents growing up in the '60s, soon became commonplace for my generation growing up during the '80s. And today's generation uses fast food as the poster child for immediate gratification. It is partly responsible, along with all facets of technology, for the death of the concept of "waiting." But perhaps it was also the genesis of other concepts, such as "pre-cooked," "artificial ingredients," "derriere-enlarging," "artery-clogging" among other less savory adjectives.

As if the cookie-cutter, pre-made hamburgers and mystery meat nuggets weren't enough to entice a kid to whine until their parents' ears bled, there was also the one consolation they could take home with them, along with bloating and gas: the toy. When fast food restaurants started offering toys in their kid's meals, millions of parents now had a domestic Pandora's Box to contend with. Years after the kids have grown, the toys remained, like the stray cat that your kids were secretly feeding and you begrudgingly allowed to stay. In fact, in the Harajuku area of Tokyo, I went to a second-hand store, and while I was there, I saw three boxes filled entirely with nothing but toys from American fast food meals. Was this the American parents' attempt at a free trade agreement with the farthest countries in exchange for a clutter-free closet?

Are we indeed a fast food nation? I certainly think so. I don't think there is a single person in this country who hasn't filled their body with a greasy hamburger, fries, and a Coke. Most people can find one within 20 minutes of driving. I do want to give credit where credit's due, however. Many fast food restaurants are trying to break the junk food barrier and are now offering healthier alternatives. Somewhat healthier. There is no way we'll ever be able to go back to life before fast food. We passed that exit long ago on the interstate of immediacy. But at least fast food is starting to offer better choices for our busy lives. And maybe, just maybe, it might teach us to slow down just a bit, and dine in for a change.

Learn more about this author, Joyce D. Sinclair.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.