Idea of the Day - A new idea each day. Some Don't Suck!

Our Latest Posts About: Food

Deceptive Food Labels Suck

Monday, August 14, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Beware of deceptive food labels!

One of my pet peeves is deceptive food labels designed to trick people into thinking unhealthful foods are actually good for you. The trouble is, they're everywhere, so it can be hard to read between the lines and choose the right things to eat.

The funny thing is, just about every food with a label is somewhat unhealthful, so it's not surprising that so many labels are deceptive. If you want to avoid deceptive labelling entirely, you're best bet is to eat as much food from the fresh produce section in the supermarket. Fresh fruits and vegetables don't usually have labels, mainly because you already know what you're getting. For everything else in the store, you're going to have to learn to read between the lines to find out what's good for... [More]

Continue...Deceptive Food Labels Suck...

You Call THAT Cheese?

Wednesday, July 19, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

There's a big difference between American Slices, American Singles... and REAL American CHEESE.

If you go to the dairy department of just about every supermarket, you'll find bunch of products that say everything from "American Slices", "American Singles", to completely made up names like "Velveeta", but when you read the label, the one thing they're not allowed to call them is "American Cheese". That's because, they're NOT American Cheese.

They're made from milk, just like the real thing, but they're processed and have a completely different taste and texture.

The interesting thing about most of these processed cheeses is that although you often find them in the refrigerated section of the supermarket, most of them don't require refrigeration. They do that to give you t... [More]

Continue...You Call THAT Cheese?...

How STRONG Is Your Coffee?

Thursday, July 6, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

The strength of coffee can vary quite a bit between brands, the trouble is, you have no way to compare them until you bring them home.

Considering the vast variety of coffees on the market, you would think there would be at least some standards to determine the relative strengths between them.

For example, why not create a standard scale from 1 to 10 for characteristics such as bitterness, acidity, and caffeine? That would be an awful lot easier than just reading a vague description that says something like "Full body aroma and rich taste".

Artificial Food Colors are STUPID!

Saturday, July 1, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why the heck do so many companies still use food coloring?

In spite of the trend in healthy food options, you still artificial colors in the ingredient list of many products. Most of them are unnatural and they don't enhance the flavor of the food... so what's the point?

For example, sports drinks like Gatorade are targeted towards athletes, who tend to be health conscious consumers, yet they come in the most un-natural colors like bright green and blue. Why not remove the colors? Even if the colors are safe... do they really need them?

Thankfully a few companies like General Mills are reversing the trend by removing artificial colors from all their cereal brands, including colorful brands like Trix, which is just as colorful as ever, but all the colors are from fruits.... [More]

Continue...Artificial Food Colors are STUPID!...

What Good Are Expiration Dates If You Can't Read Them?

Friday, June 30, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why is it so hard to read product expiration dates?

I don't know about you, but I find it hard to read product expiration dates. Not only are they too small, but there doesn't seem to be any effort to make them easy to find or easy to read.

When I see a blurry, small, or hard to find expiration date, it makes me think the company is intentionally trying to hide them, which doesn't make any sense at all. If anything, you'd think they'd make them as big and bold as possible, because when customers know a product they already have has expired, they're likely to throw it out and buy a new one.

Conversely, when a customer doesn't notice the expiration, they'll keep the old (expired) product longer, and as the product loses freshness and flavor, they're less likely to buy a new... [More]

Continue...What Good Are Expiration Dates If You Can't Read Them?...

New Star Trek Discovery on CBS? Not Quite

Friday, May 26, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Star Trek is coming back to TV. Unfortunately, it'll cost you $10 per month to see it.

I've been a Star Trek fan since the early 70s, so I was super excited to hear there was a new series in the works. The series will be called "Star Trek Discovery" and it takes place about 10 years before the timeline of the original 1960s series.

It's been a while since Star Trek was on TV, so I was looking forward to the new series until I heard that you need to subscribe to their CBS All-Access service to see it. For what it's worth, I don't mind paying a monthly fee for streaming services. I already pay for Amazon Prime and Netflix, but this is different. Other than Star Trek Discovery, CBS doesn't have ANYTHING I'd be willing to pay for, so it's not worth paying $120 per year for jus... [More]

Continue...New Star Trek Discovery on CBS? Not Quite...

McChicken Cordon Bleu - McDonald's Mashup

Thursday, May 25, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why is the McDonald's menu so boring? They just need to mix things up a bit!

Ever since McDonald's started serving breakfast all day, I've been thinking of ways they could blend their breakfast ingredients with their dinner and lunch items. The result is a mashup between the McChicken, and the Canadian Bacon on the Egg McMuffin... Toss in a bit of cheese and you get a McChicken Cordon Bleu!

Of course, you can make this yourself by ordering both sandwiches, but why not put it on the menu? They've already got the ingredients.

Natural Versions of Food?

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Natural versions... What's in the regular versions?

I get a kick out of companies that sell "Natural" versions of their products, while continuing to sell the original version. Why would they do that? If the newer version is natural, doesn't it draw your attention to their original "Un-Natural" version?

While I'm happy to see companies releasing "Natural" versions, it doesn't make sense that they continue to sell their original version.

Thankfully, some companies like General Mills have the integrity to not only introduce more healthful choices, but they had the courage to eliminate their original recipes entirely... and in their ENTIRE product line. General Mills not only switched every brand of cereal they make to whole grain, but even decided to eliminate artificial c... [More]

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The Snack Problem

Wednesday, February 1, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Whatever happened to single serving snacks?

It's nearly impossible finding single serving snacks such as potato chips in delis and convenience stores these days. Just about every snack in the store tends to have 2 or 3 servings per package. It's no wonder so many people struggle with losing weight.

I like to grab a quick snack with my lunch, but it's becoming harder and harder to find snacks that come in sensible package sizes. Not only are these larger snacks more expensive, they often leave you no choice but to either throw some out, or eat more than you should.

I wouldn't mind so much if they at least came in re-sealable packages.

Foods packaged specifically as individual snacks should always be packaged with no more than one serving per package, so if a serving si... [More]

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No Chips Ahoy!

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

My favorite part of Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Chip Cookies... is the Cookie!

I know this sounds strange, but I love the cookie part of Chips Ahoy! cookies more than I do the chips, so why not make a No-Chips Ahoy cookie, that has just the cookie part, without the chocolate chips.

McOnion Rings. Onion Rings at McDonald's

Monday, January 9, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why doesn't McDonald's have Onion Rings on the menu?

Onion Rings are one of the most popular hamburger side dishes in the world. Unfortunately, you can't order them at the world's most popular hamburger restaurants.

That's pretty strange when you think of just how popular they are at Burger King and White Castle, not to mention just about every other diner and restaurant that sells hamburgers. It makes you wonder what they're waiting for?

Ketchonnaise!

Saturday, December 31, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why don't you ever see pre-mixed Ketchup and Mayonnaise?

Just about everyone would agree, ketchup and mayonnaise are a great combination for hamburgers, french fries, onion rings, and seafood, so why doesn't any major food company package them pre-mixed in bottles or take-out packets?

Europeans like mayo on their fries, Americans like Ketchup... why not have both?... at the same time?

For many people, a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise makes the perfect dipping sauce for fish sticks and things like fried shrimp. it's the perfect Tartar Sauce.

Yes, I realize people can easily mix the two at home, but that's not the point. There are a lot of condiments that are simply blends of two other condiments, like Dijonnaise, and Honey Mustard.

It's all about convenience. If a... [More]

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The Trouble With Pop-Tarts

Saturday, December 17, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why the heck do Pop-Tarts come TWO per package?

Look, I like Pop-Tarts, but not enough to eat two at one sitting. Most of the time, I'm all I want is a snack, not an entire meal.

Pop-Tarts come in a box of 8, with 4 packages of two each inside, so whenever you're in the mood for one, you have to figure out what to do with the second one. If you put it back in the package, it dries out longer before you eat it.

If Pop-Tarts came in individual packages, you could eat them one at a time without any waste. Doesn't that make sense?

A the very least, if they insist on packaging them in pairs, they could at least use a resealable package.

Potato Chips and Cereal Should Come in Ziploc Bags

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do cereal and potato chip companies think we eat an entire package at once?

This isn't rocket science. Whenever you open a package of food, you need to close it again to keep it fresh, so why don't potato chips and cereal come in Zip-Loc bags?

The lack of resealable packaging means that the consumer is either going to have to find some kind of clip or container, but as it turns out what really happens is most people end up with stale food.

Thankfully, one cereal company gets it right, "Malt-O-Meal". Their entire cereal line not only comes in a Zip-Loc bags, but they ditched the wasteful cardboard box. Isn't it time the other companies did likewise?

Square Bologna

Thursday, October 6, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why are most cold cuts still round?

Last time I checked, most bread was square, but most cold cuts like Bologna are round, so whenever you make a sandwich, chances are your cold cuts aren't going to cover the whole slice of bread.

The solution is simple, either the bread should be round, or the cold cuts should be square and since it's much harder to make round bread, it seems to me that cold cut companies should work out a way to make square cold cuts. Thankfully, cheese and most hams come are already square, but somehow salami and bologna are still round.

Why Soda Cans Should Always Have Covers

Thursday, August 4, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do you know how many people touched your can of soda before you did?

Just about everything about the food industry is heavily regulated by the FDA to insure food cleanliness and safety, but somehow they don't seem to care much about the cleanliness of soda cans.

Think about it, long before you put a can of soda into your mouth, that can has potentially been touched by quite a few people, and it's likely been exposed to a variety of dirty places, yet there you rarely see any sort of seal on soda cans. Isn't that strange?

Soft Cookies Are FAKE

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do you remember the days when the only soft cookies were FRESH from the oven?

Today's soft cookies are completely FAKE. They use some sort of goop to make them remain soft for weeks.

Oreos With NO Stuff

Monday, April 25, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Nabisco makes "Double Stuff Oreos" for people who love the stuffing... but what about people who love the cookie part?

Call me crazy, but to me the best part of an Oreo Cookie, is the cookie.

I admit that as I child I loved to eat the middle part first, but then I'd have a pile of plain cookies on my dish. In time, I looked forward to eating the pile of plain cookies just as much as eating the middles.... and eventually preferring the cookie part!

This would also be great for people who avoid Oreos because they don't like the ingredients used in the icing in the center. It's a win-win for me. I just like the cookies.

Klondike Bars... With Sticks

Saturday, April 23, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I love Klondike Bars. I just wish they made some with a stick.

If you look closely at any of the dozens of brands of ice cream bars, they all have one key thing in common. They all come on a stick.

Don't get me wrong. The total lack of a stick is part of their uniqueness, so I'm not advocating they all come with sticks. I'm just saying they should offer the same great taste on a stick for those who prefer it.

If nothing else if they put a few sticks in the package you can decide for yourself if you want one.

Bring Back Famous Amos Original Recipe

Sunday, February 28, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do you remember the ORIGINAL Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies?

The other day I picked up a bag of Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies from a local deli. The cookies were pretty good, but those of us old enough to remember buying them over 30 years ago will remember an entirely different cookie.

Back then, you couldn't get a bag of Famous Amos cookies in a deli. They were pretty expensive and you could only get them in upscale department stores and gourmet food stores.

Each batch was hand crafted and had a nice blend of nuts and chocolate chips, but as they became more popular, he eventually sold the company and the recipe was changed so they could be mass produced.

I think it's time they bring back the original recipe. I realize they can't mass produce them for the s... [More]

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Canadian Bacon Cheeseburger at McDonalds

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why not put some HAM in HAMburger?

McDonalds is always looking for new ways to add variety to their menu by adding all sorts of oddball limited time items, yet they often overlook the obvious, such as simply mixing ingredients they already have on hand. For example, why not take a few items from the breakfast menu and add them to some of the items from the lunch and dinner menu?

More specifically, a Canadian Bacon Cheeseburger.

Think about it. Instead of regular bacon, why not Canadian Bacon? They already have it in stock for the Egg McMuffin. Now that they have an All Day Breakfast menu, it's at their fingertips all day long.

Cheese Fries at Burger King and McDonalds

Friday, February 12, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Everyone loves Cheese Fries, but you can't get them at Burger King or McDonalds.

It sounds like a no-brainer to me. If people love cheese... and they love French Fries, you'd think you'd see Cheese Fries on the menu of just about every restaurant that serves fries. They already have the ingredients, so why not combine them?

Wendy's has a history of offering a variety of toppings for their fries, including not only cheese, but chili and other toppings, but Burger King and McDonalds have never offered anything, which is odd, because it's a simple way for them to sell an upgrade using ingredients they already have on hand.

To me the best Cheese Fries are at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Restaurants. I rarely order fries from them any other way.

Big MacChicken

Friday, February 5, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Everyone loves double burgers, so why not a double McChicken?

In the spirit of the Big Mac, which features two all beef patties, why not create a Big MacChicken that has two chicken patties? To me it's a no-brainer.

Technically, a sandwich like this can go either of two ways. One way is to put together a regular McChicken, except using two pieces of chicken, but the bigger bolder move would be to build the whole thing exactly like a Big Mac, except with chicken. That means two chicken patties, Special Sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun. A sandwich like that isn't just a bigger McChicken... it's better.

For me, the biggest improvement is the Special Sauce, but the addition of cheese, pickles and onions are also a big deal. Simply stated, if th... [More]

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Nutrition Labels... For The Entire Package

Tuesday, February 2, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

What good are nutrition labels when the serving sizes aren't realistic?

Studies have shown that as a rule of thumb, when given a larger portion of just about anything, people will eat more of it. In fact, in one study the participants were intentionally given horrible tasting popcorn in various sized packages to see if it had any effect on how much the participants ate. Even though the popcorn didn't taste good, people with larger packages ate proportionately more than those with smaller packages.

That being the case, I think food companies should make it a point to include nutritional information for the entire package alongside their suggested "serving size". This not only makes it more realistic for small packages that will likely be eaten in one sitting, but for making... [More]

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Nutrition Labels With Explanations

Monday, February 1, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Many people don't understand the numbers on nutrition labels, so why not put an explanation next to each number?

Because of FDA regulations, food companies are required to put detailed nutrition labels on every package of food they produce. While there's been quite a few changes to the style of the labels, what remains the same is how confusing it is for some people to understand them.

While it's great that they've made sure the labels are large enough to see, with clearly labeled numbers and text, the fact is, quite a few people have no idea what they're reading. It's like giving out only half the score for a baseball game. Knowing the Yankees scored 4 runs in the game doesn't tell you if that's a good score, or a bad one.

For the same reason, when people read a package... [More]

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McChicken With Cheese

Thursday, January 28, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Would you like these with your McChicken?

McDonalds is always looking for new ways to expand their menu. They've added things like Burritos, Mozzarella Sticks, and all sorts of new things, but what they often overlook are ways to expand and improve their menu by giving people more options with the items they already have. For example, the McChicken. It comes exactly one way, with lettuce and mayo. That's it.

I think it's time McDonalds realizes there are other ways to serve their classic chicken sandwich. The most obvious change would be to offer cheese. It's not rocket science. They can offer this simple upgrade and I'm guessing a large percentage of people would buy it if they were asked.

It's been said that one of the smartest things McDonald's found Ray Kroc eve... [More]

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Chicken Parmesan At Subway

Sunday, January 24, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why isn't Chicken Parmesan on the menu at Subway? They already have the ingredients.

Subway is one of my favorite places to eat, mainly because of the variety. By giving people a choice of core ingredients and toppings, there are an almost infinite number of combinations to fit just about every mood. Oddly, although Subway has all the ingredients needed to make a decent Chicken Parm, you won't find it on the menu.

All it takes is a chicken, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. You can easily spot the chicken and cheese, but the tomato sauce isn't as obvious at first glance. It's not listed as a topping because it's part of their meatball sandwich.

All they need to do is use same tomato sauce use with the meatballs to either their sliced or whole chicken breast, add

... [More]

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Mac and Cheese at McDonalds

Thursday, January 21, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Kids love McDonalds... and Mac and Cheese.

Many kids are fussy eaters, but one thing you can count on is that just about every kid loves Mac and Cheese. It's clearly one of the most popular foods for kids, which is why even upscale restaurants have Macaroni and Cheese on their Children's Menu.

What I find funny is that you see Mac and Cheese on the menu in so many restaurants specifically because kids love it, yet McDonalds, which bends over backwards to appeal to kids doesn't have it on the menu.

Obviously this would also be a good idea for Burger King or Wendy's, but McDonalds has one additional reason to put it on the menu...

It's a perfect fit for McDonalds on so many levels. It even has "Mac" in the name. They can even double down and call it Mac Mac and Cheese

... [More]

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LCD Ice Cream... Little Chocolate Donuts

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Two great tastes that taste great together.

When I was young, I was always fascinated by Baskin Robbins, because I couldn't imagine how they could carry 31 flavors of Ice Cream, when everyone else only had vanilla and chocolate. They had combinations of flavors that you didn't see anywhere else, such as Rum Raisin and Strawberry Cheesecake. Eventually companies like Ben and Jerry, Cold Stone Creamery, and Haagen Dazs jumped into the market with their own combinations, and that inspired me to come up with today's idea of the day.... LCD Ice Cream, featuring Little Chocolate Donuts.

I debated calling this CD Ice Cream, and using larger Chocolate Donuts, but that actually changes the ratio of chocolate coating mixed with the donut, so if you crave a bit more c... [More]

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Fortune Coupons

Tuesday, January 19, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

A Fortune Cookie with a COUPON Inside!

Chinese restaurants are missing a great opportunity to use Fortune Cookies as a way to increase business.

One of the best parts of eating Chinese food is getting a fortune cookie after your meal. Even people who don't eat the cookie look forward to getting one just so they can read the clever message inside.

In recent years, companies that make fortune cookies started printing messages on both sides of the paper inside, After all, why waste the space? Unfortunately, the back of most fortunes are still pretty much a waste of space. Most of the time they include a useless collection of lottery numbers or lessons on speaking Chinese.

Instead of printing useless stuff on the back... why not include a coupon you can use on your ne

... [More]

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CheeseBurger McChicken

Thursday, December 24, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

McChicken + Cheeseburger Together!

Fast food can be boring, so I like to mix things up whenever I get a chance. Some things go together, some things don't. This particular combination is pretty good.

What makes this combination great is not just the unlikely combination of chicken and beef, but the addition of the Cheeseburger's onions, cheese and ketchup to the McChicken's mayo and lettuce. It makes you wonder why McDonalds doesn't offer lettuce and mayo as an option on all their burgers.

Order a McChicken and a Cheeseburger and see for yourself. Since the cheese is generally stuck on the top of the Cheeseburger bun, the easiest way to make one is to pull off the top of the McChicken, and the bottom off the Cheeseburger then put the cheeseburger on top of the McChick... [More]

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Eggs Benedict McMuffin

Sunday, December 20, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Here's a simple idea for McDonalds...

If you order Eggs Benedict from a fancy restaurant, and ask them to hold the Hollandaise Sauce, you'll end up with an Egg McMuffin. So why not offer an Egg McMuffin with Hollandaise Sauce? It's already a proven recipe, and it would be a great addition to McDonalds new All Day Breakfast Menu.

Although a traditional Eggs Benedict is made with poached eggs, adding Hollandaise Sauce would be the perfect finishing touch to one of my favorite things at McDonalds.

In fact, why not offer a choice of sauces. Egg McMuffins don't have any sauce. Maybe some people would like Ketchup, or even... Big Mac Sauce!

Big MacMuffin

Thursday, December 10, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Two eggs are better than one!

When was the last time you had just one egg for breakfast? If you're like most people, chances are you always make two or more eggs at a time, so when you think about it, wouldn't it be great to have an Egg McMuffin with two eggs? Just call it the Big MacMuffin.

Now that McDonald's has an All Day Breakfast Menu, the idea of a Big MacMuffin makes even more sense, especially for a lunch or dinner sized appetite.

Just think about it... Two eggs, in a three layer muffin, with cheese and Canadian Bacon.

I though about this recently when I ordered two Egg McMuffins and I didn't want two whole muffins. I got rid of one muffin layer and stacked the rest and created the perfect ratio of muffin, egg, cheese and Canadian Bacon. The trick is to kee... [More]

Continue...Big MacMuffin...

McDonald's Onion Rings

Sunday, December 6, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

You know you want them!

If you look at the menu of almost any restaurant that sells hamburgers, you'll find Onion Rings... but you won't find them at McDonalds. Isn't that odd?

Just about every roadside diner, steakhouse or specialty burger place has them, so you have to wonder why McDonalds still doesn't carry them. It's not like they're particularly hard to make. All they need is a deep fryer, and they have plenty of them.

I had a theory for a while that they were holding back because they didn't want the taste of the onions getting into the fries, but that never stopped them from frying chicken, fish and mozzarella sticks. Besides, Burger King's been selling them for decades and I've never tasted onion in their fries, chicken, or french toast sticks.

I think the t... [More]

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No Artificial Food Colors

Friday, November 13, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why do so many foods still have artificial colors?

A couple of weeks ago, I did a Google search for "stool color", which led to an article from the Mayo Clinic about what to do if your stool has an odd color.. For the past few day my stool looked turquoise, and frankly, I was a bit worried. I didn't find any answers, but a few days later, I realized that I've been eating Boo Berry cereal, which has a blue color.

If you read the ingredients on a bottle of Gatorade, you'll find that it has water, sugars, salts, flavoring... and "coloring". Coloring? No kidding? You mean it's not really blue?

Athletes have trusted the science behind Gatorade for decades to keep them properly hydrated for peak pe... [More]

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All Day BURGER Menu at McDonald's

Tuesday, November 3, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Now that you can get breakfast all day... why set limits on burgers?

So far, it looks like McDonald's All Day Breakfast Menu is a big hit, which is no surprise, because people have been asking for it for years. I can't count the number of times I've walked into a McDonald's hoping to get an Egg McMuffin, only to be told they are no longer serving breakfast. Let's face it, when your taste buds are expecting breakfast, it's not easy ordering a burger instead.

Eliminating the time restriction makes a lot of sense, especially for people who work late shifts. For them, breakfast starts about 6pm, but the main idea is that you should be able to order eggs any time of the day.

If you think the All Day Breakfast Menu is freedom, try asking for a burger at 10am.

If they... [More]

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McSliders. A "Mac Mini"

Saturday, October 24, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

There's something special about a mini burger.

Like most people, the first time I had a "Slider" was at White Castle. My friend suggested I order 6 of them and I thought he was crazy, but then I realized how small they are. You can eat one in two or three bites. Before you know it, you've had a whole bunch and you're ready for more.

Over the past few years, I've started to see sliders everywhere. They're in big and small restaurants, and even some large chains like Ruby Tuesdays, but the biggest burger restaurants in the world like McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King haven't jumped in on the bandwagon yet. A McSlider would be half the diameter of their regular burger, perfect for snacking or eating in bunches.

A McSlider / "Mac Mini" would be a great item for their val... [More]

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Cola Milkshakes

Saturday, October 17, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Two great tastes, that taste great together!

They say variety is the spice of life, but you don't see a lot of variety in milkshake flavors. Other than ice cream parlors, you have exactly two flavors, vanilla and chocolate. If you go to enough restaurants, you may get lucky and find one that has strawberry, but that's about it.

Most restaurants have only one machine that makes plain ice cream, then they mix in chocolate or vanilla syrup.

Since restaurants use a blender to mix in flavor, why not use cola syrup? They've got plenty of that!

The inspiration for this comes form one of my favorite TV shows from the 70s, Laverne and Shirley. One of Laverne's favorite drinks was Milk and Pepsi. When I was young, the idea of mixing Milk and Pepsi sounded pretty strange... [More]

Continue...Cola Milkshakes...

Jelly Twinkies

Tuesday, September 22, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Don't you just love Twinkies?.

There's something special about Twinkies. The recipe hasn't changed much over the years. They're basically a golden sponge cake with a vanilla creamy center. From time to time they've offered variations such as their original Banana Creme and chocolate, but I've never seen a Jelly Twinkie.

I think they're missing a big opportunity for Jelly lovers everywhere. Jelly Donut lovers would buy them up like hotcakes.

Just imagine how cool it would be if they alternated Vanilla Creme and Strawberry Jelly in the holes you see on the bottom, making the perfect Strawberry Shortcake!

By mixing the flavors in the holes, they can even make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Twinkie. Need I say more?

BOLD Expiration Dates

Friday, September 18, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why are some expiration dates so hard to read?

In an age of high speed digital printing I see no reason why companies still print hard to read dot matrix expiration dates on their packages. Not only do they use hard to read print, but they often print the date on the bottom or someplace hard to find.

By giving expiration dates a more prominent place with larger fonts, they not only not only make it easy for consumers to avoid eating stale food, they are also reminding them to buy a fresh package. It's a win win for everyone.

While I'm on the subject. Companies also need to clearly differentiate between "Sell By", "Best Before", and "Expires". Generally speaking, most nonperishable products are sealed to keep them fresh, so they don't actually need an expiration date, but... [More]

Continue...BOLD Expiration Dates...

Snapple Tea Bags. Where are they?

Sunday, August 30, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

A while back, you could find Snapple Tea Bags in supermarkets.

Snapple's slogan is "Made from the best stuff on Earth", which means the most important ingredient in their Iced tea... is tea.

Tea is the most popular drink in the word, so it makes sense that tea bags made from their tea would be a huge seller.

Some people may think that selling their tea might hurt sales of their bottled versions, but the truth is, it only further improves their brand. It's not unusual for a beverage company to sell their main ingredients to the public for making their own drinks at home.

For example, Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts sell the same coffee beans they use for their coffee in supermarkets, and tea companies like Lipton, Nestle / Nestea, and Arizona all sell tea bags that use th... [More]

Continue...Snapple Tea Bags. Where are they?...

Turkey and Veggie Burgers in Fast Food Restaurants

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

If you're going into the burger business, shouldn't you make more than one kind of burger?

Turkey burgers and veggie burgers are popular right now, so you can order one in just about any restaurant... except for fast food burger places. Isn't that odd? They're burger places, aren't they? So why only one kind of burger patty?

I"m not suggesting that they remove beef from the menu. I'm simply suggesting that by adding turkey and veggie burgers to the menu, they are guaranteed to get customers who don't eat beef. To me, that's an untapped market.

I give kudos to Burger King, for being the first to offer a Veggie Burger, but they should consider turkey too. Ruby Tuesdays and Red Robin may not be fast food... but they offer every possible type of burger you can imagine, in... [More]

Continue...Turkey and Veggie Burgers in Fast Food Restaurants...

Scrambled Egg Salad. Same Ingredients. Faster to Make.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Love egg salad... but hate the wait?

Although there are a number of ways to make egg salad, just about all of them involve boiling water and waiting for the eggs to turn hard. One day, I decided to save some time and try something different, so I just scrambled the eggs instead. You know what? It was pretty good.

While I can't say it had the exact same taste, it wasn't that different. The main difference in the taste comes from the butter I used to fry them. I happened to like the butter, but you could eliminate that difference by using PAM or a non-stick pan. The texture was a bit softer, but if you cook them a little longer, it's pretty close.

So what started out as simply a time saver turned into a pretty good meal regardless of the time. This made me think about... [More]

Continue...Scrambled Egg Salad. Same Ingredients. Faster to Make....

Canned Meatballs

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs are a guilty pleasure for me. Mainly because of the meatballs.

Like most Italians, I tend to be a bit snobbish about pasta, but somehow I find myself reaching for a can of pasta from time to time. Clearly when given a choice between canned pasta or a traditional pasta, traditional will win every time. That's a given. However, when you're looking for a quick bite, you can't beat a good can of pasta.

In general, canned pasta comes in two basic varieties... WITH meat, or WITHOUT meat. The logic is simple, some people don't want the meat. But what about the people who want meatballs, but don't want the pasta?

So, why not have a can of just meatballs?

Some people will use the meatballs and sauce as a side-dish to something else, whi... [More]

Continue...Canned Meatballs...

Kosher Bacon... Sort of.

Monday, June 29, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

A lot of people who order Kosher meals aren't Jewish.

From time to time I post ideas that are completely stupid. This isn't one of those ideas. I'm serious.

A few years ago, I shared a plane ride with a friend who ordered a Kosher meal on a long flight to California. What struck me as odd was that my friend wasn't Jewish. When I asked him why, he simply said the Kosher meals tasted better. As it turns out, my friend wasn't the only one who felt that way. Apparently, there are a lot of gentiles who order Kosher meals on planes and at catered events, for the exact same reason.

Obviously Kosher meals don't contain pork, but they also don't contain all sorts of other ingredients that not only make them taste better, but more healthful. Kosher regulations go beyond that,... [More]

Continue...Kosher Bacon... Sort of....

Coffee Strength Labels

Tuesday, June 23, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

People often complain that the coffee they just ordered was too strong... or too weak.

I'm not a coffee drinker, but one thing I've noticed is that people tend to get their coffee from the same place as often as they can, because they worry that the coffee will either be too weak, or too strong.

Meanwhile, in a lot of places, they have literally dozens of coffees for sale, with millions of combinations of additional flavors, creamers, and sweeteners. While deciding on additional sweeteners, creamers and flavorings such as mocha, hazelnut or vanilla may be pretty easy, what people struggle with is knowing how strong the coffee itself is. In many cases, coffee that's too weak or too strong simply takes away the satisfaction.

So, why don't they label a coffee with an objecti... [More]

Continue...Coffee Strength Labels...

Heated Butter Sprayer

Monday, June 15, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Admit it. If you had a heated butter sprayer, you'd put butter on everything.

Butter may be "Buttery Soft", but just think of how great it would be if you could just spray it on everything you eat.

I feel a bit like Forrest Gump's friend Bubba, because I could probably list thousands of ways I'd like to use butter that soft. I'd spray some on my steak just be fore eating it. I'd spray waffles, pancakes, toast, grilled cheese sandwiches, and just about every veggie, especially corn, to name a few.

Years ago, a bunch of margarine companies came out with squeezable and eventually sprayable versions, but they weren't just unhealthful, they didn't taste anywhere as good as the real thing.

I think this idea is quite doable. Ideally it would be great if somebody made a spr... [More]

Continue...Heated Butter Sprayer...

Whatever Happened to Fixings Bars?

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Have it your way?

We all remember Burger King's jingle... "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us. All we ask that you let us serve you your way... Have it your way."

It was a huge success for Burger King back in the 70s. It meant that whenever you ordered your burger, you could ask them to subtract anything you didn't like. What could be better than that?

Being able to SUBTRACT whatever you wanted was great... Then one day I ordered a burger at Fuddruckers and it didn't have ANYTHING on it. Nothing. That's when I discovered my first Fixings Bar, where they had more than a dozen things you can ADD to your burger. Suffice it to say, adding to a burger is way better than subtrac... [More]

Continue...Whatever Happened to Fixings Bars?...

Room Temperature Butter Packets in Restaurants.

Sunday, May 24, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

What good is bread and butter... if the butter is FROZEN?

This one is a no brainer. Why do some restaurants serve bread with rock solid butter? By the time it warms up enough to spread, your nice warm bread will start to get cold. It's not a "New" idea, but somehow restaurants continue to neglect the simple fact that cold butter is hard to spread.

I realize it's essential to refrigerate dairy products, but it's common sense to allow it to warm up a bit before you serve it. If nothing else, at least defrost butter that has been kept in the freezer.

Thankfully some restaurants put their butter on heated plates. That's a good start, but what really impresses me is when a restaurant has the courtesy to serve butter at room temperature. It's little things like that that s... [More]

Continue...Room Temperature Butter Packets in Restaurants....

Meat Thermometers Without Numbers

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Quick... What temperature should a medium steak be?

Long before pop-up indicators were invented, knowing the perfect time to take out your Thanksgiving turkey was a bit of a guessing game for most people. Within a few years, just about every major turkey producer was including one in every turkey they sold, because although more advanced cooks had meat thermometers that were far more accurate, many people didn't understand how to use one.

By including that simple little pop-up indicator, it essentially made it foolproof for anyone to know exactly when their turkey was done, because they didn't require any thinking. They were simply designed to pop up at the optimal temperature.

Steaks and burgers also have ideal temperatures, so why not make meat thermometers that are jus... [More]

Continue...Meat Thermometers Without Numbers...

Chocolate Pudding Ice Cream Shakes

Thursday, April 30, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Two great tastes that actually taste great together.

While I don't remember how many years ago I started making shakes by mixing chocolate pudding and ice cream, I do remember where I was. It was at a Chinese Buffet in Staten Island.

On that day, I couldn't decide between chocolate pudding, or ice cream, so I put some of each in the same bowl. As I ate of the pudding, some of the vanilla ice cream would blend in and vice versa, so I eventually started mixing them together. After that, I was hooked.

From that point on, every time I want to the buffet, I'd get a big soup bowl and put 50% chocolate pudding with 50% ice cream, and mix them into a shake.

By using chocolate pudding, instead of milk, you get a wonderful creamy texture and a slightly different chocolate... [More]

Continue...Chocolate Pudding Ice Cream Shakes...

Plain Ice Cream Bars

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why is it so hard to find plain ice cream bars?

Yesterday, I was in a deli looking for a snack. I spotted the ice cream section and there were basically two choices, ice cream cups and ice cream bars. It was a tough call. I knew I would be driving for a while, so the cups would've been out of the question. So my only other option was the chocolate coated ice cream bars. I had to skip the ice cream and settle for a bag of chips.

Like most people, I love a chocolate dipped ice cream bars, after all, what's not to like? I'm an especially a big fan of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, Haagen Dazs, and Dove Bars. Truly great stuff.

But what about those times when you aren't in the mood for the chocolate coating? Or in my case, the times when you can't risk the chocolate coat... [More]

Continue...Plain Ice Cream Bars...

Ketchonnaise - Pre-Mixed Ketchup and Mayonnaise

Sunday, April 12, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Here's something you never see... pre-mixed Ketchup and Mayonnaise.

It seems pretty odd to me. It's not an exotic recipe, and the ingredients blend together quite well. In fact, a lot of restaurants already serve hamburgers with both ketchup and mayo... so why not sell a mixture of the two already combined?

If so many people already mix the two ingredients together, why doesn't any major food company package them pre-mixed in bottles or take-out packets?

Europeans like mayo on their fries, Americans like Ketchup... why not have both?... at the same time?

For many people, a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise makes the perfect dipping sauce for fish sticks and things like fried shrimp. We didn't add anything else, and as far as I was concerned, that was the perfect Tarta... [More]

Continue...Ketchonnaise - Pre-Mixed Ketchup and Mayonnaise...

Subway Should Offer Rye Bread

Wednesday, March 18, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Pastrami on Rye? Not at Subway.

If you walk into a delicatessen in New York City and order a Pastrami sandwich, you can almost guarantee it'll not only come with Rye bread, but there's a good chance you'll get a few extra slices on the side. Maybe it's just a New York thing, but I couldn't even imagine getting a Pastrami sandwich any other way.

So, when Subway added Pastrami to the menu, I was excited. At the first opportunity, I walked in and asked for their Pastrami Melt. They guy behind the counter asked... "What kind of bread do you want?" Hmm... nobody ever asked me that before, but I answered, "Rye". "Sorry, we don't have Rye."

I ended up with whole wheat. It was... okay, but it simply felt strange. Like peanut butter without jelly.

I realize this may be a... [More]

Continue...Subway Should Offer Rye Bread...

Frozen Vegetables That Kids Would Eat.

Monday, February 2, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Many of us remember eating spinach as a child, because we knew Popeye ate it too.

Peer pressure starts at an early age. We ate spinach, because Popeye ate spinach, and some kids even ate carrots because Bugs Bunny did. As strange as it is, there are a lot of things we did because we wanted to be like our heroes.

For kids of the 80s, Hulk Hogan would tell kids to stay fit, eat your vitamins and say your prayers, and many of them did just that.

Now there is a new generation of kids who adore Disney's Frozen so much, that even the kids that hate veggies just might enjoy a plate full of "Frozen Vegetables".

How could a true fan of Frozen turn down a bowl of Elsa Broccoli, with a side dish of Anna Corn on the Cob? Finish the meal off with some Olaf Carrots and you've... [More]

Continue...Frozen Vegetables That Kids Would Eat....

Alka-Seltzer Should Also Sell Pre-Mixed Bottles and Cans.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

Anyone over 40 will remember that famous line. Then comes the jingle "Plop-Plop, Fizz-Fizz, Oh what a relief it is!"

Relief indeed. Except, sometimes you get heartburn just trying to find a cup of water. If you walk into a deli, you may find a packet of Alka-Seltzer, and some bottled water, but unless you've got a cup, you're going to make a mess.

That is, unless they sold Alka-Seltzer in convenient, ready mixed bottles and cans. Oh what a relief it is now.

Just think. You could walk into a deli and say "I'd like a nice spicy meatball... and a can of Alka-Seltzer."

Because some Alka-Seltzer formulas have aspirin, and some don't, they should stick to the antacid formula. That's what most people eating on the go would need... [More]

Continue...Alka-Seltzer Should Also Sell Pre-Mixed Bottles and Cans....

Are You Ready For Test Tube Hamburgers? Beef Without Killing Cows.

Thursday, November 13, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Here's a thought. If a vegans choose not to eat beef because of animal rights, would they eat beef that was grown in a lab?

Sergey Brin funded over $300,000 in research to explore that very idea.

Here's the scoop. They take cow stem cells, then they grow them in a lab, producing what is basically... cloned meat? So, when you think about it, as long as there were no cows slaughtered, would a vegan eat it?

For people who avoid meat because of fat or cholesterol... these are 100% fat free.

In fact, to make engineered meat taste seem more familiar and tender, they may need to mix in some cloned some fat cells.

The bigger question is where does this lead to? Some scientists think this is the first step in engineering sustainable food alternatives for the next cen... [More]

Continue...Are You Ready For Test Tube Hamburgers? Beef Without Killing Cows. ...

Pop-Tarts Should Be Individually Wrapped!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Don't you hate to eat dried out Pop-Tarts? So why don't they wrap them individually?

Some of the stuff I post here can get a bit technical, but this is one that needs no explanation. You buy a box of 8 Pop-Tarts, open it up and find only four pouches, with 2 in each package. What if I only want one?

You have three choices...
1) Share one.
2) Eat both.
3) Put one back without a proper seal and try to eat it before it dries out or becomes inedible. Then throw it out and feel terrible about wasting food knowing there are so many people in the world without Pop-Tarts. Eventually, you'll feel so bad about wasting them that you'll say you'll never buy another box again. Then in a few months, when they put a limited edition Gingerbread or Red Velvet flavor, you buy another... [More]

Continue...Pop-Tarts Should Be Individually Wrapped!...

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Don't Bother With SEO. Use Real People Optimization Instead.

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Emergency Contact Info Needs to Bypass Locked Phone

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A Bedside Book Projector - Read Books on the Ceiling!

Reinvent The Wheel? YES. There's Always Room For Improvement.

Amazon Echo as an Intercom. Room to Room Communication, Even Across the World.

TV Needs More Shows Like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood... The Seinfeld of Children's TV

Stop using default Security Questions... here's why.

A Car Periscope? Why Not?

Digital String on Your Finger... To Remind You You Left Something Behind...

Use Social Media to Listen To Your Customers, or They'll find Somebody Who Does.

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.Podcast Domain TLDs. A Direct Domain For Podcasters.

* Note: The ideas on "Idea of the Day" were posted without any formal research into existing inventions.

In some cases, patents may already exist for these ideas, in other cases, there may not be any existing patents and you are free to develop and explore the viability of developing and patenting the ideas.

The authors make no claim that any of the ideas are safe, practical, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for the results of trying, developing, patenting or using any of the ideas on this site.

For some people, our ideas are just an interesting read, but our goal is to encourage you to take action. If you see an idea that you like, do something with it... Take action.

- Joe

Idea Of The Day. A new Idea Each Day. Some Don't Suck.

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