Even in the worst of times, people still have to eat. After taking into consideration the cost of time spent cooking, it's probably (sadly) cheaper to eat fast food than to shop for, prepare and clean up after a home-cooked meal.

So here's the first of multi-part primer on various faster food vendors of differing stripes. Let's start with Burger King Holdings (NYS: BKC), the second biggest burger slinger on Earth.

With the recent focus on healthy eating by many Americans -- and now, many fast food chains offering salads and such -- world food service leader McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is testing a new bigger burger that will cater to the consumer who likes burgers tall, wide and with plenty of calories.

The new burger will be part of the Angus family of McDonald's burgers and will come with an enhanced price for the extra weight and girth it has. So forget that quarter pounder -- the new burger will be a third-pounder as it finds its way into more McDonald's locations after being available now only in 600 locations in California. The burger is the most expensive single sandwich on the McDonald's menu at $3.99.

With competitors now offering "premium burgers" that pack in as many calories as some complete meals, a McDonald's franchise owner told corporate headquarters a few years ago that a premium burger was needed so that McDonald's could remain competitive in the market (for huge burgers, I suppose). With CKE Restaurants' (NYSE: CKR) Carl's Jr. having all kinds of premium burgers on its menu (Restaurant Style, it calls them), I guess it was about time for McDonald's to respond. But while it's new $3.99 will be its most expensive, there are still some burgers at Carl's Jr. that retail for about $6. Maybe that price difference will help McDonald's gain some market share in the battle of the big burger.

Okay, let me think here for a moment, I have had a tough week in the stock market; something about issues in China that started it all. Oh well, people saw a dip in their savings and net worth this week... but hey, I feel good. After all I have no plans to go to China or even eat Chinese tonight. I actually feel great because let's see... Monday , I ate organically-raised salmon with a few raw vegetables!! Tuesday and Wednesday I had different variations of broiled chicken with a couple of different sauces... I am so wicked. The fresh veggies were accompanied with rice -- healthy brown rice of course. Man, I am good... following this health regime like a trooper. My doctor is going to be so proud of me! I've lost 4 pounds in 3 weeks... gimme more veggies, green, yellow, red... love em all!!

I snacked on carrot sticks Tuesday and Wednesday evening and feeling a bit naughty, I even added an herb dip on Wednesday... man, I am going to become patient-of-the-week. Thursday was the coup de gras or whatever it is the French say -- I had baked trout, with lemon juice on the side, of course, and a baked potato, no butter, no chives, just low-fat sour cream. I had a high-fiber breakfast cereal every day this week... so who cares about the stock market's bad week, I had fantastic returns from eating right and feeling good. Those old jeans aren't so snug anymore!!

Friday evening... let's see, the chicken looks boring, the trout and salmon look and taste like cardboard -- I have had it!! I am going to splurge and the doctors and nurses can kiss my $%^&&... off I go to "Heart Attack Grill"!!

Note to advertisers: be really careful who you pick to pitch your products.

Sure, you want a big name. You want convincing. You want sexy. But do you really want someone who doesn't even like your product? (Hint: no!)

Yesterday, Paris Hilton plead 'no contest' to one count of alcohol-related reckless driving -- she'll pay a fine and be on probation for 36 months. All this because she was really hungry (and drunk) and "wanted to have an In-N-Out burger."

Which all would be a juicy story, and par-for-the-course with the idle rich like Ms. Hilton. Except that she's a former spokesperson (spokesmodel?) for rival Carl's Jr., a unit of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:CKR). There was so much egg (or was that hamburger grease?) on everyone's face, the incident made Business 2.0's list for dumbest moments in business.

I'll give this: you probably don't want your spokespeople drinking and driving. But if they do, and they're caught in the act and interviewed as to what was going on, wouldn't you want them to say, "I really wanted a Carl's Jr. burger?"

Pick your spokespeople like you pick your CEOs: make sure they love 'em a good ____ [your product goes here]. It will at least make for a good crawl on CNN. Any PR is good PR... right?

On MAD MONEY tonight Jim Cramer was trying to put the record market close in perspective; he said the conditions are perfect for some companies. One that is just right for the market? Sonic Corporation (NASDAQ:SONC). It's a fabulous restaurant chain, he says. The company did a Dutch tender for part of its stock, and this is great for holders at $23.00 per share for 19% of the company.

Cramer says two great things going for it are that 1) is a regional-to-national story, because it is only in 29 states, and light in California, and not even in New York; and 2) great fundamentals and good food and good management.

The stock closed up 1.2% at $22.49 and is now in after-hours up another 2.2% at $23.02; 52-week trading range is $17.85 to $23.65.

[Photo Beau Wade]