Happy Mediums

Here we have a series of pictures that are supposed to be medium drinks from various fast food joints.  The point of this is to try and make myself more uncomfortable eating out all the time, and to hopefully try and learn to cook.  If it does the same for you, then you're welcome, or I'm sorry, whichever applies.

It's kind of difficult to judge scale here but that's a 17 inch monitor they are all in front of.  From top down they are McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Burger King.

Merriam defines the word medium as; something in a middle position.  I'd like you to take note next time you go to a fast food restaurant the different sizes they offer and see just how "middle" the position of the the medium drink is compared to the other sizes.  And I'm not talking about whether it's placed in between the small and large cups on the counter either, I'm talking about volume.

Let's take the two popular fast food chains McDonald's, and Taco Bell, everyone here is familiar with the Golden Arches, and the little Chihuahua correct?  McDonald's, to their credit, actually has some of the more moderate sized beverages around, which is probably in part due to the huge success of the documentary Supersize Me.  They come in at 16, 21, and 31oz sizes, however, can you tell me why there's only a 5oz difference between the small and medium, but a 10oz difference between the medium and large sizes?  Now Taco Bell, has a different approach.  Small for them, starts at 20oz, followed by 30oz mediums, topped off with 40oz larges.  They definitely have a good understanding of the definition of the word medium, never mind you, their small drink comes in at 1oz less than another chains medium.  I would say that Panda Express has to be one of the worst offenders I could find.  With 22, 32, and 44oz small, medium, and large drinks respectively.  Their medium drink, is damn near a silo of cola.  Burger King, also has some hefty drink sizes, and the nutrition facts on their website does not declare volume of the cups either.  Wonder why that is?

Now let us take a look at another meaning of the word medium, as described by Merriam; a condition or environment in which something may function or flourish.  The only thing that is going to be flourishing after 20+oz of soda is a mad sugar high, and these big chains wallets.  I wouldn't exactly say a daily intake of that amount of soda is any environment for your health to flourish.  With any luck, a few more exposés such as this and I'll be well on my way to becoming the next Emeril.  BAM!