The Drive-Thru Dilemma: Why We Keep Eating What We Don’t Even Taste

How Autopilot Habits and Mindlessness Are Erasing Joy from Our Plates

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A few years ago, when I ate out more than I do now, I was sitting in my car in front of a restaurant with outdoor seating.

As I waited, my eyes shifted to a middle-aged guy at a table whose fries were disappearing with the kind of urgency that made me wonder if he tasted a single bite.

When the waitress came by to collect the tab, flustered and rushed, he handed her his card without looking up. Just a quick swipe, a nod, and back to the scroll. Never missing a beat!

I felt sad watching this because it had a strange familiarity. I’ve eaten like that before, hungry for something I couldn’t name.

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America’s relationship with food has become a lot like that distracted customer scrolling through their smartphone.

We operate on autopilot when we eat and have a complete disconnect with what’s on our plate.