Fancier burgers means higher prices

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The discussion revolves around the rising prices of fast food items like wings and burgers, particularly in Georgia, where gourmet options have emerged, leading to dissatisfaction with the quality and affordability of traditional American burgers. Participants express concern over unhealthy eating habits, especially among college students, and suggest that cooking at home is a better alternative for healthier meals. There is a debate about the health implications of deli meats versus fast food, with some advocating for cooking with fresh ingredients and incorporating more vegetables. The conversation also touches on the convenience of fast food versus the benefits of preparing meals in advance, with various cooking tips shared. Additionally, there is a humorous acknowledgment of the absurdity of gourmet burgers and the nostalgia for simpler, more affordable options. Overall, the thread highlights a common struggle with maintaining a healthy diet while managing time and budget constraints.
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During my college years I have become accustomed to a diet of wings, burgers, subs, Philly cheese steak, Chinese food, and Taco Bell ( note the distinction from authentic Mexican cuisine ). With the exception of the latter, the prices of these items have gone up especially wings and burgers. There are gourmet burgers out there and the wings average around 7 dollars for 10 pieces here in Georgia ... honestly , the raw constituents of these items are not of the finest grade and yet people are upgrading the prices based their ability to create " fancier burgers " e.g. Red Robin. Isn't this nonsense? Whatever happened to good old American burgers at an affordable price ; wasn't this why burgers were created in the first place i.e. good and cheap?
 
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What an awful diet, jeesh!

Im eating a sandwich I just made that's two slices of whole wheat bread, mayo, roast beef, turkey, and ham slices w/ a glass of milk.
 
I would put some cheese on that and then have them toast it. My metabolism is getting worse since I'm in my mid twenties, I should eat more deli e.g. Jason's Deli. I'm a really bad cook and eat lunch everyday outside instead of preparing a meal at home and eating at work.
 
Cyrus said:
What an awful diet, jeesh!

Whew, I have to agree with Cyrus. Eat a vegetable, GCT! Or maybe a fruit...?

If you really want good food, you're going to have to cook it yourself. And if you must have burgers, at least try buffalo - I love buffalo! Try it, it's heaven. So much better tasting and healthier than beef!

*The buffalo lobby did not pay for this post :smile: *
 
Deli is actually bad for you. I've never had Deli meet in years.

This is what I call a diner, and this is what I normally have...

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7417/dsc00170jo8.jpg

It's got 3-4 servings of vegetables in there alone. I usually have an apple after diner also.

Yeah, deli meats...
 
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Deli meats are bad because they have a lot of salt in them. But its a whole lot better than eating a burger at a fast food joint.
 
JasonRox said:
Deli is actually bad for you. I've never had Deli meet in years.

This is what I call a diner, and this is what I normally have...

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7417/dsc00170jo8.jpg

It's got 3-4 servings of vegetables in there alone. I usually have an apple after diner also.

Yeah, deli meats...



I'm guessing that's Pasta Marinara , potatos , carrots , Asparagus , Chicken with Fettuchini sauce? That's what I call brain food. As for me, cooking this the night before and then having it at lunch the next day is not as appealing as simply going out and getting something quick to eat , nevertheless I'm going to need to change the habit sometime and yours seems to be a good alternative.
 
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lisab said:
Whew, I have to agree with Cyrus. Eat a vegetable, GCT! Or maybe a fruit...?

If you really want good food, you're going to have to cook it yourself. And if you must have burgers, at least try buffalo - I love buffalo! Try it, it's heaven. So much better tasting and healthier than beef!

*The buffalo lobby did not pay for this post :smile: *

Hmm ... buffalo? Where do you get your buffalo? Any fast food buffalo restaurants out there? :smile:
 
There is a deli in Phoenix that makes the best pastrami sandwiches. They are about 4 or 5 inches thick ALL MEAT. Sometimes I think some of you here are a little bit too into eating healthy. All it takes is someone to mention a hamburger or a twinkie and they get slammed with "you moron, twinkies will kill you. Have a zucchini instead." Every once in a while its okay to eat a twinkie.
 
  • #10
GCT said:
I'm guessing that's Pasta Marinara , potatos , carrots , Asparagus , Chicken with Fettuchini sauce? That's what I call brain food. As for me, cooking this the night before and then having it at lunch the next day is not as appealing as simply going out and getting something quick to eat , nevertheless I'm going to need to change the habit sometime and yours seems to be a good alternative.

I'll cook that for 2-3 days worth so that I can just mircrowave it. Pasta is a simple boiling water with noodles in it and that's the same with vegetables. The potatoes basically just put olive oil on chopped pieces and then throw any spice you like on it and bake until cooked. Chicken breasts can be done many ways too. All in all, it can be done in 30-35 minutes.

Another alternative that you might like even more because it's easier is to cook a couple chicken breasts (no more than like 3) and slice them up in strips to make chicken wraps. I make wraps with only whole wheat wrap (white is fine, I'm just used to whole wheat), lettuce, tomato and mayo (you can use Miracle Whip or what not, but I'm not too worried about fat content). It's tastes really good and also easy.

Note: It's green beans. :)

Also, deli meats are also bad because of the nitrate found in them. I'm not worried about salt intake. Healthy active individuals should have no worries when it comes to salt.
 
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  • #11
tribdog said:
There is a deli in Phoenix that makes the best pastrami sandwiches. They are about 4 or 5 inches thick ALL MEAT. Sometimes I think some of you here are a little bit too into eating healthy. All it takes is someone to mention a hamburger or a twinkie and they get slammed with "you moron, twinkies will kill you. Have a zucchini instead." Every once in a while its okay to eat a twinkie.

I eat really bad. I just wouldn't waste it on a sandwich.

Last year, I ate half a cheesecake a day. So I ate 3-4 cheesecakes (full ones) a week. After about 3 months, I stopped. I switched to eating half a pan a pizza everyday. Then I went to Quebec City, and while living there because of location and cost and crappy apartment (no fridge or stove), I ate McDonald's everyday and Chez Ashton's (poutine) everyday. And ice cream because the place I worked at sells ice cream.

Since I got back from Quebec City, I haven't ate too much "bad" food. I was thinking of getting onto the cheesecake train again since I miss it, but I don't think I can. I was actually eating chicken wings everyday for about a week. It got expensive and I ran out of chicken wings.

I have about one bad meal a day, but recently, not even that. Maybe 2-3 times a week. (Had a half of pan of pizza today.)

Note: I also consume little to no dairy products except for what is found on pizza and cheesecakes. :) I also do not eat beef or pork. All of which I consider "bad" for ones health.
 
  • #12
GCT said:
Hmm ... buffalo? Where do you get your buffalo? Any fast food buffalo restaurants out there? :smile:

Ya know, I don't think I've seen it in restaurants...but it's readily available in grocery stores where I am (Washington State, US). I don't know where you are but if burgers are a necessary part of your diet, seek it out - it's worth the trouble :approve: .

Where do you live, GCT?

Edit - Just noticed your OP says you're in Georgia!
 
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  • #13
Peach Burgers?
 
  • #14
Sometimes, especially when money is tight, I make my lunches in advance. I usually just make pasta for dinner with enough left over to pack up for two lunches. I also sometimes make redbeans and rice with some hot sausage and that will make for two meals at least. And that's making it from a box (zataran's), I could probably make more and for less if I bought some beans and looked up a recipe. I'm sure it's pretty simple. You can also use left overs for cooking at home too. The other day I made fried spaghetti. It was pretty damn good.
 
  • #15
I do tend to eat out more now that I'm in college. It's very unhealthy, but I try to look for hearty meals and for a good price, I do pretty good. I haven't really gained any weight since high school :biggrin:
 
  • #16
JasonRox said:
Also, deli meats are also bad because of the nitrate found in them. I'm not worried about salt intake. Healthy active individuals should have no worries when it comes to salt.
Yes, it's the preservatives in deli meats that concern me, not the salt. I'm not sure that a fast food burger is any worse than a lot of deli meats if you consider all factors combined.

Burgers are so easy to cook that there's no reason to get bad ones from fast food places for such expensive prices when you can buy a package of lean ground beef and make your own.
 
  • #17
Cyrus said:
Peach Burgers?

That would be interesting , I've heard of putting apples on burgers , not peaches , doesn't seem to be a bad idea really.
 
  • #18
lisab said:
Ya know, I don't think I've seen it in restaurants...but it's readily available in grocery stores where I am (Washington State, US). I don't know where you are but if burgers are a necessary part of your diet, seek it out - it's worth the trouble :approve: .

Where do you live, GCT?

Edit - Just noticed your OP says you're in Georgia!

Yes , the capital of all that is fried - okra , fish , steak etc ...
 
  • #19
Burgers are hard to cook when you live in a dorm, I remember. Never any grills around, not allowed to have hotplates/stoves.
Solution : White Castle/Telway/Chiburger/etc. for the simple burger.
Or if in the southwest : Blake's Lottaburger.

As for that dish in the picture, I look at it and see:
Starch, starch, heavy cream, carbohydrates, salt.
The beans are nice, so is the chicken, but that better not be alfredo/cream sauce or it instantly gets unhealthy.

Last few weeks I got in the habit of:
Cook noodles of some sort (egg or regular) in the pot with a BUNCH of veggies. This means carrots, peas, spinach, green beans, brocolli, etc. Add just a little garlic salt or a very little vegetable bullion. Some garlic, crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, black pepper, some more garlic, maybe a little marjoram for some earthiness. Cook till done, eat for 3 days.
 
  • #20
K.J.Healey said:
Burgers are hard to cook when you live in a dorm, I remember. Never any grills around, not allowed to have hotplates/stoves.
Solution : White Castle/Telway/Chiburger/etc. for the simple burger.
Or if in the southwest : Blake's Lottaburger.

As for that dish in the picture, I look at it and see:
Starch, starch, heavy cream, carbohydrates, salt.
The beans are nice, so is the chicken, but that better not be alfredo/cream sauce or it instantly gets unhealthy.

Last few weeks I got in the habit of:
Cook noodles of some sort (egg or regular) in the pot with a BUNCH of veggies. This means carrots, peas, spinach, green beans, brocolli, etc. Add just a little garlic salt or a very little vegetable bullion. Some garlic, crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, black pepper, some more garlic, maybe a little marjoram for some earthiness. Cook till done, eat for 3 days.

That's actually leftovers from the wedding I went to this weekend. I rarely eat potatoes. I'm eating them now because I eat what's available and what's on my plate. I typically have whole wheat pasta instead. Also, I never put sauce on my chicken. I usually barbecue my chicken or fry it in olive oil with a spice I like. The vegetables I eat for diner are typically within carrots, beans, and asparagus. Salads are more for lunch so spinach, tomatoes, green beans, onions and such go in there.
 
  • #21
K.J.Healey said:
Burgers are hard to cook when you live in a dorm, I remember.

Your dorms don't have a common kitchen? Ours did. Tiny stove and oven that looked like they were from the 60s (when the dorm was built), a sink always full of dirty dishes, a fridge filled with fuzzy food, and a microwave permanently lined with some strange crusty substance. We had 4 large tables too, and since people usually studied at them, they would get washed of crumbs and spills more often, so were a good prep area for cooking once you donned your hazmat suit and cleared a path to the stove and sink. :rolleyes: Certainly adequate to cook up a burger.
 
  • #22
Moonbear said:
Your dorms don't have a common kitchen? Ours did. Tiny stove and oven that looked like they were from the 60s (when the dorm was built), a sink always full of dirty dishes, a fridge filled with fuzzy food, and a microwave permanently lined with some strange crusty substance. We had 4 large tables too, and since people usually studied at them, they would get washed of crumbs and spills more often, so were a good prep area for cooking once you donned your hazmat suit and cleared a path to the stove and sink. :rolleyes: Certainly adequate to cook up a burger.

What year did you go to school?
 
  • #23
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/7002/pict0322db7.jpg

Daily Iranian meal looks more or less like this. This was my dinner tonight. Kidney beans, spinach, pieces of beef, parsley, dill, rice. And other crap. I don't make it so I don't know the parts list. Just the basic stuff in it.
 
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  • #24
That looks and sounds really yummy :biggrin:
 
  • #25
Cyrus said:
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/7002/pict0322db7.jpg

Daily Iranian meal looks more or less like this. This was my dinner tonight. Kidney beans, spinach, pieces of beef, parsley, dill, rice. And other crap. I don't make it so I don't know the parts list. Just the basic stuff in it.

I could never eat that! Sounds good actually, but looks ... bad.

No colors... where's the food fashion!?
 
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  • #26
It has an Middle-Eastern appeal to it , personally I would have cut up the spinach and used about a third of what's in the picture.
 
  • #27
JasonRox said:
I could never eat that! Sounds good actually, but looks ... bad.

No colors... where's the food fashion!?

You have to remember the context of where the food you're eating comes from. The middle east is a dry place with lots of dirt/sand. Most of the plant life there is dark dull green. So in turn, the food is dark dull green. Meat is also harder to come by (less land for farming means less food to feed for animals), so the meat is smaller pieces. No big *** steaks/hamburgers.

Taste is fantastic. Looks, I'll admit takes some getting used ok.
 
  • #28
GCT said:
It has an Middle-Eastern appeal to it , personally I would have cut up the spinach and used about a third of what's in the picture.

It's already cut up fine. Its basically 'chopped' to really thin pieces. Its not like big pieces of steamed spinach. Actually, you don't taste the spinach. What you mainly taste is the beans, the rice, the meat, and lemon. The stew is boiled with whole lemons in it that add flavor. You take them out when you serve it, otherwise you bit into a huge piece of cooked lemon (I've done that a few time) and it's horrible. Keep in mind, Iranian food is not spicy. It all has a lemon/tart flavor. If you want spice, think pakistani/indian.
 
  • #29
Oh, kidney beans. Thank god. I thought it was a roach.
 
  • #30
Cyrus said:
You have to remember the context of where the food you're eating comes from. The middle east is a dry place with lots of dirt/sand. Most of the plant life there is dark dull green. So in turn, the food is dark dull green. Meat is also harder to come by (less land for farming means less food to feed for animals), so the meat is smaller pieces. No big *** steaks/hamburgers.

Taste is fantastic. Looks, I'll admit takes some getting used ok.

Morroco has better looking food than that. So does China, Thailand, and all them places.

I bet if you didn't cook the spinach and added it afterwards, it would probably taste better and more appealing.
 
  • #31
JasonRox said:
Morroco has better looking food than that. So does China, Thailand, and all them places.

I bet if you didn't cook the spinach and added it afterwards, it would probably taste better and more appealing.

Errr, no. That's not how its made. What looks 'funny' to you, is normal to others. Try to think outside your western mindset.
 
  • #32
Cyrus said:
Errr, no. That's not how its made. What looks 'funny' to you, is normal to others. Try to think outside your western mindset.

Um... Morrocan is outside the western mindset...
 
  • #33
Cyrus said:
What looks 'funny' to you, is normal to others.

Same with fashion. You're opinions of what is funny or good could be normal for others.

This can be applied to ANYTHING.
 
  • #34
http://www.casafree.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/20241/normal_tajine-1.jpg

Morrocan looks pretty similar to me.
 
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  • #35
JasonRox said:
Same with fashion. You're opinions of what is funny or good could be normal for others.

This can be applied to ANYTHING.

...okay...:confused:
 
  • #36
Cyrus said:
http://www.casafree.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/20241/normal_tajine-1.jpg

Morrocan looks pretty similar to me.

I love it.
 
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  • #37
GCT said:
I love it.

Yeah, it's very very good stuff. All good as far as I experienced.
 
  • #38
Cyrus said:
It's already cut up fine. Its basically 'chopped' to really thin pieces. Its not like big pieces of steamed spinach. Actually, you don't taste the spinach. What you mainly taste is the beans, the rice, the meat, and lemon. The stew is boiled with whole lemons in it that add flavor. You take them out when you serve it, otherwise you bit into a huge piece of cooked lemon (I've done that a few time) and it's horrible. Keep in mind, Iranian food is not spicy. It all has a lemon/tart flavor. If you want spice, think pakistani/indian.
I'm with you Cyrus, it's all about the taste. That sounds delicious.

Tonight I had one of my favorite dishes, spinach cooked with lemon, soy sauce, hot sauce, parmesan cheese, butter and bread cumbs. It's basically Oysters Rockefeller without the oysters.
 
  • #39
http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/4403/pict0323hl6.jpg

Rice, Potato, green beans, beef, tomatoe paste.

The stuff from last night is 10x better than this though.
 
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  • #40
Cyrus said:
http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/4403/pict0323hl6.jpg

Rice, Potato, green beans, beef, tomatoe paste.

The stuff from last night is 10x better than this though.

Oh wow, that looks - and sounds - terrific!
 
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  • #41
lisab said:
Oh wow, that looks - and sounds - terrific!

Eh, to be honest its kinda so-so. Not exactly my favorite, but it beats eating out. The rice is leftover from last night.
 
  • #42
This morning I made a batch of spam musubi. They didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.
 
  • #43
To answer the o.p. Since we have started turning our food into ethanol, Poultry and beef prices have taken a big increase. Laws of supply and demand, If all the corn is going to make fuel, animal feed is more costly.
 
  • #44
Cyrus said:
Eh, to be honest its kinda so-so. Not exactly my favorite, but it beats eating out. The rice is leftover from last night.

A little red curry paste added to the tomato paste might brighten it up a whole lot. Or perhaps a splash of wine. Sounds and looks like a really tasty starting point and just a little bit of spices might make all the difference. Nice and healthy looking too.
 
  • #45
Cyrus said:
... but it beats eating out...

I've come to the realization that eating out is usually an unpleasant experience.

Now, I can't make dinner for 100 people in one night like a chef can. But the one meal I order, I can make that better at home, almost always. And for a LOT less money.

I don't want to have to wait to ask for more water, wait to ask for a particular condiment, wait to ask for the bill so I can leave. I'm paying a lot of money so that I can wait to ask for service?!?

Maybe I'm just not patient enough, or I'm too cheap, or maybe service has deteriorated over the years.
 
  • #46
Never thought I'd live to see the day that a hamburger could be "gourmet."
 
  • #47
Blame Chef Puck. They now have $200 Wyugu beef hamburgers. No freaking way I'm going to pay that much for a hamburger. I can get a 2/3 pound 100% angus beef burger with all the trimmings, seasoned curly fries, and a drink for $6 at Hardees that will last me 2-3 days.
 
  • #48
Evo said:
Blame Chef Puck. They now have $200 Wyugu beef hamburgers. No freaking way I'm going to pay that much for a hamburger. I can get a 2/3 pound 100% angus beef burger with all the trimmings, seasoned curly fries, and a drink for $6 at Hardees that will last me 2-3 days.

Never had that myself. But I'm mostly contented by a plain old burger king double cheese.

http://www.gomarshall.net/images/bk_double_cheese.jpg

I'm salivating just thinking about it.
 
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  • #49
FrancisZ said:
Never thought I'd live to see the day that a hamburger could be "gourmet."

Most of the hamburgers at fast food places are more or less the same as they have always been. The McDonald's hamburger is the same as the original and apparently so is the White Castle burger. The more you dress it up and the better the ingredients you use the more it is going to cost. I remember watching a documentary on the food network or something about the hamburger and I'm fairly sure that they have had 'gourmet' hamburgers since they first became popular.
 
  • #50
TheStatutoryApe said:
Most of the hamburgers at fast food places are more or less the same as they have always been. The McDonald's hamburger is the same as the original and apparently so is the White Castle burger. The more you dress it up and the better the ingredients you use the more it is going to cost. I remember watching a documentary on the food network or something about the hamburger and I'm fairly sure that they have had 'gourmet' hamburgers since they first became popular.

I'll have to remember then to raise my pinkie next time I'm eating a Nathan's frankfurter too. :smile:
 

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