When Hunger Strikes: The Great Vegan Fast Food Fiasco

Some days just disappear before you even realize it. That’s how it was for us the other day—my partner and I were running around, doing our usual errands, when we suddenly realized we hadn’t eaten all day and all the food options were closing down.

I think you can guess where we ended up…You might ask yourself, “How hard can it be to find a vegan meal at a fast food place?” Very difficult, as it turns out.

“Do you have any vegan options I asked with apprehension?” The cashier’s puzzled look said it all. “We have the Impossible Burger,” they finally responded. Great, I thought, until I remembered it comes with a bun. We’re gluten-free. Strike one.

"Can we get the Impossible Burger without the bun?" I asked, trying to keep it straightforward. The look we got back was a mix of confusion and slight annoyance. After some back-and-forth, we finally managed to order two bunless Impossible patties with lettuce, tomato, and mustard. Add in two fries and waters and we were ready to roll on out of “Satan’s drive through.”

After what felt like forever, our order was finally ready. The total? $27. Yes, you read that right. Two waters, two bun-less Impossible patties with some lettuce, a slice of tomato, mustard, add two fries and two waters and you have a real world example of exploitation.

We want to support Burger King offering vegan options because it’s important for people to have accessible plant-based choices. However, we also want these options to be priced fairly.

We were kind of disgusted by how ridiculous it was. It’s crazy to think you can raise and slaughter an animal for a $2 meal, but two plant-based patties and some fries cost us $27. It just shows how backwards our food system really is.

As we sat there eating our overpriced, disappointing meal, we couldn’t help but think about what we’d just paid for. It was frustrating, but it reminded us why we stick to our choices, even when it’s far from easy.

We, as a society, need to stand up to these cruel industries. We must demand options for vegans or those who simply want a meat-free choice to help the planet. It’s time to tell these corporate giants that we are not okay with how we are supposed to live. Our choices should be respected, and sustainable, ethical options should be accessible and affordable for everyone.

We’re not giving up. We’ll keep speaking out for better options, sticking to what we believe, and pushing for real change. It’s frustrating, sure, but that’s exactly why we’re doing it. We know things need to shift, and we’re in it for the long haul.