NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE DAY

National Chocolate Milkshake Day on September 12th brings chocolate and ice cream lovers together. Forget the calories for just this one day and enjoy a sweet tall, thick and delicious, chocolate milkshake!

The term milkshake first appeared in print in 1885. During this period, milkshake referred to an alcoholic beverage described as a “sturdy, healthful eggnog type of drink” blended with eggs, whiskey, and other ingredients. Pharmacies served the drink as a tonic and a treat to customers. By 1900, pharmacies offered this “wholesome drink” with either chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla syrup. 

  • The early 1900s – People began asking for this “new treat” with a scoop of ice cream.
  • 1911 – Hamilton Beach’s drink mixers began to be used at soda fountains.
  • 1922 – Steven Poplawski invented the electric blender or drink mixer.
  • Due to the invention of the blender, the milkshake began to take a chipped, aerated, and frothy form as they are today.
  • By the 1920s & 1930s, milkshakes became a popular drink at malt shops everywhere. 

Another addition to the milkshake was malted milk powder. Made from malted barley, wheat flour, and dehydrated whole milk, malted milk tastes a bit like toasted caramel. It made its debut around the 1870s as a shelf-stable dry milk product. Add the powder to a chocolate milkshake, and transform the creamy goodness into a malted chocolate milkshake. Along with milkshakes, malted milk milkshakes became popular drinks at soda fountains around the 1920s. 

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HOW TO OBSERVE #ChocolateMilkshakeDay

Enjoy a chocolate milkshake at your favorite restaurant or soda fountain. Or try a malted version, especially if you’ve never had a malted chocolate milkshake. It is definitely worth a try. You may want to top off your chocolate milkshake with a dollop of whipped cream! While you’re enjoying this sweet treat, don’t forget to introduce this delicious pasttime to someone else. 

Do you have a favorite malt shop? Be sure to give them a shout out, too! Use #ChocolateMilkshakeDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL DRIVE-THRU DAY

National Drive-Thru Day on July 24th recognizes an innovation conveniently going strong today. The drive-thru reached its iconic zenith in the 1950s but stayed strong through the 60s, 70s and beyond. People have enjoyed this service since the 1930s.

The ease of dropping off or picking up an item without getting out of the car may be something we take for granted. Of course, many studies point to the benefits and drawbacks associated with using the drive-thru.

The first and most obvious that comes to mind is the ease of dropping off or picking up and item. Whether its the mail, a prescription or the dry cleaning, pulling up to a window or a slot and passing the article through is eminently easier than even finding a parking spot. Then, if we have children, we collect our children, our item and wait in line. After waiting, we usually search for our parking spot while juggling children and once again pile them back into the car. When multiple stops are involved, repeat the previous steps. Check the ease of use box.

Secondly, many people think the drive-thru is faster. While that might be true at some locations, it will depend on the type of service, time of day, and where you are located. For example, a long line in the drive-thru at the bank may mean no waiting inside. The same may also be true at your favorite fast-food restaurant. However, if you only need to drop off a letter at the post office, use the drive-up option.

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Finally, accuracy tops the list of some drive-thru specialists. Again, this criteria is hit or miss. Depending on the type of business, time of day and location, accuracy varies. Interestingly, in 2018, Chic-fil-A mastered this arena with 97.3% accuracy.

Did you know:
  • There are more than 211,000 fast-food restaurants in the United States.
  • The drive-thru format was pioneered in the United States for banking services.
  • Hamburgers sold for just 18 cents at some of the first drive-thru restaurants.
  • Restaurants, coffee shops, liquor stores, pharmacies, and many more services utilize drive-thrus for quick service.

NATIONAL DRIVE THROUGH DAY HISTORY

America’s first drive-thru burger chain, Jack in the Box, created National Drive-Thru Day to celebrate America’s love of convenience by car.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalDriveThruDay

Enjoy the day by uses all the drive-thrus available to you. Post on social media using #NationalDriveThruDay to encourage others to celebrate the day with you.

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NATIONAL JUNK FOOD DAY

July 21st dedicates a giant menu of items to National Junk Food Day. Each year, the day permits us to chow down on the foods we usually don’t include in our daily diet. Junk foods, by definition, typically contain high fats, sugars, salt, and calories and very little nutritional value.

With the advent of packaged foods during the late 1800s, junk food made its way into American life. Still, home-cooked meals remained the standard for several more decades. Eventually, after World War II, the artery-clogging industry took off. Since the population ate out more, traveled more, the industry was primed to produce products at an increased rate.

From the frozen food aisle to fast food chains, a myriad of choices for consumers flooded the market. Potato chips, baked goods and so much more filled supermarket shelves, prepackaged and ready to go.

By the 1970s, junk foods earned a name and a bad one, too. Michael Jacobson, a microbiologist, is credited with coining the phrase. He also set out to curb our appetite for the high sugar, high salt, high preservative foods Americans consumed at an alarming rate.

While deep-fried, fat-laced foods increase our waistlines, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers, an occasional indulgence shouldn’t impact a healthy, diverse diet and lifestyle. Also, producers make healthy versions of our favorite junk foods to entice us to enjoy a little. 

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalJunkFoodDay

Snack a little. Chow down on your favorite chip, dip or treat. In fact, treat the family or workplace to a beverage or take out. Post on social media using #NationalJunkFoodDay. You can also celebrate by taking a walk or doing some yard work to burn off those extra calories.

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NATIONAL ICE CREAM SODA DAY

On June 20th enjoy a cool, frothy ice cream soda.  It is National Ice Cream Soda Day!

There are many claims to the invention of this delicious treat.  One such claim was made by a Mr. Robert McCay Green.  According to Green, he created the beverage in 1874 in Philadelphia when he ran out of ice for his shaved ice treats.  Substituting ice cream, he had a hit on his hands. Green even put in his will that his gravestone read “Here lies the originator of the ice cream soda.”

Anchor Hocking 12.5-oz Vintage Soda Glass, Set of 12  by Anchor Hocking
Anchor Hocking 12.5-oz Vintage Soda Glass, Set of 12

by Anchor Hocking

Philip Mohr of Elizabeth, New Jersey would mix soda water with ice cream to make the drink colder.  This practice took place as earlier as 1862 beating out Mr. Green’s claim.

Advertisements in an 1862 Newport Daily News for Sheld’s Celebrated Ice Cream Soda encourages customers to “Try It, Try It, Try It, It.”  By the looks of it, it was something new at the time.

SodaStream Jet Sparkling Water Maker (Black), with CO2 and BPA free Bottle  by SodaStream
SodaStream Jet Sparkling Water Maker (Black), with CO2 and BPA free Bottle

by SodaStream
SodaStream Diet Cola, 14.8 Fl Oz, Pack of 4  by SodaStream
SodaStream Diet Cola, 14.8 Fl Oz, Pack of 4

by SodaStream

Whenever the ice cream soda was invented, it was certainly a winning combination.  For generations, we have been enjoying these creamy carbonated desserts at pharmacies and soda fountains across the country.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy your favorite ice cream soda flavor with a friend.  Use #NationalIceCreamSodaDay to share on social media.

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