ABSTRACT
The consumption of fast food has soared as fast food establishments have become ubiquitous throughout the American landscape (Freeman 2007). There is no standard definition of fast food, so we define it as food that is pre-made and prepared for quick consumption, ordered or served over a counter or at a drivethrough window, and paid for before consumption. Since the 1970s, the number of fast food restaurants and the amount of food consumed away from home has increased at an exceptional rate. In 2012, 43.1 percent of all meals were eaten away from home as compared to just 25.9 percent in 1970, a 66 percent increase.
