mrbigsteve (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mrbigsteve) wrote2003-06-11 05:11 pm
mrbigsteve) wrote2003-06-11 05:11 pm
The fattening of America
A thought that popped into my head the other day has just been kind of sitting here festering. I've mentioned it to a couple of people, and they've all thought that I'm just being the kind of me that asks if you can play air guitar in a vaccuum. However, I'm actually at least a little bit serious about this one.
Blame it on 7-Eleven.
I'm wondering, had 7-Eleven never devised the Big Gulp, would there be such a push to super-size everything? I suppose the first question would be whether 7-Eleven was, in fact, the first company to market the idea of a huge volume of soda as a single serving. Certainly, had they (or anyone) not devised the 32-oz Big Gulp, there likely wouldn't have been the popularity of 44 oz. or 64 oz. beverages. Had they not been successful, would McDonald's be asking if you want to super-size your value meal? Would Wendy's be asking you if you'd like to Biggie Size your combo? Hey Gale, what are the common sizes of fountain drinks in Sweden?
Of course, not everything can be blamed on 7-Eleven, as more jobs have become sedentary in nature, and more automation, and so on, but it's just something that came to mind. I suppose I still need to read "Fast Food Nation" and see if they mention anything about it there.
Blame it on 7-Eleven.
I'm wondering, had 7-Eleven never devised the Big Gulp, would there be such a push to super-size everything? I suppose the first question would be whether 7-Eleven was, in fact, the first company to market the idea of a huge volume of soda as a single serving. Certainly, had they (or anyone) not devised the 32-oz Big Gulp, there likely wouldn't have been the popularity of 44 oz. or 64 oz. beverages. Had they not been successful, would McDonald's be asking if you want to super-size your value meal? Would Wendy's be asking you if you'd like to Biggie Size your combo? Hey Gale, what are the common sizes of fountain drinks in Sweden?
Of course, not everything can be blamed on 7-Eleven, as more jobs have become sedentary in nature, and more automation, and so on, but it's just something that came to mind. I suppose I still need to read "Fast Food Nation" and see if they mention anything about it there.
Fast Food Nation...
I believe they said it was a marketing advisor for McDonalds that suggested the idea that people won't buy two orders of fries (because that's obviously gluttony), but would, if offered, buy one larger order of fries. Ray Kroc didn't believe it, but tested it out -- with amazing success.
no subject
I don't get a lot of fast food, but I can't recall seeing garbage-bin-sized cups of soda, either. The last fountain drink I had (at the new Subway here in town) was about 10-12 oz., and the largest I believe they had was about 16 oz.
Still, Swedes are getting awfully fat, too. Not on an American scale, but they are. The whole western world seems to be much porkier than it used to be.
Fattening isn't such a phat idea...
As I recall, 7-11's aren't as old a chain as the Golden Arches, and I thought McDonald's started the "super-sizing" thing before Big Gulps came out. After all, BG's have only been around for about 10 years haven't they? I thought the super-sizing phenom started about 15 years ago?
Ah in any case, it is very interesting to ponder. And scary to think that we really won't order 2 orders of fries/fatty foods of some sort, but we'll take a huge-ass portion that sounds cheaper, and seems like just 1 heaping serving, but is really the same thing as...2 orders. Heh. Gotta love America. We really do love keeping on our curves don't we (I who shop at Torrid and Lane Bryant)? And gotta give props to those marketers. They can read our gluttenous side like Miss Cleo can read a credit card number. Cash cow *pun included* indeed.
I'm gonna pick up a copy of 'Fast Food Nation' this month. My curiosity has been awoken. It needs feeding. Just no Big Gulps please.