News-Record.com

Hardee's has unabashedly catered itself as the fast-food chain that thinks portion control is for sissies. Look no further than the "Monster Thickburger," which weighs in at 1,420 calories and has 108 grams of fat.

So I thought I would never see the day when Hardee's begins showcasing smaller, not bigger, portion sizes.

But that day has come, folks, judging by the latest Hardee's commercials touting its "Little Thickburger."

And you can blame the economy for Hardee's change of heart. That's because consumers' wallets have gone on a diet.

The price of the Little Thickburger? A leaner $1.99.

"The only complaint some people have ever had about our Thickburgers is that they were either too big or too expensive to order as much as they would like, particularly in this challenging economic environment," according to Brad Haley, Hardee's EVP of marketing for Hardee’s restaurants. "So, we created Little Thickburgers specifically for those people."

So does the economy mean you're eating less at fast-food restaurants or choosing cheaper items on the menu or both? Weigh in here.