The convenience of fast food joints is unmatched when you want a hot meal ready quickly. Despite the stigma of a burger and fries being unhealthy, a fully loaded burger with vegetables, cheese, meat and carbs is a balanced meal with a wide range of food groups. Plus the complex carbs in the fries serve to be filling in a pinch.
However, grocery chains these days are picking up that consumers want to be able to eat quickly without having to plan out an entire meal and are offering ready-to-go meals with sandwiches, a side of fruit or veggies and sometimes a dessert. These pre-packaged foods are anywhere from $5-$10 for a meal, and can be obtained faster if the customer just picks up a package and goes to self checkout. While the food might not be hot, a whole sandwich and side salad is just as filling as a burger plus people on food stamps can enjoy ready-made meals from a grocery store as well.
What makes these meals special is that they are usually fresh, made that day using the store’s fresh produce that the consumer doesn’t have to think about preparing, and they’re at the front of the store where they’re easy to see and grab. With access comes popularity, and people in low-income neighborhoods or those in a food desert will now have access to full meals that they don’t have to spend time planning and preparing. In comparison to a fast food joint that serves food that’s been frozen then fried, grocery stores with quick options for fresh food that’s available to anyone, even those on food stamps, are upping the game.
