What constitutes "fast food" to you?

BigAppleBiggerBelly

I was thinking about this after seeing a post on another board about how frequently people eat fast food.  What does "fast food" mean to you?

I consider anything grab-and-go to be fast food, be it a slice of pizza from a local parlor, an empanada or taco from a food truck, a bagel from the deli, or a salad from a lunch carryout spot.  Basically, anything that I don't have to make myself or sit down to and tip a server for.  The post got me thinking, though, because most people were just replying about McD's and Taco Bell.  

Thoughts? 

Tambcat

I guess I could generalize and say places with a drive-thru window.

jenwet

For me, it depends on context. Generally, I'd agree with you, but when I grab a salad from the cold bar at Whole Foods, or pick up a veggie burrito at Chipotle, I don't really think of those as "fast food" in the same sense as I do Taco Bell or McD's. I think it's because I always associate "fast food" with "crap food".

ImThisBabysMom

Fast food I would say is anywhere with a drive up, that's essentially what makes it fast. You get in, you get out. Or like OP said, walk up taco trucks or hot dog vendors are fast. Probably any place that is not a sit down, look at the menu, order, wait for food to be cooked, tip and leave. But I'm just basing my opinion on the word "fast."

TKx2

Places like McDonalds, Culvers, Wendy's, etc.  I don't consider places Panera or Buona Beef to be fast food.

lindy27

I have the same definition as you.  Part of it is those are things I don't want to do, so if I call them fast food I'm less likely to grab it even if it appears "healthy."

gisa886

Anything where you don't have a server and host. Just because it is fast doesn't mean it is unhealthy 

JFH2010

I wondered about that after that thread too. I guess I don't consider it FF if it's made on the spot from fresh ingredients, so a veggie & hummus bagel (for example) wouldn't be FF to me even though it's fast, but anything from Wendy's, McD, etc. would be. If I go to a place like a bagel shop, I consider it eating out, not FF. 

AshleyC0117

I actually would only really consider McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendys, etc to be fast food and the other things you mentioned like pizza or deli stuff would be take out. 

CPhillz

AshleyC0117:

I actually would only really consider McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendys, etc to be fast food and the other things you mentioned like pizza or deli stuff would be take out. 

 I agree. That's how I consider it too 

BigAppleBiggerBelly

Interesting.  I eat what I consider to be fast food almost every day (damn you, delicious bagel shop and pizza place that are each twenty feet from my door!), but I only go to a McD's-type place every six months or so.  

PinkPeony6210

Fast food = McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc...

When we order Chinese food or pizza/subs, I consider it "take-out".

tuc11301

AshleyC0117:

I actually would only really consider McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendys, etc to be fast food and the other things you mentioned like pizza or deli stuff would be take out. 

 

This. 

starshollow

I second the person that said it is fast food if it has a drive thru.  If I can be served food without getting out of my car, it is fast food.

ADub09

I saw this original post too and wondered!  I think there is a difference between fast food and take out food.  I consider fast food to be McDonald's, Wendy's, A&W, Taco Bell, Subway.  Take Out I consider Chinese, Pizza, and pre-made from a grocery store.

Not sure if that makes sense at all!!!

mumegs

I say only McDs, Wendys, Taco Bell, etc. I wouldn't consider a bagel shop or pizza place fast food, just carry out.

countdowntolockdown

Ditto.

McDonald's, BK, Wendy's, Culver's., KFC I don't eat that anymore. Haven't been to McD's, Wendy's BK or KFC in years. The movie "Super Size Me" changed my ways, and I got really sick after eating BK once in 2002...

I DO enjoy Panera every now and then, Chipotle, Jimmy Johns (to a lesser extent, hate Subway) and bagel places like Breuggers.

 

Mamasaurus

jenwet:

For me, it depends on context. Generally, I'd agree with you, but when I grab a salad from the cold bar at Whole Foods, or pick up a veggie burrito at Chipotle, I don't really think of those as "fast food" in the same sense as I do Taco Bell or McD's. I think it's because I always associate "fast food" with "crap food".

I feel the same way. It is hard for me to figure out my criteria here, and why. For example, I liked PP's "does it have a drive through window" criteria, but then I realized Starbucks has one, and the last time I went in there, I bought a banana.