Positive Improvements from the Fast Food Industry
America’s indulgent to fast food is changing in many ways sense 2004. Healthier options are starting to become more available for the consumers. Portion sizes are decreasing, more food is being handmade, and organic ingredients are being used in our fast food. The fast food industry has been making healthier improvements in our food because people are claiming it is the reason why our obesity rates are increasing in America.
Fast food restaurants started in 1916 and have been growing ever sense then. The first fast food restaurant was White Castle which opened in Wichita, Kansas. This was a burger joint many people from all over the country traveled to, to enjoy their food. The fast food restaurant then had grew, and in the 1950s Ray Kroc had got the idea from White Castle and came up with the first McDonalds. McDonalds has grossed $275,000 between 1945 and 1951, which was rare for a small restaurant. McDonalds had grew tremendously because of its enjoyment it brought to people. And shortly after came Burger King, Wendy’s, and Tacobell. These fast food restaurants started taking over America. By the 1990s there was 11,800 McDonalds, 6,298 Burger Kings, and 3,721 Wendy’s. Between the 1970s and 1990s portion sizes had grew tremendously. Health officials noticed a huge weight gain in America and it made them realize something needs to change.
People have come up with the conclusion that fast food is to blame for the obesity in America. But is this really true? A McDonald’s Big Mac contains 540 calories, a medium fry has 380 calories, and a large sweet tea has 280 calories. So these meals are highly processed and very unhealthy for the human body. And eating this on a daily basis c...
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...ments in our food, but how are they doing this and why? The fast food industry is doing this because they have been losing sales for not having any healthy options on the menu. This generation is striving on being active and eating healthy, so the fast food restaurants are starting to become less of an option for people. Also the obesity rates in America have been increasing tremendously and people are starting to get the idea it is coming from fast food. So health officials know they need to do something about it this by changing their menus. Places like McDonalds have added salads, yogurts, low fat, lower cholesterol, and low sodium items to their menu to help their sales and the obesity rate in America. I think the fast food industry has made a positive change in their food and have been trying to make it as healthy as they can with still being known as fast food.
We hear it all the time, regarding how fast food is bad for our health, and yet we continue eating it. Life doesn’t slow down and sometimes it is just much easier and better for you timewise to just go through the drive through. In the article “Fighting the Fast Food Habit: Can America Downsize?” it basically says that even though most of the fast food chains and food suppliers are trying to decrease the unhealthy options on their menus, it is too late for it because of our eating habits. We want the unhealthy food. Companies are going to market to what the consumer wants. That’s how they make their profits. To sum it all up, companies are food options it a little healthier, but not for us, they only do as much that is needed for people to keep buying it and still feel like they are eating a little healthier. (Garcia 94) Just because a company says they are making changes doesn’t mean you’re eating healthy. It simply means they are making the food and drinks people are consuming a little healthier, however, it still shouldn’t be considered healthy. They do what they have to do to make money. All in all, you should consider eating less fast food and work toward adopting some good eating
Kushner, Jason, ed. "Fast Food and Obesity Epidemic."Nutra Legacy. Nutralegacy.com , 12 Nov 2008. Web. 16 Jan 2014. .
Fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society. Everywhere you turn you can see a fast food restaurant. An industry that modestly began with very few hot dog and hamburger vendors now has become a multi-international industry selling its products to paying customers. Fast food can be found anywhere imaginable. Fast food is now served at restaurants and drive-through, at stadiums, airports, schools all over the nation. Surprisingly fast food can even be found at hospital cafeterias. In the past, people in the United States used to eat healthier and prepared food with their families. Today, many young people prefer to eat fast food such as high fat hamburgers, French-fries, fried chicken, or pizza in fast
“Today, more than 95% of all chronic disease is caused by food choice, toxic food ingredients, nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical exercise” Mike Adams (1967- present). People tend to believe our obesity epidemic is due to our high-calorie fast food restaurants. They are quick to blame others for their own mistakes and their willingness to change their eating habits. Fast food restaurants are not to blame for our obesity problem in our society but as a consumer, we are making that ultimate choice. We need to stop and think about what we are putting in our bodies and what they are doing to us. Yes, it’s true, it’s easier to find a McDonalds than a fruit or vegetable stand, but why not choose the salad with half the dressing at McDonalds
Obesity can be caused by a combination of fast food and the environment people live in today. Fast food contains foods that are high in fats, sugars, and starches. These ingredients have rarely any nutritional value to the human body. Most of the foods available at fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, and KFC contain concentrated salt and preservatives to enhance the flavor in them. Obesity has become the defining aspect of our nation by surrounding the people with fast food products. The freedom to choose what one wants, gives the fast food companies the right to give one unhealthy food. The consumption of fast food products regularly greatly increases one’s chance of having health disparities such as Coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers, stroke, Hypertension, and Osteoarthritis. These negative effects are present with the daily eating of fast foods.
Millions of American people buy fast food every day without thinking about where, how and why. The ramifications of fast food is impacting the American people both around the waist line and the community where they live at. “As the old saying goes: you are what you eat.” (Schlosser) The customer have made the choices to eat fast food or not. The industry doesn’t care about the customers; studies have shown that the fast food industry is the reason for the rise of American obesity. “Live fast and die young” (Moore); this could not be more true when looking at the impact of the fast food industry.
One out of every three Americans is obese, and the majority of these obese people in the United States have eaten regularly at fast food restaurants. As the obesity rate increases, the number of fast food restaurants goes up as well. Although it is not certain, many believe that obesity in the United States is correlated to eating fast food. Since the United States has the highest obesity rate out of any country, it is important for Americans to monitor the fast food industry that may be causing obesity. With the pressure to get things done in a timely manner, fast food has become a big necessity.
In conclusion, this essay has provided a variety of facts on how fast-food industry is becoming the new tobacco. In addition, how the poor eating habits adopted by Americans are at their worst and culminating to health complications. Therefore, there need be more medical interventions dealing with challenges such as diet drugs, food substitution, and alternative food restaurants. The government should also advocate for foods and services that are more informative to the consumer on matters nutritional characteristics and safety standards in foods, all in all it is common sense that majority of Americans have poor feeding habits in comparison to those who follow health diets making fast food the new tobacco.
The greatest proliferation of fast food has received in America. The history of American fast food started in 1912, when the company Horn & Hardart opened the first diner of fast food under the name "Automatic" in New York. This way of eating has become wildly popular and revolutionized the field of nutrition. Fast food as an industry emerged in the 1920s in America. A pioneer in this field was the company “White Castle”, which opened in 1921 in Kansas. Specialty of this company was the burgers, which at that time Americans were a rarity. Potential buyers were especially happy with stable price for food. Despite the Great Depression, the Second World War and inflation the company until 1946 sold their hamburgers for five cents. When some visitors began to think about how harmful such foods can be, the owner of a network, Billy Ingram, invented a clever move. He hired several young people who for a small fee daily came in White castle in white coats, and they ordered hamburgers. Visitors mistook them for doctors and calmed down. If even doctors eat hamburgers, it means that it is really safe for health.
Obesity among Americans has been a growing issue in the United States predominantly over the past decade. Many may argue American’s are obese because of poor food choices, over-eating, genetic disposition, lack of exercise, or the environment which one lives, while others blame it all on fast-food chains and restaurants. Throughout my research I have come to find a lot of facts and statistics about fast food consumption causing obesity. Statistics show that without a doubt the United States is the most obese country in the world.
Typically, countries such as America are trying to become a healthier nation despite of what they are accustomed to. America has been conditioned to the lifestyle of eating fast foods and ultimately has became an important part of their culture. Fast food restaurants such as Mcdonalds, Burger King, and KFC represent the image of America from the views of foreign countries. Since fast food is becoming abundant in America, they have picked up the trend of eating not only three meals a day but now four. This is problem because of how unhealthy fast food is: “Fast food is an affordable and convenient way to fill yourself up when on the run. Although you shouldn't feel guilty for an occasional indulgence, regularly eating fast food can seriously damage your health.” (Lee, par. 1). Many of these fast food restaurants are open 24 hours a day to encourage people to eat their fourth meal. Similarly, restaurants have made all you can eat options, including unlimited ice cream, pizza, fried chicken, and more. This specific type of food is readily available and extremely cheap in America, therefore Americans take advantage of this by consuming food without culture or tradition. In other countries, food has a greater importance and is more valued. Moreover, they look down on A...
"Over the last three years, there have been some improvements to the nutritional quality of fast food, and to companies ' marketing practices. However, the pace of improvement is slow and unlikely to reduce young peoples overconsumption of high calorie, nutritionally poor fast food."
Obesity is a big social issue in America. Due to the popularity of fast food and other unhealthy foods, more and more Americans are developing health diseases and disorders. We should be getting the correct daily nutrition amount, but because of our fast paced lifestyles we sometimes do not have enough time. Fast food restaurants make it possible to grab a meal and go. We often do not pay attention to the nutrition amount, but are simply looking for a quick bite to eat that will fulfill our hunger. Fast food is assisting in the increase of obesity in America (“Phrase” par.2).
Fast food started from basic stands on the sides of streets. It has always been connected with the expansion of urban development. When the urban areas gained a greater population the amount of food stands on the sides of streets did, as well. The United States is most famous for fast food. The first ever fast food restaurant was called White Castle; it was built in Wichita in 1921. White Castle had a very minimal based menu. It was mostly well- known for their hamburger. This restaurant was the start of the fast food chains in America. About 20 years later, one of the most famous fast food chains in America was created. McDonalds was built in 1940, and it was created as a drive-in restaurant with a wide-ranging barbecue menu. Later on, McDonalds had created a 9-item menu that consisted of: hamburger, cheeseburger, three soft drinks, milk, coffee, potato chips, pie, French fries, and milkshakes. As you can see, fast foo...
Fast food has changed the face of the world. Major chains like McDonalds span all over the world. Fast food chains are continuing to grow despite numerous facts of their unhealthiness. Fast food has been proven to be a dangerous food source, yet people continue to purchase it. The more people buy fast food the more it allows the big corporations to grow. People continue to eat fast food because there are no other convenient options.