For decades, fast-food has been America’s common denominator.
No matter if you were rich or poor or somewhere in the middle, you could always count on a quick, cheap meal at a burger joint, fried chicken restaurant or taco shop.
Today, fast-food is still – fast. However, many argue it is no longer cheap.
According to data collected by FinanceBuzz, fast-food menu prices have risen between 39% and 100% over the past decade, outpacing inflation. McDonald’s prices have doubled; Popeyes is up 86% and Taco Bell prices have climbed by 81%.
Inflation, meanwhile, has risen 31% since 2014, the financial news outlet reported.
At most quick-service restaurants, a meal deal will cost you more than $10, if not closer to $20. This has led to a quiet revolution: More adult customers are opting for kids’ meals.
According to industry research firm Circana, the number of children’s meals placed by adults was up 28% in 2024 compared with 2019. Another data point, as the Wall Street Journal reports, is that Yelp reviews for kids’ meals were higher in December 2024 than any month since 2019.
“It’s satisfying, cheaper, less calories, and sometimes there’s a little prize or treat,” C.J. Person, a retired teacher in North Carolina, told the Journal.
Are adults technically allowed to order kids’ meals? Probably not. Most restaurants have an age limit policy, but they are rarely enforced.
Another factor likely driving this trend is the explosion of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which slow down the digestive system so people feel fuller, longer. This may be pushing adults toward smaller portions, the Journal reports.
