We’ve all done it. That delicious cheeseburger that only costs a buck at the local fast food joint is a much more convenient option than, say, preparing lunch for the next day. Buying our food on the go is something that makes life a little easier, or so it seems. But at what cost do we forego preparations to eat in advance and instead choose to partake in the world of fast food?
Most of us have no idea what’s actually used in preparation of the fast food we eat; nor do we really research how it’s processed, much less cooked. With all the processing that fast food goes through, most essential vitamins, nutrients and minerals are all but destroyed, leaving nothing but unhealthy fats, detrimental amounts of sugar, and sometimes a full day’s worth of calories.
Take KFC’s new “Double Down” entrée for an example. It packs a whopping 480 calories. Add to that a beverage and a side, and the typical American is now at about half or even more of his or her daily caloric intake.
Denny’s Grand Slam-Wich, without hash browns, contains an astonishing amount of fat, packing 1,320 calories. Starting your day off with a meal like this one pretty much covers most of your intake for the day, especially when a drink like orange juice is added.
But who is to blame for the expanding waistlines of Americans nationwide? Restaurants and the people who eat whatever is convenient share the blame equally. If restaurants would be consistently up front with the nutrition facts of their food, consumers could probably start making more educated decisions. Unless legislation is enacted that fully ensures this, most companies will continue to downplay it. If more consumers would realize just how harmful fast food can be and start to listen to their bodies, they would live healthier, longer lives.
There is no doubt that fast food is unhealthy. A USA Today article titled “Fast Food does Supersize You,” is clear proof. “Fast food is commonly recognized to have very poor nutritional quality,” said Dr. David Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children’s Hospital Boston. Ludwig also points out that “the fast-food industry continues to claim that fast food can be part of a healthful diet.” This may not be true.
The study conducted by Dr. Ludwig, which focused on the impact of fast food among younger adults who frequented fast food restaurants at least twice a week, found that those consumers of fast food more than doubled their chances of “developing an insulin resistance,” a warning sign of diabetes.
If we begin to at least moderate our consumption of fast food, then nothing but benefits to one’s health can be expected. Avoiding fast food is something most college students simply cannot do.
A walk around the campus inevitably leads you to some type of fast food no matter where you go. Students should focus on healthy options when in a rush as opposed to fast food. There is nothing that proves better than knowing what you eat, what exactly is in it, and spending your money on something healthier than that burger with a third of a pound of beef, or those hot wings slathered in sodium-laden sauce.
Patrick Levy is a communications freshman and may be reached at [email protected]
