Are you watching calories, fat, or sodium?
Karen: Calories and fat. I don’t have an exact dietary plan that I stick to, but I try not to eat too many high-fat, high-calorie things. It probably started around my mid-30s.
Dan: Mostly calories. I started watching them probably 10 years ago. You read so much saying, “This kind is bad for you.” Then the next day you’ll read, “No, this is bad for you.” It seems like calories are the one and only constant. Too many causes weight gain, and that we know.
Right now, what is your favorite quick-service restaurant?
Dan: Now I’m going to Chipotle a lot because I know it’s healthier. And it’s still fast. They advertise that their ingredients are fresh and healthy and that’s what I’m looking for. It’s simple, too, which makes decision making pretty easy.
What are you most likely to order?
Dan: At Chipotle I get the chicken burrito. I like that it’s an ample portion. If I go to a traditional fast-food place, I’ll usually get a chicken sandwich. I used to always get fries, but in the last few years I’ve started skipping the fries. It goes back to what you see and read about in the media these days. Fries are cooked in unhealthy oils so I just stay away from them.
What is your perception of the overall state of fast food?
Karen: It’s improving to accommodate the better-informed consumer. Now instead of just the fried stuff, everyone offers grilled items and low-fat dressings. The bad food is still there, but consumers have choices.
Dan: Fast food really seems to be thriving now more than ever. Drive-thru lines are always long. People just seem to eat out quite a bit. And the choices and sizes have clearly expanded. Growing up there never was the amount of food that you get now. Sometimes I just want a small cheeseburger. It’s probably somewhat a part of my generation being more used to smaller portions. Plus, we now know how many calories are in one of those loaded double cheeseburgers.
What can fast-food brands do to gain more of your foodservice dollars?
Karen: It would be great if they came up with some way to have the typical fast-food items taste as good as always but be much healthier. Like hamburgers or fried sandwiches that are lower in fat and calories. And I want to be able to order a diet drink that isn’t a cola or iced tea.
Dan: Right now, the places with the healthiest choices, like Chipotle or Subway, don’t have drive-thrus. Many times I want to go to one of those places, but I’m in such a rush I can’t get out of my car. I end up going to a traditional fast-food place because in the end convenience trumps everything.