FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

What's Your Favorite Fast Food Chain of 2008?

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:30:41 -0800

Now that we're beginning our Best of 2008 coverage, we want to know: What gets your vote for favorite fast food restaurant this year?
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Michael Phelps Will Be the New Face of Subway

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:30:14 -0800

Move over, Jared. Subway's got a new guy in town, and his name is Michael Phelps. The mega-medal Olympian continues to score endorsements faster than his swimming records. He's now landed an exclusive fast food deal to represent Subway beginning early next year. As Phelps puts it:

Subway restaurants have always given me the options that I am looking for — whether that's healthy sandwiches before a big meet or the tasty meatball sub that I treat myself with. I was ready to take my Subway fandom to the next level — I really think of Subway as a champion food option.

The exclusive fast food deal has left many industry experts puzzled, considering the swimmer unabashedly campaigned for a relationship with McDonald's during the Summer games. But the announcement isn't the first surprise move by Phelps, who shocked everyone when he declined to appear on the cover of the Wheaties box — as many Olympic champions have done — in favor of endorsing Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes. Do you think Phelps is an appropriate fit for Subway?

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More or Less: Calories in Fast Food

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Since many of you will be traveling over the holidays, fast food may be your only option while on the road. In order to give you a little insight before ordering, take this quiz to check your calorie-count smarts. I'll give you the name of a food and a calorie amount and you tell me if it contains more or less calories.

Question 1

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Wendy's Gourmet Mushroom Swissburger: 1,022 calories

Burger King Goes High-End

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:15:01 -0800

Number two fast food chain Burger King has been testing a new line of premium items. This includes ribs and thicker burgers, made with grills, batch broilers, and other costly new kitchen equipment.

The fast food chain's decision to move in the direction of higher-price items comes at a time when the casual restaurant industry is struggling. National chains have seen declining sales across the board; Burger King is hoping to capitalize on the industry's market share.

CEO John Chidsey said he wouldn't elaborate further "because some things are still under wraps," but the chain's gourmet menu items could be advertised as soon as next Summer.

Still, Burger King has no plans to lose its value menu. "We work the value for the money equation on both ends of our menu," said Russ Klein, Burger King's president of global strategy.

Does Burger King's new strategy surprise you? Do you think the corporation will manage to draw business away from the casual restaurant business?

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Subway Introduces Flatbread Sandwiches

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:30:00 -0800

Today Subway has announced that, beginning next Monday, it will offer flatbread as an option for any of its existing sandwiches, and will also introduce two new sandwiches, Chicken Florentine and a Steak & Bacon Melt, made with flatbread.

In a departure from Subway's signature fresh-baked bread philosophy, the flatbread dough will be baked off premises, then supplied to Subway franchises and finished off in on-site ovens.

With this launch, Subway is attempting to make headway in a tight market that includes other chains such as Dunkin' Donuts and Quiznos, which both already carry flatbread sandwiches. Do you think Subway's new product will take off?

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Healthier Burgers You Custom Build

partysugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:54:08 -0700

Healthier Burgers You Custom Build I am not in the habit of eating at fast-food joints regularly, but when traveling sometimes I just can't avoid them. Next time I'm on the road, I will be looking to feed my family at The Counter.

McDonald's Unveils Global Redesign

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:15:16 -0700

Next month, number one fast-food giant McDonald's will unveil a redesign of all its food products around the world. In what the corporation calls "the most comprehensive rollout in the brand's history," all 118 countries with McDonald's restaurants will launch new designs that advertise the chain's high-quality ingredients. The packaging, developed by UK marketing firm Boxer, draws attention to fresh ingredients and preparation: The new Big Mac box includes images of an onion, slices of cheese, a head of lettuce, and a freshly made hamburger, with the words "100 percent beef" and "all-beef patties" inscribed on the box. The containers will hit the US, UK, and Ireland first. Mary Dillon, global chief marketing officer for McDonald's said:

Our new packaging is a fresh way of sharing McDonald's food quality story with our customers. The more people know about our food, the more they'll love it.

What do you think of the new designs? I think they're refreshing, and McDonald's is counting on them to boost its reputation after it will have to break the news to consumers about switching its Double Cheeseburger to a McDouble burger with only one slice of cheese. Do you think the redesign will cast McDonald's in a more health-positive light?

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Would You Order Pizza on Facebook?

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:31:36 -0700

Last week, fast-food chain Pizza Hut launched an online ordering system on the social networking site Facebook. Now those of you who are addicted to social networking can order dinner without having to exit Facebook! For extra-quick reordering, the application also remembers your favorites. Source and Source

Would You Order Pizza on Facebook?

Yes, I already have!

Sure. I love Pizza Hut and I love Facebook. How convenient!

No, it just seems stupid.

Other — see my comments below.

The Counter: Healthier Burgers You Custom Build

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:45:00 -0700

I am not in the habit of eating at fast-food joints regularly, but when traveling sometimes I just can't avoid them. Next time I'm on the road, I will be looking to feed my family at The Counter. New on the fast food scene, The Counter is going to revolutionize the way we eat burgers. With over 312,120 possible burger combinations, this restaurant allows you to customize your meal anyway you like.

Using a clipboard menu, you build the burger exactly how you want starting with the protein: certified humane beef, turkey burger, veggie burger, or grilled chicken. There are 10 cheese options, and you also get to choose five toppings from a long list including carrot strings, dried cranberries, hardboiled eggs, avocado, and sun-dried tomatoes. Further customize your burger by selecting a sauce and bread. I love that there are healthy choices in each category so you're not just stuck with beef high in saturated fat, iceberg lettuce, and a white flour bun.

To see a sample of their menu

McDonald's Dollar Menu Here to Stay

YumSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:00:43 -0700

Top fast food chain McDonald's announced its third-quarter earnings today, and made reassurances that it would continue its efforts to be "recession-resistant."

The corporation made sure to squash swirling rumors that its dollar menu may become a thing of the past. There will, in fact, still be a dollar menu. "We advertised it heavily in September," said COO Ralph Alvarez. "We wouldn't have done that if we were going to be walking away from it."

McDonald's has, however, been testing the menu's key item, the double cheeseburger, at higher prices and with one piece of cheese rather than two, as a result of the rising commodity costs. "We expect to have a decision [on the double cheeseburger] soon," said CEO Jim Skinner. Will you be watching to see what's on the new dollar menu?

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