As far as the present moment is concerned, is it generally more cost-effective to buy hot food from a convenience store than it is to buy hot food from a fast-food restaurant?
I suppose that would depend on the convenience store. There are great convenience stores such as Buc-ee’s, Wawa, QuikTrip, and some 7-Elevens as examples. Then there are some non-so-great convenience stores which only offer junk food.
On a long road trip, I often use Pilot, Love’s and Flying-J locations. I guess these are technically truck stops, but the gas is usually found at a lower price than regular gas stations and some of them are extremely nice with great food.
Prefer to purchase ready-to-eat items at the grocery store. Sandwiches, salads, fruit, hot items. Items have expiration dates, and you get to see what you’re purchasing. Convenient. No tipping saves $$.
Convenience stores may be convenient and fast food places may be fast, then again, maybe not.
Convenience stores I would suspect probably don’t have cellphoen apps, but most fast food places do. When I am in town and hungry I juggle between Costco food court or McDonalds or Jack In The Box (we have limited options). I look at the apps and see what deals there are. In the case of McDonalds, their app doesn’t always show the deal I got last but I click on the “buy it again” type link and seem to get the same deal price. Cheating or a glitch? I dunno but if I can’t get the deal, I don’t get the food.
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I just realized why people love restaurants so much. I have been watching cooking shows and they smother steaks in salt before cooking and then cook it by spooning butter all over it.
We don’t normally know what they do to our food and what they put in it and why it may be so unhealthy. We don’t ask, we just enjoy!
On road trips I stick with fast-food places. The offerings at Love’s, Pilot, etc. are less predictable and more expensive. I do buy trail mix, fruit, or other snacks when stopping for gas but if I’m hungry enough for a meal I’ll look for a McDonald’s. You know exactly what you’re going to get. Plus I have enough points in my app for free meals.