The Impact of Fast Food on Health
The term fast food refers to certain foods which can be prepared and be ready quickly. Even though it is possible to prepare meals at home without spending too much time, fast food particularly regards the meals sold in restaurants with precooked ingredients like hotdogs and hamburgers. The restaurants usually package the food in the form of take-aways. In the past, there has been heated debate about fast food restaurants and their marketing strategies which generates interest among children, knowing very well that it is unhealthy. For companies like McDonald's which is one of the biggest employers in the country, there have been ethical concerns about its practice primarily since fast food is related to the reported cases of obesity. Regardless of the convenience, fast food is not good for the following three reasons: it has an adverse impact on a person's health, it is more expensive than homemade meals, and it weakens the family bond.
The Health Risks of Fast Food Consumption
The concept of fast food restaurants is a relatively new concept even though most people do not realize that it is a slow death. It has dire consequences on a person's health mainly because it comprises high amounts of unwanted nutrients such as salt, fat, and other additives. Besides, it may constitute harmful bacteria which is not convenient for the body. Most fast foods have insignificant amounts of vegetables and fruits which are healthy. Also, including large amounts of certain nutrients which are only required in small portions affect a person's health such as salt which may impact the heart health where food is rich in salt. People who take significant amounts of fast food are at risk of becoming obese and developing other illnesses like high blood pressure and diabetes. Specifically, the rise in cases of obesity is directly linked to the aggressive marketing strategies by fast food restaurants and popularity among the citizens. The food is usually full of saturated and unsaturated fat being the primary source of calories. While fats may be burned overtime through exercise, this does not apply for saturated fats which remain the body causing overweight. Even though restaurants provide consistent quality, most people do not know the ingredients found in fast foods and the companies do not reveal.
The Cost of Fast Food Consumption
Depending on fast foods is quite expensive compared to the preparation of homemade meals. When considering the feeding of the mind and body, there is nothing better than preparing food from scratch, incorporating quality ingredients. One has the opportunity to prepare food from fresh ingredients like fruits and vegetables which are more nutritional. On the other hand, when intending to take food from a fast food restaurant, one has to consider the cost of gas, driving to the restaurant, placing and waiting for the order, then returning home to serve the meal. The time spent to do all these activities is sufficient to prepare a healthy meal from scratch and eat comfortably without the health risk involved. When a person depends on fast food, they are at risk of developing various illnesses like diabetes, which will later require them money for treatment. Therefore, in spite of the argument that fast foods are relatively cheap and the waiting time is not as significant, it is rather expensive in the long term. One will eventually have to bear with the expenses of medicine and ultimately preparing healthy homemade meals. Furthermore, when one falls ill, they will not be in a position to go to the workplace or learn, which increases the cost from the loss. Consequently, fast foods are more expensive then homemade meals considering the expenses incurred.
The Threat to Family Bonding
The dominance of fast food restaurants has resulted in the loss of the family culture of eating together. Fast foods encourage people to eat on the go which involves taking the meal and leaving the premise immediately. Family time is an integral part of our culture which encourages people to come together and share their experiences. But fast food restaurants are undermining this practice which is especially true for the youngsters who perceive them to be a convenient place of hanging out with friends and sharing. Even the teenagers now see fast food joints as ideal places for sitting with friends instead of their parents and siblings. In particular, this also develops a habit of people eating quickly and mindless consuming of calories which may result in overeating. Accordingly, although fast food is absolutely an occasional fun treat, it develops habits which challenge the very institution of quality family time and tradition. Basing on the fact that it does not promote the family culture and heightens the risk of being obese, then fast food does not seem like a plausible alternative to homemade food. Families ought to stick to the tradition of preparing food at home to strengthen the bond.
The Argument for Fast Food
Opposing views claim that fast food restaurants offer many great benefits especially since they save a lot of money. It is one of the reasons which motivates a majority of people to eat this food and particularly among the less privileged in the society. Certainly, fast food saves significant time due to the low waiting period given the way it is prepared hurriedly. A majority of the fast food restaurants have drive-thru's which make it quicker for clients to make orders. One cannot deny that most fast food restaurants are slowly changing and they offer healthy alternatives for the clients. It may include salads or wraps which cater the interests of distinct persons. Nevertheless, the cheap cost of fast food is compensated with the expenses one incurs after developing severe conditions such as diabetes. Again, one spends a lot of time going to a fast food restaurant and making an order, which may be spent preparing healthier food. Notably, even though fast food restaurants are changing their menus to include healthy choices, this only happened after there was a lot of pressure from the public. Besides, the healthy alternatives are a bit more expensive and people, therefore, stick to unhealthy fast food.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while fast food offers convenience and it is a tasty addition to diets, it has serious health implications which incur more expenses to an individual's life. It also challenges the family values of spending time together and being more constructive. Consequently, people should learn how to carefully choose fast food and always ensure it does not affect their time with parents and siblings. This does not imply that a person has to boycott all the fast food restaurants, but that there should be a limit on how one often eats them.
