McDonalds also exist in the richest areas too, Azelma. It has less to do with the affordability and more to do with the convenience and accessibility, as people don't eat McDonalds because it's the cheapest alternative (because often times, its not), but because it's the first joint off every major highway exit. If affordability is a factor then it's because people are always screaming, "EATING HEALTHY SO EXPENSIVE" and the people who believe it just don't know any better.
Subway has more filling, better tasting choices for around the same price, if not cheaper, than any value meal on my local McDonalds menu... but subways aren't nearly as visible and they're not as convenient since most subways lack drivethrus. I should also point out that there are more Subway restaurants than there are McDonalds -- worldwide.
For the argument of McDonalds being cheaper than cooking healthier meals, I'd disagree. As I stated in another thread, I could eat my 1700 calories for much less than $15-20 a day.
My Breakfast:
One bagel or a pack of poptarts. Bagels come six to a bag and poptarts are four to a box, meaning my breakfast costs less than $1.00 each day. What's up, commuter's breakfast?!
My Lunch:
A can of Campbells Chunky Soup ($2.00 on sale) with a few Saltine crackers (which the $3.00 box will last me two to three weeks) or a 6" Subway Sub ($4.00)
My Dinners:
A baked red potato ($3.00 for a bag, which feeds my family for a week) or some pasta. Vegetables -- Fresh, canned or frozen -- can range between $1.00 for a can to $3.00 for a bag of Steamfresh, but it feeds three people each night. If we don't do Vegetables, we do garden salads which are cheap, too. Our meats are typically Brats, Kielbasa, Steaks or Chicken. The most expensive meat we eat is steak, so I'll use that... A four-pack of New York Strip from Costco is about $30, but my wife and I split a single steak, so we both eat our steak for $3.75/ea
I use snacks to get me between meals. 1oz of Beef Jerkey (which comes from a 12oz bag), a cheese stick (which come in a pack of 16), an apple/banana/orange, two rice cakes (from a bag of 14), a 100 calorie bag of popcorn (from a box of 6), etc. Just pick two small treats to stretch your dollar.
I don't buy organic food and I'm sure some of the shit I buy is processed, but it's healthier than McDonalds fast food. The largest deterrent home cooked meals, for me, is convenience. It's just so much easier to hit a drive-thru on the way home, right?
Quote:
Whats the stereotype about college students?
Again, isn't this about convenience and accessibility? Most college students don't have full kitchens in their dorms so microwavable foods (like Ramen) or delivery/take-out are pretty much the only options besides on-campus dining halls.
