Fast Food Discussion
We were asked to view several videos concerning fast food and respond to the questions below:
Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=14&v=tyVFGpg17hw
Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANyY7n52xJQ
Video 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbqUguvAwZQ
My Response re Videos and Fast-Food:
After reviewing the website posted above, I realized that it was easy to put together a meal under 500-600 calories. But this did not equate to nutritious. For example, the meal I was looking at was from Chik-fil-A, Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich (320) calories, but it had 800 mg. of sodium. So, although the calorie intake was not horrible, it really didn't offer much in nutrition. The upside to eating a Chik-fil-A is that they offer a fruit cup in lieu of fries. A large fruit cup is only 70 calories. So, if you choose the chargrilled sandwich along with the fruit cup and a water, the total calorie intake is 390.
Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=14&v=tyVFGpg17hw
Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANyY7n52xJQ
Video 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbqUguvAwZQ
- Answer the following questions:
- Have your views about fast food and the negative effects it plays with heart disease and early death changed based on the video and weekly readings? Please explain your answer.
- What are some ways in which you feel you may limit the amount of fast food?
- What responsibility do you feel the CEOs should have (if any) in terms of its customers' well being?
- Next, search the web (google, yahoo, any reliable search engine) for your favorite fast food establishment and then search within your local city. When you type in the info how many of those fast food establishments appear? When you get that total, take the city closest to yours and do the same thing. In your post please include these numbers and analyze what you think this information tells you about your local community and their commitment to health and wellness.
- Finally, go to the following website, http://www.helpguide.org/life/fast_food_nutrition.htm (Links to an external site.), and put together a healthy FAST FOOD or RESTAURANT meal (if that that is even possible!) to share with your classmates.
My Response re Videos and Fast-Food:
- My views regarding fast food has not changed by viewing the videos. I know my children watched the documentary Super-Size Me that came out in 2004 directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock. These types of videos and informational news releases have made headlines for years now. There is a much better transparency by fast-food chains than when I was young. I'm sure it's not by choice but with governmental agencies asserting regulations to post nutritional information and creating accountability. Also, the schools have improved in educating kids about the importance of diet and exercise and go to great lengths to bring this awareness to the children's homes.
- One way I've always limited the amount of fast-food my family eats is by packing lunch and snacks when we would have long days on the soccer field. If the boys were each playing 2 games a day, that four games for the family, I would bring food that I know would fuel them for their games and help them recover at a faster pace. Their club and coaches always did a great job at expressing the importance of staying fit inside and out.
- I believe the CEO's are held accountable to certain extent because they do have to comply with the US FDA regulations. I think they owe the public transparency, to uphold any type of integrity so that customers do not become ill from E. coli or other bacteria. But I do not believe they should be responsible for the obesity problems in the U.S. I feel there is enough information and it is the consumers responsibility to make good choices.
After reviewing the website posted above, I realized that it was easy to put together a meal under 500-600 calories. But this did not equate to nutritious. For example, the meal I was looking at was from Chik-fil-A, Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich (320) calories, but it had 800 mg. of sodium. So, although the calorie intake was not horrible, it really didn't offer much in nutrition. The upside to eating a Chik-fil-A is that they offer a fruit cup in lieu of fries. A large fruit cup is only 70 calories. So, if you choose the chargrilled sandwich along with the fruit cup and a water, the total calorie intake is 390.
Reflection
Our body needs food, it acts as fuel and has a direct impact on how well you feel and your overall health. Fast food is food that can be served quickly which usually means it is highly processed and contains large amounts of carbohydrates, sugar, and is just overall contains unhealthy fat and salt. Fast good typically contains a high number of calories and offers little or no nutritional value. I recall the theory that if someone is waiting in line for a fast food restaurant, they are usually not there to eat a healthy well-balanced meal. This struck me as so true. If someone is in a hurry, hungry because they skipped a meal and running short on time, they are looking for a quick fix. Even if someone has good intentions of ordering something healthy, most likely by the time they order they are willing to get what is the easiest to eat, especially if they are going to eat while on the go. Fast food is such a big part of an American lifestyle but it is really an individual's decision whether to eat it or not. It's important to stay educated and informed of what it is we put in our body, what you do with that information is really up to you.
Our body needs food, it acts as fuel and has a direct impact on how well you feel and your overall health. Fast food is food that can be served quickly which usually means it is highly processed and contains large amounts of carbohydrates, sugar, and is just overall contains unhealthy fat and salt. Fast good typically contains a high number of calories and offers little or no nutritional value. I recall the theory that if someone is waiting in line for a fast food restaurant, they are usually not there to eat a healthy well-balanced meal. This struck me as so true. If someone is in a hurry, hungry because they skipped a meal and running short on time, they are looking for a quick fix. Even if someone has good intentions of ordering something healthy, most likely by the time they order they are willing to get what is the easiest to eat, especially if they are going to eat while on the go. Fast food is such a big part of an American lifestyle but it is really an individual's decision whether to eat it or not. It's important to stay educated and informed of what it is we put in our body, what you do with that information is really up to you.