• Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech
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    5 months ago

    I stopped going to corporate fast food and my life got easier. If you are a hungry person like me, a couple of mental rules I set up.

    If I actually want to eat out, I need to be motivated enough to go out and get it myself. (No more doordash/grubhub/uber/ anything).

    If I’m willing to spend my hard earned money, I will only spend it on good, local food. No more McDs, I go to my local burger joint now. No more dominos, I go to the sticky tabled pizza joint.

    If neither of those sound good, then I’m not actually hungry enough.

    • mister_monster@monero.town
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      5 months ago

      I started living this way too. Honestly, fast food doesn’t even have a value proposition anymore. It’s not cheaper than some local family run taco or burger truck/shack, and significantly crappier. Also, the lady or guy handing you your food keeps the money after paying the cook and what not, if they’re not the cook themselves. I’d rather that than it go to frozen patty distributors and stock buybacks or whatever they’re up to these days.

      It’s marginally cheaper than a run of the mill sit down joint.

      Also soda… I don’t understand why anyone drinks that shit. I used to, then I stopped, and now when I try it it’s gross honestly. Syrup with bubbles in it. You want some, make some ginger ale, its easy and delicious. You cut up some ginger, cook it in a pot with sugar and water, let it cool, put it in a pressure bottle and pitch yeast, it’s ready in a couple of days.

      I’ve never ordered door dash or any of that stuff, as soon as I heard about it o was put off by the idea.

      You’ve got the right idea man. No lazy food. If it’s not worth effort you’re not actually hungry.

      • tyrant@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Where I am “fast food” big chain stuff is only a buck or two cheaper than the good local brewery sit down place. It’s weird.

        • mister_monster@monero.town
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          5 months ago

          Yeah man, used to be you could spend like 5 or 6 bucks and get something quick. Full meal too. Nowadays I think those companies are just riding on inertia, Americans are used to eating it and still have this idea that it’s cheaper even though if you think about it for a second it’s not. By the time you pay it’s like 10-12 bucks. Meanwhile there’s a Cuban lady down the street, she has no menu, she just makes one thing each day it’s something different, whatever she wants, you don’t get to decide, you hand her 10 bucks and she hands you a little box of the most delicious surprise you’ve ever had. Why would I pick the corpo garbage over that?

      • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech
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        5 months ago

        I ditched soda a few years back and I’m glad I did. I had really bad headaches but after cutting soda they have more or less gone away.

        I drink la Croix and sparkling water. People make fun of it for no flavor, but I say back to them no, your taste buds are shot because you drink fizzy syrup so anything less than pure sugar tastes like nothing

    • MrVilliam@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Now that fast food is no longer cheaper than a sit-down restaurant, it just means that fast food has no use case anymore. You’re better off picking up a grab&go type thing from the grocery store. Fast food used to be cheaper, more consistent, and faster, but with the concession that the quality wasn’t great. Now it’s expensive, it completely sucks in unpredictable ways, and it isn’t actually that fast. It’s like the industry only exists for people who are on a road trip and also want to punish themselves for some reason.

      • Jaysyn@kbin.social
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        5 months ago

        If you’re not traveling, $7 at my local Publix’s butcher can buy you some decent sushi or a fish & vegetable entree w/ either salmon or talapia that cooks in 17-18 minutes.

        • Soggy@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Fast food is often the only restaurant option for people working night shifts. I used to clock out at 5am. You know what’s open at 5am, when you’re hungry but too tired to cook dinner because you’ve been on your feet for ten hours? Fast food. Maybe a diner if you’re near a truck route, but honestly that’s not much different.

          It’s far from the only way society ignores the needs of people who keep everything running behind the scenes, but it sure was annoying.

    • 1984@lemmy.today
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      5 months ago

      I’m super disappointed also in what these burger chains offer. All of them have small shitty burgers full of sugar.

      Started making my own burgers. It takes 10 minutes! Mix meat and a bit of salt and pepper and make the pieces really thin. Fry in pan. It’s delicious.

      Fast food is disgustingly expensive for the amount of food you get too. Their drinks are ultra cheap sugar water, and even that they are thinking of limiting.

      • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.net
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        5 months ago

        Don’t make them thin, at least 1cm or even 2, then it’ juicy and delicious and don’t overcook them. If you can get safe meat (grind it yourself) then go with medium raw, it makes the burger absolutely stunning!

        • 1984@lemmy.today
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          5 months ago

          I knew I would get opposing views here :)

          There are many ways to do it, but I think everyone should make their own at home. It’s super tasty and quick.

          • 7U5K3N@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            5 months ago

            Haha I love Lemmy. Anywhere else you’d have started a flame war.

            Personally I love mine super thick, medium well with crispy crispy bacon. Top it off with mayo, lettuce and tomato.

            Smash burgers are a interesting diversion… But I want to need to unhinge my jaw to eat burgers. Lol

            • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
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              5 months ago

              How do you keep the bun from disintegrating before you’re done when they’re very thick? My parents and a lot of burger restaurants make them that way and I hate it because of that. It turns into a mess. I make mine like 1/4 lb and that seems to be the sweet spot for me.

              • 7U5K3N@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                5 months ago

                Buddy of mine likes to say that’s why you have a layor of mayo on the bottom. It keeps the bun from disintegrating.

                Idk he read some where once that’s why it was an invented, as a moisture barrier. But who knows.

                Honestly… Buns fall apart. It’s part of the experience I guess. Haha

                • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
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                  5 months ago

                  That helps the patty. I’m talking about the bun. With thick burgers the juice gets into it and by the time you’re halfway through the thing has completely fallen apart. It’s even worse if you have any kind of sauce on the burger.

                  • MaggiWuerze@feddit.de
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                    5 months ago

                    That depends on the kind of bun you get. I usually toast their inside and get brioche, And don’t really have that issue

                  • Passerby6497@lemmy.world
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                    5 months ago

                    Do you toast your buns or eat them raw? I’ve not noticed the issue nearly as much when I pan toast my buns.

        • grue@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Smash burgers and thick burgers can both be good; they’re just different.

        • HubertManne@kbin.social
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          5 months ago

          if done right thin is fine, but thick is better. We have a place where double is the standard burger and its made to order but fast because you can cook them fast. That being said the place with the thick jucy burgers has a line out the door constantly while they are open.

    • BmeBenji@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      My life has definitely gotten better since I started doing this. Local restaurants are almost universally better anyways

    • Paige@lemmy.ca
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      5 months ago

      I did the same thing when the pandemic was over, although I’m never really sure where to go in my neighborhood so in effect I hardly ever eat out

    • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.net
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      5 months ago

      Somehow this is a really good idea. I’m delegating “Coupang Eats” from my phone, it’s too easy yo use.