Study: More Americans ditched turkey for FAST FOOD on Thanksgiving

11/29/2023 / By Olivia Cook

More Americans have opted for fast food items instead of traditional roast turkey for Thanksgiving, according to a study.

The study by Casino.org involved a nationwide survey of 2,000 American residents in 16 states, alongside a Google Trends analysis to find the most sought-after fast food chains. They then listed down the Top 6 fast food chains Americans opt for instead of standard Thanksgiving fare.

McDonald’s took the No. 1 spot for Thanksgiving take-out in 16 states. Wendy’s followed at No. 2, and Burger King took the third spot. Chicken joint KFC landed at No. 4.

Three restaurants – In-N-Out, Bojangles and Popeyes – tied for fifth place. Six establishments – Jack in the Box, Wawa, Domino’s, White Castle, Whataburger and Papa John’s – shared the No. 6 spot in the list.

But according to industry adviser David Portalatin, the spike in fast food could also mean that Americans are eating it on top of their Thanksgiving meal. “People may use fast food on Thanksgiving for a convenient breakfast,” he added.

Portalain, who also serves as the senior vice president for the food and food service markets at consumer analytics firm Circana, nevertheless insisted that Americans have not overwhelmingly given up on traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Fast food reportedly more convenient than traditional fare

According to the survey, 84 percent of the respondents turned to fast food restaurants for Thanksgiving. Of that number, 21.7 percent confessed that they were just “being lazy” when it comes to cooking a special holiday meal at home. The sentiment is understandable, given how most households practically spend an entire day cooking up a feast to share.

Meanwhile, 20.4 percent said “they don’t have the time” to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. This only attests to the convenience that fast food brings – at the cost of potential health issues down the line.

Nearly 16 percent of respondents said they chose fast food as it was “cheaper” than cooking, helping them save money. Almost eight percent of respondents said having fast food for Thanksgiving amounted to “less food waste.” The concerns over cost aren’t unfounded, however.

A recent report from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) said while prices of Thanksgiving dinner standards are “just a slight bit lower than 2022’s historically high prices,” they were still nevertheless out of reach for most.

“A classic Thanksgiving feast for 10, costing $61.17 total, rings in at about $6.12 less per person,” the AFBF said. “That’s still 25 percent higher than the cost of the same meal in 2019 — an increase many Americans simply won’t be able to absorb long term.” (Related: Thanksgiving dinner in 1909 for just 50 cents reveals how much of America’s wealth has been stolen by the Federal Reserve.)

It’s hard for most Americans to imagine Thanksgiving without sharing this mouth-watering big bird, with all the trimmings, flavorful stuffing and buttery mashed potatoes on the side, as the centerpiece of the holiday table with family and close friends. And to some, bucking this tradition may seem sacrilegious.

“It’s clear that Americans love convenience and fast food,” wrote Casino.org’s Rhiannon Odonohoe. Indeed, fast food items are here to stay – even after Thanksgiving.

Watch the following video to learn how some Americans craft their “perfect fast-food Thanksgiving feast.”

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.