History Main / FastFoodNation

[[quoteright:350:[[Website/{{Thrillist}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fast_food_2.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[http://www.gallup.com/poll/163868/fast-food-major-part-diet.aspx Fast food is a major part of the U.S.'s diet.]]]]

* ''Manga/The100GirlfriendsWhoReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLoveYou'': Naddy, a [[ForeignCultureFetish self-proclaimed "Yankee"]], idolizes the local McDonalds equivalent and eats at it in almost all her spotlight chapters. A recurring gag is that since she spent most of her life being raised as a YamatoNadeshiko, her stomach isn't big enough to finish a large-sized meal, but she keeps ordering it anyway.

* In ''Fanfic/MiraculousThePhoenixRises'', the eight food groups on the updated, corporate-sponsored food pyramid are Mcdonalds, Popeyes, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Coca-Cola, prescription painkillers, and [[BreadMilkEggsSquick cigarettes]].

For examples to count as this trope, the use of this stereotype must be ''deliberate.'' How deliberately this trope is used is generally evident from the way it's played. It's most likely unintentional if the characters' low-nutrient, high-calorie diet has no plot significance and makes no impact on their health or physique, much like a dietary version of FriendsRentControl. In more extreme, {{Anvilicious}} examples, typical Americans may be portrayed as morbidly obese, or actively dying because of their diets. The most extreme examples tend to be limited to political cartoons, works making a point about the evils of a junk food-based diet, and works attempting the "'Murica the Boorish" variant of {{Eagleland}}. If the latter, the engorged Americans are likely to be arrogant, obnoxious, and mean as well.

It's worth noting that there are some [[TruthInTelevision grains of truth in this trope]]. The idea that Americans eat too much fast food is indeed a stereotype that exists across the world, due in no small part to fast-food restaurants being one of the States' biggest cultural exports. There's also the fact that, on the whole, Americans ''do'' rely on fast and convenient food more than is ideal. However, the causes of that trend are much more complex than "Americans have no self-control." Many Americans' lifestyles have become so busy and fast-paced that fast food may be the only viable option for the amount of time available to eat. Fast food is also often cheaper, at least in the short term, than buying large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. This is why many of the heaviest consumers of fast food are in the lower income brackets.

* In the South-Korean animated series ''Animation/{{Pucca}}'', the first appearance of recurring villains [[{{Eagleland}} Texas Lugie]] and his wife has them open a fast food restaurant with fattening and highly addictive food, causing the villagers to become really fat and out of shape.

* In ''Fanfic/MiraculousThePhoenixRises'', the eight food groups on the updated, corporate sponsored food pyramid are Mcdonalds, Popeyes, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Coca-Cola, prescription painkillers, and [[BreadMilkEggsSquick cigarettes]].

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': Occasionally, the fast-food available at local hangout Marty's Malt Shop is alluded to. In a radio episode, "Dress Code Protest", Stretch Snodgrass mentions to Miss Brooks he would have won a hamburger eating contest had he not unexpectedly fainted and knocked himself out against the table. Miss Brooks is sickened to find out that the first prize for the winner of the contest was a ''banana split''.

* Music/ElvisPresley was famously known for obsessing over peanut butter and banana sandwiches, even sometimes eating it deep fried and with bacon and vanilla ice-cream. In his later years, he was even known to fly his private jet during touring just to go to his favorite diner that famously sold them.

* The CreepyPasta ''Burgrr'' is about a fast-food chain that... appears in the middle of the protagonist's hometown one day, and he's the only one who notices how disgusting and unhealthy the food is. ''Everyone'', from his nasty old bag of a neighbor to primetime news anchors, eats it except him, with the implication being that it's subsumed across all of America....

* Satirized in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' where in "Ass Burgers", it turns out that the fast food joints of the United States are all a militarized gangster-like organization (they only claim to be rivals in the public image but are actually collaborators) intent on monopolizing America's entire food market and when Cartman's burger stand becomes instantly popular, they try to get Stan to give up the recipe for Cartman Burgers simply for taking away their customers in a small mountain town at most. These major billionaire fast food chains in America do not even sit well with small kiddie stands on the street selling foods.

* Morgan Spurlock's documentary ''Film/SuperSizeMe'' paints America as obsessed with [=McDonald's=] and the titular super-size option, to the point of health risk without care by the corporation. The core of the film is about Spurlock eating only [=McDonald's=] food for a month on only [=McDonalds=] food, causing significant weight gain, cholesterol increase, and some immediate physical and emotional illness. [[DocumentaryOfLies The significance of these results have been criticized]], mostly because Spurlock didn't keep a precise record of what he ate (so one can't tell if the stated 5000 Calories per day came from oversized portions or ordering too many items per day) and his body's reaction was definitely exacerbated by his diet ''changing'' so suddenly (he had been on a vegan diet for some time before).

* GrumpyBear Vincent's entire stash in ''WesternAnimation/OverTheHedge'' is composed of junk food, with Pringles {{expy}} Spuddies regarded as the epitome of foodstuffs. When [=RJ=] the raccoon has to replenish this stockpile, he and his friends raid human suburbs, where junk food seems to be their sole staple.

As befits a nation comprised of many different cultures, UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates sports a [[UsefulNotes/CuisinesInAmerica unique range of regional culinary traditions]]. This is true all over the country, from the massive cultural melting-pots of major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to the small-but-proud traditions of the rural heartland. Most Americans are perfectly aware of this; they will practically come to blows arguing over which of the nation's many regional BBQ styles reigns supreme, what ingredients a bowl of chili should contain, or exactly what constitutes the perfect amount of spice on spicy chicken.

Likewise, many American culinary traditions are built on regional ingredients. Texans are bullish on beef while the Deep South is partial to pork. Coastal regions from Alaska to Florida sing of their seafood. Even the vaunted Cajun and Creole cuisines of Louisiana are based on foods located in and around the bayou, such as alligator, frog, and crawfish.

Sometimes, however, a creator will ''intentionally'' portray junky fast food as a major part -- if not the majority or even entirety -- of what Americans eat. They will deliberately dispose of the vast variety of vittles available in most any given region, and portray ridiculous NutritionalNightmare Fuel as the only dishes desired by Americans. When this happens, America is being portrayed as a ''Fast-Food Nation''.

It's worth noting that there are some [[TruthInTelevision grains of truth in this trope]]. The idea that Americans eat too much fast food is indeed a stereotype that exists across the world, due in no small part to fast-food restaurants being one of the States' biggest cultural exports. There's also the fact that, on the whole, Americans ''do'' rely on fast and convenience food more than is ideal. However, the causes of that trend are much more complex than "Americans have no self-control." Many Americans' lifestyles have become so busy and fast-paced that fast food may be the only viable option for the amount of time available to eat. Fast food is also often cheaper, at least in the short term, than buying large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. This is why many of the heaviest consumers of fast food are in the lower income brackets.

-> "And should Armageddon come, should a foreign enemy someday shower the United States with nuclear warheads, laying waste to the whole continent, entombed within Cheyenne Mountain, along with the high-tech marvels, the pale blue jumpsuits, comic books, and Bibles, future archaeologists may find other clues to the nature of our civilization: Big King wrappers, hardened crusts of Cheesy Bread, Barbeque Wing bones, and the red, white, and blue of a Domino's Pizza Box."

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': The show revolves around the Winchester Brothers as they drive around the country, hunting ghosts, demons, and monsters. Dean Winchester is a big aficionado of junk food, never giving up the chance to pig out on burgers, fries, and pie wherever they go (and yet [[NeverGetsFat somehow]] still manages to always look as thin and toned as Creator/JensenAckles). Sam Winchester, meanwhile, tries to eat healthy and is always seen regarding his brother's eating habits with disapproval. Deconstructed in Season 7, when it's revealed that the Leviathans' plot involves using a food additive to turn America's entire population into fat, complacent, [[HumanResources human cattle ripe for harvesting]].