In case you weren’t familiar with the most economical fast food order ever: the Wendy’s Junior Bacon Cheeseburger is a small burger that costs a solid $1.59. It consists of a single beef patty, a slice of American cheese, two strips of bacon, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayo. According to thekitchentoday.com, one burger contains 390 calories, 24 grams of fat, 25 grams of carbohydrates, and 19 grams of protein.

Over exam season I consumed three or four burgers per meal (depending on how hungry I was). Given the number of meals I doordashed to the library, the total number of junior bacon cheese burgers I ate over a two week period is no less than 15. I am someone who doesn’t get tired of the same food very easily, so it was a quick and reliable (but probably not the healthiest) way to get my calories in.

Interestingly, another young asian man more than 20 years ago had also found this little burger to be a shortcut to sustenance. When my parents immigrated to Canada, they took up minimum wage jobs at fast food restaurants to make a living. My dad worked at Wendy’s for a while, and he would munch down several junior bacon cheeseburgers on his lunch break and after his shift. It’s funny to think that this little burger has supported both of us through tough times, 20 years apart.

I am forever grateful for its support of me and my father. Thank you, junior bacon cheeseburger.