For my Paradigm Shift Essay, I plan on examining the change from a prevalent fast food industry to a “quick” food industry. My time span would be from the first fast food restaurant, White Castle, opening in 1921 to the present, and include the creation of perceived healthier fare such as the opening of Saladworks in 1986, Panera in the 1980s, and then Chipotle, Qdoba, and Cosi later on. This shift applies to most Americans, but I would like to focus on the initial boom of fast food across all socioeconomic classes, to its shift toward more impoverished communities. Now, the quicker, healthier foods are more of a middle to upper class phenomenon, leaving standard fast food corporations struggling to keep up. These companies have been required to add new options to their menus, and focus on new gimmicks in marketing strategies (ex. McDonald’s All Day Breakfast).
New vocabulary, such as “fast casual” has appeared to describe the later businesses. The worldview has changed in that an emphasis on efficiency has given way to acceptance for slightly sower service, and greater monetary cost, given the ultimate gain of better food. As Americans, though, a degree of speed is still appreciated, and even these “nicer” restaurant chains are far from sit-down. I would also like to consider whether our new options are actually healthier, or just us justifying our cravings for fast food in tidier, more welcoming restaurant packages. This can be seen in the advertising slogans of the various companies, such as Panera’s “Food as it Should Be”, or Chipotle’s “Food With Integrity”. Both show a response to past food service ideologies, stressing that food was once less than ideal, not as it is supposedly intended to be. White Castle and McDonald’s, on the other hand, stress enjoyment and pleasure, with words such as “lovin” and “crave”.
Your idea is amazing! I think this topic will give you plenty to work with. In addition, this topic is relatable to everybody. I don’t know anybody that hasn’t been to McDonald’s at least once, and 99% of my friends love Chipotle. I think a good addition to this list would be Chick-fil-a, as they strive to be fast food with class. I wonder if some of these restaurants are actually healthier, or if we are just blinded by the illusion of the nicer fast food “restaurants”. I have never considered the relationship between socioeconomic class and where we eat, but I think you can provide some interesting results.