What We Eat

A McDonald's hamburger. A simple concept and one that most Americans know well. However, this simple concept of grabbing a burger from the McDonald's drive-thru has expanded immensely along with the growing technology world that has been developing throughout the years. And it's not only the McDonald's chains that are changing due to technology. The majority of fast-food restaurants in America, and throughout the world, are developing new ways to keep their customers attracted to their product. That doesn't seem to be an issue, however, as fast-food has become a way of life for the majority of Americans. One could even relate it to some sort of religion, as most people recognize the golden arches of the McDonald's logo, than they do of the Christian cross nowadays (Schlosser). The new technologies, such as the Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine (seen below), self-serve kiosks, and phone apps, allow customers to keep connected and keep coming back to these fast-food chains that they know and love.




Are these new technologies a blessing or a curse in the modern age? It turns out to be both. While these new technologies allow for more ease and efficiency in ordering and receiving food, many would argue that they are making our world a little too fast-paced. People become so enamored in the new thing, that they don't see how it negatively affects them. According to the article, "What We Eat" by Eric Schlosser, people spend more money on fast-food than they do higher education nowadays.
All in all, it is important to realize the effect that technology has on our eating habits, and while not all are negative, we must realize that they do effect us in some way.

Schlosser, Eric. "What We Eat." 2001. Back to the Lake. Ed. Thomas Cooley. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 2012. 667-74. Print.

Winzelberg, David. "Everything You Need to Know About Coca-Cola Freestyle." The Coca-Cola Company. N.p., 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.