Bittman's Essay 'Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?'

Mark Bittman’s article “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” analyzes the common belief that fast

food or junk food is a cheaper and faster way to eat. In his article, he tries to demystify this

popular belief. This wrong concept explains why so many Americans are overweight,

particularly those with lower incomes( Bittman 660). At the beginning of his article he set his

point of view through his thesis "In general, despite extensive government subsidies,

hyperprocessed food remains more expensive than food cooked at home"(Bittman 660)

Bittman supports his argument by comparing an order for a family of four at McDonald’s,

which costs $28, to a home prepared meal for a family of four or even six, which costs $14 or

less. Bittman

also argues that some people think that junk food is cheaper when it is measured
by the calories. He considers this assumption false. “A meal of real food cooked at home can
easily contain more calories, most of them of the ‘healthy’ variety”(Bittman, 661). He compares
prices of real food and junk food using supermarket ingredients and not the expensive organic
food. "The alternative to fast food is not necessarily organic food"( Bittman, 661). Also,
Bittman argues that it is important to incorporate real food in your lifestyle, despite how

convenient is to get junk food. With his argument, Bittman proposes a cultural change to get
people away from junk food. “Somehow, no-nonsense cooking and eating — roasting a chicken,
making a grilled cheese sandwich, scrambling an egg, tossing a salad — must become popular
again”(Bittman 663).

Bittman appeals to ethos when he incorporates quotes from authors and professionals who
have studied food habits, demonstrating that the habit of eating junk food is a cultural problem
and not an economic problem. He quotes Julie Guthman, associate professor of community
studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, saying, “People really are stressed out with all
that they have to do, and they do not want to cook”(661).

Also, he appeals to ethos, when he

mentions scientific studies to make his points more credible. There is a clear example on page

662, when he discusses a study that explains how junk food has the same addictive effect of

drugs. "Furthermore, the engineering behind hyperprocessed food makes it virtually addictive a

2009 study by the Scripps Research Institute indicates that overconsumption of fast food

‘triggers addiction- like neuro-addictive responses; in the brain, making it harder to trigger the

release of dopamine”(Bittman 662).

Bittman appeals to logos by using examples and arguments to support his thesis. For

instance, he mentions that choosing between junk food or healthy food is a personal decision

especially if most people can drive to a fast food place, they can drive to a supermarket. Bittman

says that people should eat homecooked meals, but they make the decision not to because

because cooking is defined as another a work while eating fast food is a pleasure. (661). He also

appeals to logos at the end of his article when he suggests the readers to cook at every

opportunity and to demonstrate to family and neighbors that the real way is the better

way (Bittman

664).

I agree with the writer’s argument. I think that junk food is more expensive than
homecooked meal. Also, I agree that the consumption of junk food is not an economic problem
but a cultural problem. Amidst the busy life we live, we consider cooking as another form of
work and we are accustomed to the pleasant feeling of getting food easily in fast food
restaurants. Unfortunately, when consuming this junk food we ignore how our health and our
economy are affected.