For decades, fast food has been the common denominator in America.
Whether you’re rich or poor, or somewhere in the middle, you can always count on a simple, cheap meal at a burger joint, fried chicken restaurant or taco shop.
Fast food is still fast today. But many people argue that it’s no longer cheap.
Fast food menu prices have risen from 39% to 100% over the past decade, surpassing inflation, according to data collected by FinanceBuzz. McDonald’s prices have doubled. Popeyes rose 86%, while Taco Bell prices rose 81%.
Meanwhile, inflation has risen 31% since 2014, Financial News Outlet reported.
Most quick service restaurants will cost you $10 or more if you don’t get close to $20 due to your meal agreement. This led to a quiet revolution. More adult customers are choosing their children’s meals.
According to industry research firm Circana, the number of children’s meals placed by adults increased by 28% in 2024 compared to 2019. As the WallStreet Journal reports, Yelp reviews in December 2024 were higher than in December 2024. Any month after 2019.
A picture of a tray at the McDonald’s Corporation restaurant displays a happy meal. (Getty Images)
“It’s satisfying, inexpensive, low in calories, and sometimes there’s a little prize or snack,” CJ, a retired North Carolina teacher, told the Journal.
Are adults technically permitted to order children’s meals? Probably not. Most restaurants have an age-restriction policy, but are rarely enforced.
Another factor that could drive this trend is the explosion of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which slows the digestive system and makes people feel longer and longer. This could be pushing adults to a smaller extent, the journal reports.
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