Americans are ditching Thanksgiving cooking for fast food. Where will Florida grab dinner?
Out with the turkey and stuffing, in with the burger and fries!
A new study from Casino uncovered the most visited drive-thru lanes on Thanksgiving and motivations behind the culinary shift.
Experts conducted a Google Trends analysis to find the most sought-after fast food chain for a state-by-state breakdown. They surveyed 2,000 Americans to unveil the reasons behind their turkey to “finger-lickin’ good” fast food swap.
Last year, ABC News reported that 84% of Americans were turning to other methods to cut back on rising food costs for Thanksgiving, including takeout and fast food items. While turkeys are cheaper this year compared to last November, data from the American Farm Bureau Federation still shows that overall food costs are high, especially when it comes to popular holiday side dishes.
Which could lead to another year of takeout and fast food meals. But is it actually cheaper to eat our? And regardless, which fast food chain are Floridians ditching their typical holiday spreads for?
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What Florida drive-thru are Floridians heading to on Thanksgiving?
It's Bojangles!
Floridians can't help grabbing some Bojangles Famous Chicken and Biscuits, even on a national holiday, according to the study. The Southeastern-based chain specializes in Cajun-seasoned fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits.
Georgia also joined Florida for hitting up Bojangles on the holiday. On Thanksgiving, the chain will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What is the top fast food restaurant Americans are heading to on Thanksgiving?
McDonald’s reigns as America’s #1 Thanksgiving take-out order, according to 16 states.
While the Chicago-based chain doesn't serve turkey or stuffing, swap the mashed potatoes for a large fry or a large apple pie for their personalized ones. And a Big Mac is enough to satisfy your cravings.
On Thanksgiving, hours will vary by location because most restaurants are independently owned and operated. You'll have to give your local store a ring before heading to the drive-thru.
What are the top fast food chains to visit on Thanksgiving?
McDonald's - 16 states
Wendy's - six states
Burger King - five states
KFC - three states
In-N-Out, Bojangles and Popeyes - two states
Jack in the box, Wawa, Domino’s, White Castle, Whataburger, and Papa John’s - one state
Why are people skipping the holiday turkey for everyday fast food?
Approximately 21.7% of respondents said it was due to being too lazy when it comes to cooking a grand Thanksgiving meal for their friends and family. Following closely behind, another 20.4% said they did not have the time to prepare a traditional turkey dinner.
Another 17.8% skip the holiday all together, but celebrate their love for fast food instead. 15.8% find it cheaper to buy take-out, while 7.9% deem fast food as less food waste. 5.9% have plans to travel during the holiday.
Additionally, 10.5% of respondents cooked-up "other" reasons, such as “just trying something different this year,” “family will be out of town,” and “we get takeout every year, as there’s just the two of us and it’s more relaxing.”
Is fast food, take-out actually cheaper than a Thanksgiving meal?
While the idea of grabbing your family's Thanksgiving meals at a drive-thru might sound easier and cheaper, it isn't in some cases.
Michael Swanson, agriculture economist with Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, told USA TODAY that the cost of food away from home has increased at a faster rate (about 6%) than food at home from a standard grocery trip (2.4%).
The American Farm Bureau Federation projected the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people at $64.05 last year, with experts saying the cost will be similar this year due to turkey prices being down.
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Bojangles can actually be cheaper, according to their menu. You can score a 20 piece chicken meal for $51.99. It includes 20 pieces of seasoned chicken, 10 made-from-scratch biscuits, 4 sides (mashed potatoes, green beans, rice and beans), and a gallon of tea.
It has even cheaper dinners with fewer items or you can go for the individual meals over the family dinner options.
But what about McDonald's, how much is a dinner for a family of ten? With entrees running from $8.99 to $11.89, patrons can expect to spend anywhere from $90 to $120 on their Thanksgiving meal.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Top fast food on Thanksgiving is McDonald's. Here's Florida's favorite
