Introduction
Fast food is often seen as an inexpensive and convenient option for a quick meal. However, some fast-food restaurants offer add-ons that can quickly add up to an expensive meal. From premium burgers to extra-large drinks, these add-ons can be tempting, but they can also be a waste of money. In this article, we’ll look at five of the most expensive fast-food add-ons to skip. We’ll discuss why they’re expensive and offer some alternatives that can help you save money.
5 Expensive Fast-Food Add-Ons To Skip
Fast-food restaurants are known for their convenience and affordability, but some of their add-ons can be surprisingly expensive. Here are five fast-food add-ons that you should avoid if you want to save money.
1. Extra Cheese
Extra cheese can add a lot of flavor to your meal, but it can also add a lot of cost. Many fast-food restaurants charge extra for extra cheese, and the cost can add up quickly. If you want to save money, skip the extra cheese.
2. Bacon
Bacon is a popular add-on for many fast-food meals, but it can be surprisingly expensive. Many restaurants charge extra for bacon, and the cost can add up quickly. If you want to save money, skip the bacon.
3. Special Sauces
Many fast-food restaurants offer special sauces that can add a lot of flavor to your meal. However, these sauces can also be surprisingly expensive. If you want to save money, skip the special sauces.
4. Extra Toppings
Extra toppings can add a lot of flavor to your meal, but they can also add a lot of cost. Many fast-food restaurants charge extra for extra toppings, and the cost can add up quickly. If you want to save money, skip the extra toppings.
5. Premium Drinks
Premium drinks can be a great way to add a little something extra to your meal, but they can also be surprisingly expensive. Many fast-food restaurants charge extra for premium drinks, and the cost can add up quickly. If you want to save money, skip the premium drinks.
Grabbing a quick meal on the go is always the easiest at a fast food restaurant. Whether you run in and get a sandwich or tacos from the cashier, order via the app, or hit the drive-thru for your fix, it’s one of America’s favorite ways to dine out. It’s also affordable unless you let those expensive little add-ons add up without noticing.
Over the years, fast-food chains have mastered the upsell. Would you like a large instead? Do you want to add bacon or get a bigger drink? How about an extra pump of syrup?
We spoke with restaurant experts, chefs, and dietitians to see what the impact of adding on to your fast food order has on your wallet and your waistline, and what they think you should skip when placing your order.
Almost every expert we spoke with cautioned against upgrading your meal from a small or medium to a large option, due to the cost, calories, sodium, and sugar.
“Meal deals with fries and a large drink included,” says Cheryl Orlansky RDN, LD, CDCES, “It may come out to be a better deal cost wise, however, they are marketing more food; more calories than you really need to eat at one meal.”
“Supersizing drinks when that’s not your true desire literally just adds a surplus of additional sugar into your meal,” Shena Jaramillo MS, RD, told us. “Adding on the fries and soda to the meal when it wasn’t our intent can cause us to overeat and feel sluggish.” It will also boost the bill.
“Another fast food add-on that isn’t worth the money or extra calories is the ‘super-sized’ option,” says Raymond Neil, chef and contributor at TrishDevineKitchen.com. “The supersized option is often appealing because it seems like a great deal, but it’s actually a bad idea. Not only does it add extra calories, but it also often comes with a large amount of sodium, sugar, and fat. It can also be more expensive than buying two regular-sized items.”
Starbucks can be a lifesaver when energy’s lagging, but it’s easy to add dollars and calories to your coffee order, says Dan Gallagher, RD, Aegle Nutrition. “Many Starbucks drinks automatically come with a ton of sugar and artificial sweeteners, so those extra syrup pumps aren’t worth it. Your wallet—and your body—doesn’t need all that extra stuff! Additional pumps are $.80, which adds up when you are consistently ordering them time and time again.”
It also adds up for Starbucks who is making billions on these little extras.
While your taste buds might like the cheese, the calories aren’t worth it, says Megan Wong, RD at Algae Cal. “If you ‘upgrade’ from a hamburger to a cheeseburger at In-N-Out, the amount of sodium (salt) jumps from an already high 650 milligrams to a shocking 1000 milligrams! This is a lot, given that most people should have no more than 1500 to 2300 milligrams of sodium throughout their entire day.”
If you’re trying to keep your check average, and calories and sodium down, avoid bacon add-ons, says Wong. “At Shake Shack, adding two slices of bacon means 70 extra calories, 45 of which come from fat, and 290 mg of additional sodium,” she explained.
Extra bacon at Shake Shake also adds $2 and fast-food bacon is never as crispy as it should be.
Adding stuffing to your crust means adding calories, cost, and not that much flavor, says Raymond Neil, chef and contributor at TrishDevineKitchen.com. “When it comes to pizza, stuffed crusts are one of the least healthy options,” he says. “These crusts are usually filled with cheese and other processed ingredients, making them a calorie bomb. In addition to the extra calories, these crusts can also be expensive. You’re better off getting a regular crust and adding extra toppings if you want to make your pizza more flavorful.”
Tanya Edwards