There are a million reasons why you probably shouldn't eat fast food. It's unhealthy, it's not actually that cheap (cooking saves a lot of money), it's bad for the environment—but I'm not here to argue about any of those things. They're true. But it's convenient—nobody can deny that—and when you find yourself in need of fries, here are some tips.
1. Wendy's 4 for $4, the right way
In October 2015, Wendy's introduced a hit deal—4 for $4. A small drink ("small" is deceiving; it's 20oz, almost 2 normal-sized cans), 4 chicken nuggets, small fries, and a choice of around 8 smaller menu items. These include the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, Crispy Chicken BLT, and my personal favorite, the Grilled Chicken Wrap.
I can't give my tip here without a proper discussion on the "temperature vs. food enjoyment" factor. Hold on tight, because it's about to get all pseudo-sciencey up in here. Most foods are optimally enjoyed at a certain temperature range. There are exceptions, like coffee (which people like cold and hot), but for the most part, people like their soup hot and their cereal cold. And when you have so many options to choose from, it can be hard to start in the right place.
This is because each food has a "temperature vs. food enjoyment" factor that you can think of like a half-life. That's right. I'm saying that some items NEED to be eaten right away, and some can take the hit—you can eat them later and still enjoy them just as much as if you ate them first.
So here's the conclusion that I found after years of research, the nation's top scientists, and my own personal investigation skills; eat the nuggets first. The nuggets are just amazing when eaten fresh and piping hot, and quickly turn to mushy cold meat if you wait too long. As for what to eat second, the jury's still out. Some of it depends on if you like your fries cold, and which entree you ordered. Your best bet is to figure that part out yourself.
2. Get the app
Figured I'd do you all a favor and make this one nice and short. It's simple: get the app. Here are a few of my favorites:
McDonald's: they consistently have amazing deals, like $1 burgers, free fries on Friday, and too many McCafe deals to count.
Wendy's: $2 off any full-size salad. Really, if you have the phone space, just download it. Who doesn't like free money?
Chick-Fil-A: they don't actually have deals or offers, but they will give you free "treats" for scanning the app when you make purchases. Also, their salads are good.
3. McCoke
Fun fact: McDonald's Coke actually does taste different, for a whole host of reasons. If you're curious, the link is in the text, but the important part is that McCokes are a way of life. McDonald's is a strong contender in the drinks business with the McCoke alone, and that's not even mentioning their sweet tea.
