With fast food venues on the rise and marketing on overdrive we can clearly see a connection between this and the rise in obesity levels worldwide. We are given the impression this food is quicker, easier for a busy life. But at what cost? Is it worth the damage to your body?
Some Fast Facts
- 500,000 fast food places worldwide
- 96 % of kids can recognize Ronald Mc Donald with only Santa being more recognizable ( the power of marketing aimed at our children)
- $100 billion is the amount Americans spend on fast food every year
- $4.2 billion was spent on advertising in the US in 2010
- You can easily consume your daily allowance of calories in one fast food meal without coming anywhere close to hitting your macro or micro nutrient requirements
We know fast food is not part of a balanced diet and should be consumed sparingly, but why is it still so widely consumed and a part of the regular eating habits of many people? Here are some of the reasons you might hear.
- Instantly gratifying
- Tastes so good
- Fast
- Busy lifestyles
- Lack of time to cook from scratch
- Fussy eaters
- Low cost
- Efficient service
- Casual Atmosphere
- Less Hassle
- Clever marketing makes it look attractive
Are any of these reasons really worth your or your family’s health?
The whole theory you are what you eat truly applies here regular consumption of fast food puts you at an increased health risk
- No nutrients = No energy
- Overweight /obesity
- Increased risk of CVD
- Increased risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Liver damage
Here are some of the calories in popular fast food items. Taking into account the average woman needing 2,000 calories and the average man 2, 500 this might shock you!
- 2 slices of a pepperoni and cheese pizza – 1,138 calories
- Large Big Mac meal – 1170 calories
- 10 piece chicken nugget meal 1090 calories
- Foot long Italian BMT from Subway – 900 calories
- Quarter pounder with cheese meal – 1149 calories
- 500 grams Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough – 1,350 calories
- Chinese food plate 2,300 calories
We need to be more mindful of what we put into our bodies and while cutting loose and having a treat now and then is perfectly reasonable we have to take into account that food is fuel and fast food cannot provide the nutrition your body needs.
A little planning and preparation and you can create healthy home cooked meals
Home cooking has so many benefits for you and your family:
- Allows more control over what you eat
- Encourages a healthy attitude towards food
- More nutritious option than fast food
- Excellent bonding experience for family and friends
Fast food is fake food . Be real and eat real !
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