Americans pride themselves on their freedom to choose what they want to wear, do, and eat. Throughout the country, a general rise in the average income allows citizens to spend more money than ever on food outside of the home. The convenience of driving up to a window and paying a few dollars for a full meal is tempting, but when done in excess, can cause major health problems or even death.
Eating outside of the home limits your ability to select healthy, sustainable meal options. When you shop at a supermarket and prepare a meal at home, you know exactly what ingredients are going into your meal, where they came from, and how they have been processed. Many of the ingredients utilized by the fast-food industry are of sub-par quality and freshness, and lack vital nutrients for healthy survival.
There are several corners cut by the fast-food industry that make the foods they serve less healthy than they are inherently. Sweeteners, grain-based products, and meats are processed and delivered in dangerous quantities or in extremely unhealthy ways.
High Fructose Corn Syrup, which “between 1970 and 1990, far exceed[ed] the changes in intake of any other food or food group,” [1] has been directly linked to obesity. Excessive weight gain is quickly becoming a top-ranking cause of death and disease among Americans, and fast-food restaurants may have a hand in this epidemic. One small soft drink at a fast-food restaurant contains approximately the daily -required amount of sugar for an average adult – and if you’ve ever visited a fast food restaurant, you know that a medium-sized soda is the standard size offered.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a higher rate of fast-food consumption will lead to an increased intake of fat, saturated fat, energy, sugar, and sodium and a decreased intake of vitamins, nutrients, fruits and vegetables.[2] These fluctuations can lead to severe health problems and deprive the body of nutrients imperative for a healthy life.
If you must consume fast-food, be sure to look for healthy options on the menu. Many fast-food establishments are increasing the number of vegetable-based, low -calorie, and fresh fruit options that they offer. Each item must now have a calorie count as well, so be sure that your entire meal (including sauces, beverages, and toppings) does not contain the majority of your calorie intake for the day.
When possible, cook meals at home. French fries can be made at home without deep-frying and with a fraction of the salt and fatty oil used at fast-food joints. Burgers should be made with lean meat and encased between whole grain buns, as well. Anything you can get at a fast-food restaurant can be made at home in a much healthier fashion.
Being aware of what you are consuming is the first step to leading a healthy lifestyle. Do not be distracted by the convenience of the drive-thru, or the triple layers of over-processed beef and cheese, or the extra-large soda for only twenty cents more. You know the old adage, ‘you are what you eat’? Well, if you’re eating foods that are extremely fatty with little nutritional value, you can expect your body to develop in a similar way. Children are often lured in with toys and sweets, but you are better off cooking for your children at home than wasting money on food that encourages an unhealthy lifestyle.
Eating healthy, proportioned meals combined with a healthy lifestyle including exercising regularly, maintaining a regular sleep cycle, and eliminating tobacco from your body are all great ways to stay fit and use the nutrients your body takes in. If, for some reason, you cannot avoid eating fast food (if you’re on a road trip, in the middle of nowhere, famished, and the golden arches stand on the horizon like a beacon in the night) be sure to choose the healthier options, ask for sauce on the side, and be reasonable about how much soda you can actually consume.
