How often do you go through a drive through? If you live in Mississippi, it’s probably more than the average person.
WalletHub released a study this week showing that Mississippians are tied with New Mexicans spending the most each month on fast food. The study found that Mississippi and New Mexico see 0.47% of household income going toward takeout options like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, and KFC.
Rounding out the top five states that spend the most on fast food are Kentucky (0.46%), Arkansas (0.45%), and West Virginia (0.44%). Louisiana (0.44%), Alabama (0.43%), Montana (0.43%), Oklahoma (0.42%), and Vermont (0.42%) helped make up the top 10 – meaning half of the states atop the rankings are in the southeastern U.S.
Rebecca Turner, a registered dietician who also hosts Good Things with Rebecca Turner, explained there are an array of reasons Mississippians turn to fast food more than the rest of the nation and what can be done to break the trend.
“Many Mississippians lack adequate access to grocery stores, making fast food more convenient. But also, the cost of groceries can give a perceived hinderance to purchasing foods to cook at home, and many farmer’s markets now have to charge grocery prices to break even,” she said. “More emphasis on accessibility, food budgeting, and basic cooking skills would be beneficial to Mississippian’s health.”
It is important to note that states with higher percentages of fast-food costs may not necessarily be purchasing more fast food than those on the bottom end of the list. Mississippians may pay more for fast food relative to their income than other states, but the state’s residents also have income levels that sit at the lowest in the nation.
The study took an in-depth look at Mississippi’s fast-food trends and used the example of a burger, small pizza, and chicken sandwich costing residents 0.47% of the median monthly household income. The same purchases would only cost 0.29% of the median monthly household income in Massachusetts.
“The main reason why Mississippi ranks first is that it has the lowest median monthly household income in the country, at $54,915,” the study noted while adding that most fast food is still cheaper in Mississippi than other states. “It’s in the 10 cheapest states for both pizza and fried chicken sandwiches…and it’s only the 30th-most expensive for burgers.
“However, since residents’ median earnings are low, fast food still costs a large percentage of their income.”
