NATIONAL DRIVE-THRU DAY

July 23, 2026July 16, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

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.

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.

NATIONAL JUNK FOOD DAY

July 21, 2026July 21, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

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.

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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 HOAGIE DAY

May 4, 2026April 24, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

It may go by many names, but on May 5th, National Hoagie Day celebrates a hero of a sandwich!

Besides a hero, the hoagie goes by several other aliases. The sub, grinder, Italian, torpedo, or baguette are just a few of its many names. Some of those names give a hint as to how we make a hoagie, too. We cut a long Italian roll or French bread lengthwise and fill it with various meats, cheeses, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. Pile it high with your own combination of fillings and enjoy it either hot or cold.

About the Word “Hoagie”

In 1953, Italians working at the World War I-era shipyard in Philadelphia known as Hog Island packed their lunch to work every day. They introduced the sandwich by putting different meats, cheeses, and lettuce between two slices of bread. It was referred to as the “Hog Island” sandwich, which they later shortened to the “hoagie.”

A different explanation is offered by the Philadelphia Almanac and Citizen’s Manual. They believe early 20th-century street vendors called “hokey-pokey-men” created the sandwich.

Yet another theory is that the word “hoagie” arose in the late 19th to early 20th century among the Italian community in South Philadelphia. The phrase “on the hoke” was used as slang to describe a destitute person. Deli owners gave away scraps of meat and cheese on an Italian roll known as a “hokie.” However, Italian immigrants pronounced it “hoagie.”

In 1992, former Philadelphia mayor (and later Pennsylvania governor) Ed Rendell declared the hoagie the Official Sandwich of Philadelphia.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHoagieDay

Oh, you can celebrate this day in so many ways!

Pick up a party-size hoagie for the office.
Experiment with your stack. Mix and match your fixings for the perfect hoagie.
Mayo, mustard, sriracha, avocado, BBQ, aioli, hummus. What’s your spread?
Swap out your hoagie bun for a pretzle bun.
Host a hoagie challenge. Who made it best?

No matter how you celebrate, share your creations using #NationalHoagieDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL COLD CUTS DAY

March 2, 2026February 28, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

Dagwood will eat his heart out on March 3rd because it’s National Cold Cuts Day. Call them lunch meats, deli meats, sandwich meats, or cold cuts. Some like them thick, while others stack them mile high. Others still just like them with cheese and crackers. However you like them, National Cold Cuts Day was made for sandwich and snack makers.

There are the deli staples like the humble turkey and ham. Then there are the culinary delights like salami and prosciutto and flavors that require a more acquired taste like head cheese and braunschweiger. Whatever your taste, there is a cold cut for everyone. Well, everyone except the vegetarian.

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Every nationality has a flavor all their own when it comes to seasoning, curing and aging a variety of meats. Spices, smoking, and time alters the taste. When the animal is butchered, temperature and air circulation affect the flavor, too.

It’s essentially an art history lesson all rolled into one, and at the end of it all, there’s mouth-watering food that can be enjoyed with friends and a good beverage.

Or, it’s merely a piece of meat meant to make a meal. Breaking bread with friends sounds so much more delightful, though.

Bologna is one of the most popular cold cuts in the United States due to a famous commercial. Named after the Italian city of the same name, bologna is similar to an Italian sausage called Mortadella.

Other popular cuts are chicken, roast beef, pastrami, corned beef, and pepperoni.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalColdCutsDay

Visit a local deli and enjoy the following:

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Use #NationalColdCutsDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL FAST FOOD DAY

November 15, 2025February 2, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

On November 16th food lovers get a dose of their favorite convenience food on National Fast Food Day. Whether they use the drive-thru, dine-in or get it to go, fast food will grill up, fry up and broil up menu staples.

First popularized in the United States in the 1950s, fast food is considered any meal with low preparation time and served to a customer in a packaged form. The meal makes for quick dine-in, take-out or take-away. Most fast-food restaurants offer drive-thru service.

Merriam-Webster dictionary first recognized the term “fast food” in 1951.

Following World War I, automobiles became popular and more affordable. At that time, restaurants introduced the drive-in.

Much like today’s food trucks, Walter Anderson first began selling hamburgers out of an old streetcar body at a Wichita intersection. While the menu was limited, the hamburgers were a crowd-pleaser. When the popularity of his hamburgers grew, he partnered with E.W. Ingram and opened the first White Castle in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. The enterprising restauranteurs were the first in the fast-food business. They sold hamburgers for five cents each.

The United States has the largest fast food industry in the world. American fast-food restaurants are located in over 100 countries.

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Fun fact: The first Happy Meal was served in June of 1979.

While fast-food began as sandwiches and sides, the menus expanded over-time. Today fast-food includes fish, a variety of fried chicken, tacos, pizza and a wide selection of sides. Sodas quench the thirst and desserts sweeten the menu. From ice cream and shakes to pies and cakes, fast food delivers.

As times changed, restaurants added breakfast items to the menu, too. Expanding their hours increased their workforce and their menu options, as well. However, not all fast-food chains offer breakfast.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFastFoodDay

Invite a group out to your favorite fast-food restaurant. Share some rings and a shake. Do you prefer breakfast or lunch? No matter which one you prefer you can get it to go to make it faster, too!

Give a shoutout to your favorite fast-food restaurant using #NationalFastFoodDay to post on social media.

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