Millennials have a love/hate relationship with chain restaurants. On the surface, the concept is a stroke of business genius. Opening the same chains in every city creates instant brand recognition, familiar menus, and a plethora of beloved dishes. Plus, let’s not forget the appeal of lower prices. In this economy, we’ll take what we can get! But let’s peel back the layers and take a closer look beyond the comfort and familiarity.
The food might be budget-friendly, but deep down, we know it’s not exactly culinary excellence. The corporations that oversee these chains have a different set of priorities, with profit often taking center stage. Quality, sadly, may not be their top concern. Also, have you ever checked out the nutritional information of the dishes at Applebee’s?
TV Dinners
In theory, we completely understand the appeal of buying a complete meal all at once. After all, who has the time or energy to spend hours at the store, preparing, cooking, and dealing with the dreaded cleanup? Convenience was the name of the game. It only makes sense to choose a quick and easy solution like prepackaged meals.
The downside is that we now know these processed meals were often not the healthiest choices. But hey, it's what baby boomers grew up eating. Our version of TV dinners? Whip up a quick meal, grab a plate, and settle in front of the TV.
Buffets
Buffets that offer unlimited servings of low-quality fare are always a bad idea. Seriously, why hasn’t the world wised up to this one yet? And we're not just talking about the subpar food choices. There's always that one person who carelessly runs their grubby hands all over the food. Germs and bacteria thrive and multiply in the bins where the food sits.
If food isn’t maintained at the proper temperature, the risks multiply. Food safety experts don't exactly give buffets a glowing endorsement. But if you find yourself at a buffet, proceed with caution. Steer clear of raw vegetables and seafood like your life depends on it.
Paper Napkins
Boomers, this one is unforgivable. Think of how many paper napkins you have to go through in one meal. Like a bajillion! The oceans are choking, and you’re to blame. New market research suggests that paper napkins are on the decline, and guess who's getting the blame (credit)? You guessed it—millennials.
The age-old tradition of napkins seems to be experiencing a shift, and millennials are at the forefront of the revolution. It seems that people believe paper towels can easily replace paper napkins when the budget is a concern or cloth napkins if environmental worries take precedence. Hopefully, the world will adopt cloth napkins en-masse in due course.
Cornflakes
If you’re a Boomer, chances are that you’re deeply nostalgic for brands like Kellogg's Frosted Flakes K and Hostess. And when Saturday mornings meant plopping down in front of the TV, eyes glued to the screen, and a bowl of cereal in hand. But let's take a moment to talk about the most snooze-worthy cereal to ever grace our breakfast bowls: cornflakes.
Admit it - cornflakes are the epitome of blandness. These toasted, flavorless flakes of corn put up zero excitement for the taste buds. We don’t get the appeal of a sad, soggy puddle of flavorless sorrow in milk.