While deciding what to eat one night when I was left to fend for myself I came to the realization: if I wanted something healthy I am going to have to spend more money to get the same amount of food of a meal of unhealthy food. I decided on either getting a salad from subway (starting at around 6.50 depending on what type of meat you choose and an extra 1.50-2.50 for a drink) that usually fills me up for an hour and then I am rummaging around for something else. Or a fill up meal from KFC (starting at around 5.76 and comes with fried chicken, potatoes, biscuit, a cookie, and a drink). Being the “college student” I am, a couple dollars can mean if I am in the hole this month or not. So, naturally I tend to go with the cheaper option. Also, …show more content…
The difference of how we eat from a personal experience is surprisingly noticeable. When I work a lot of days in a row I tend to eat mac and cheese cups, fruit snacks, and really anything else that is easy to stuff into my face in my small amount of down time. By the end of the day I am sluggish, more than likely crabby, and I tend to feel sick. When I am able to actually get real food in during the day, I am always way better off and have a lot more energetic as the day goes one. Tomm says, “A diet filled with fried foods soaked in unhealthy saturated fats and trans fats and high-fat meats increases your risk for major diseases that impair your physical well being and threaten your life.” So if eating healthier food decreases our chances of getting these terrible diseases (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.), why do we still keep eating them. For some people they like the way it taste, but for others (like our lower-class population) it is the fact that they just cannot afford to do so.
The question that plays through my mind like a bad commercial jingle is, “Does healthier food really cost that much more than other foods?” Journalist Tara Parker-Pope says in her article, “Money is Tight, and
Whether you are a foodie, vegan or proud supporter of McDonald's fries, we can all agree that what you put in your body matters. What you eat has a large impact in not only your mind, body, and overall health. However, while making this argument many people forget that what you eat also has a major impact on your wallet. College students understand this better than anyone. One of my major
Junk food is one of the main causes of obesity in America.It contains things that have unhealthy ingredients that could lead to illnesses in the future if a person consumes a large amount of junk food.But there are ways to eat junk food and still be healthy while enjoying your favorite junk foods . Over the years there has been a lot of history behind junk food and the effects of it. Some of these historical findings have started leading people to understand that the amount of junk food that they consume is something that is very important for the health.Usually a person who is young that consumes a large amount of junk food may see an increase in obesity cholesterol and high blood pressure. For a person who is older such as in their 30s and 40s they may then see those things as well plus other illnesses that could lead to things such as high blood pressure and heart disease .To avoid an unhealthy lifestyle in the future something that might be questioned. Is it possible to live a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying junk foods?
Would you like to have no decisions on the healthiness of your food, and being able to only eat fast food, fried foods, etc. Most people would say no and rightfully so, people should be able to have choices on the foods they want to eat whether it’s healthy, unhealthy, fast food, farm grown, we shouldn’t have only unhealthy foods for our choices of what we eat. In the film Food Inc. directed by Robert Kenner there is a part in the movie that talks about the food choices of consumers. A point that was talked about for a decent amount of time in this part was how healthier foods are more expensive than fast food. This stood out to me because it’s true it cost more to eat healthy than it does to just go through a drive through. This is outrageous it should be the opposite, we should have to spend more for fast food than healthy foods. While at most fast food places there are ways you can eat healthy food but it is still more expensive than just buying a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets. During this part of the film a family was talking and saying that they have to choose whether to eat healthier food or get there father/husbands medicine so he could work. A family has to choose between those to things and that is not fair to anyone that has to make that decision. The family wanted to have better food and to not always be eating fast food meals but they don’t really have a choice and that is heartbreaking to see.
Mark Bittman wrote the article “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” which was published in The New York Times in late September 2011. Bittman argues that junk food is not healthy nor cheaper to eat than home cooked meals. The author wrote this article in response to the increase of obesity in 2011. This article can be divided into six sections. In the introduction the author discusses weather or not it is cheaper to buy junk food compared to buying it from the grocery store. Bittman discusses the quantity of food and price differences for junk food and food made at home for a family of four. In the next section the author compares the differences in calories that you
Explanation: Lynn Kelly speaks to a consumer Joyce, who talks about shopping at a grocery store and not being able to afford the healthy foods. "Joyce pointed, 'Fruit is high. Everything is high vegetable is high. So, it's really expensive when you wan to eat good '." Here, the consumer knows what the healthy foods are such as fruits and vegetables however, since she can not afford it so she does not purchase it. Many American households live on a tight budget, in which the expense of consuming a meal is kept at a minimum thus,this leads to eating at a cheap fast food restaurant. Mcdonald's "Dollar Menu" is attractive to low income communities where they a can achieve a whole meal with a few dollars.
Americans love to eat anything crazy. If a meal that has triple-wrapped bacon hot-dog fried in panko crumbs stuffed cheese that is filled with diabetes, Americans would devour it. Unhealthy foods have been apart of the American diet as a commonality, more than healthy foods should be. Unhealthy junk foods consist of unnecessary fats, oils, sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, and many more. Healthy foods have been increasingly disappearing from our restaurants every second. However, young people need a healthy diet to live a long and fulfilling life from self-inflicting diseases. Authors like Jane E. Brody, Mark Bittman, Alice Waters, and Katrina Heron all advocate for healthy foods. Jane E. Brody in “Attacking the Obesity Epidemic by First Figuring Out Its Cause” describes the cause of the obesity epidemic and proposes many solutions against it. Alice Waters and Katrina Heron in “No Lunch Left Behind” discuss the accessible healthy foods students are in dire need of instead of the processed trash. Mark Bittman in “Bad Food? Tax it, and Subsidize Vegetables” elaborates on the many benefits from taxing “bad food” and subsidizing vegetables such as reducing healthcare costs, improving health, and many more. All of these authors fight for a healthy American diet. As a fellow human being, this epidemic must be solved and it starts with youth. Many schools’ lunches and available snacks/foods are more unhealthy than to be nutritional. However, schools do try to combat junk food. Based on school data, surveys, and nationwide statistics, unhealthy foods should be taxed and healthy, natural foods should be subsidized and be more available for schools and eventually all people for a healthier lifestyle.
As a nation, Americans revel in the consumption of junk food. These extremely unhealthy foods are often present during many various occasions, such as sports events, movies, and parties. When a person craves a quick snack, junk food is the ideal solution. However, beyond the satisfying taste of foods such as Doritos and potato chips lies a very serious problem. These foods can lead to physical disrepair, sickness, and even death. Yet many Americans remain oblivious to this nationwide issue and allow it to remain unaddressed. The crisis of junk food in America needs to be resolved immediately. To go more in depth, it is imperative that the nation resolves this issue relatively soon, primarily because the excessive consumption of
There are a myriad of books, articles, television shows, movies, and websites doing their utmost to inform us of how we should eat better and to stop eating foods that are known to be bad for our bodies. An article by Michael Jacobson, published on the website for U.S. News & World Report, was just such an article. In his piece “Politics: It’s What For Dinner”, Jacobson points out that we should eat healthier items, such as, fruit, vegetables, and cut back on eating fast food, processed foods, and drinks heavy with sugar. Most parents would probably want to be able to feed their families with healthier choices, if it did not cost an arm and a leg to buy healthier foods. Of course, this is easy to do for those that can afford to eat whole foods, non-processed grains, and organic vegetables. I shop frequently and usually search for fresh, healthy foods, but the costs take a huge chunk from my budget. Healthy foods are much easier to access these days, as compared to just a decade ago. I know the benefits of eating healthier foods outweigh what ill affects the chemicals and needless additives can and will do to my body. Most American’s probably know that foregoing fast foods and opting for healthier foods is a much better plan for our bodies and will increase our longevity, but it is much cheaper to buy the junk food and it is usually tastier. Also, for families that are on the go, running to and fro with appointments and school outings, fast foods are convenient and
The need for a job in American society is vital and not having one in today’s society can cause major financial problems for an individual or a whole family. An average American, typically works eight hour shifts and sometimes even put in overtime to meet their needs. After an exhausting day at work, people tend to get hungry and the infamous question of “what to eat” begins to occupy every inner thought. Some are not only wondering what they should eat for dinner, but most of these workers also have a family to come home to and feed. People come home tired, lacking motivation to do anything, and the thought of having to prepare dinner for themselves or their family sounds discouraging. On the way home from work, everyone is bound to see a fast food restaurant of some sort, waiting for potential consumers in the street corner, illuminated by an infamous neon sign. The temptation to stop by and grab a quick meal is overwhelming, but there is always one jumbled up thought that suggests preparing a meal at home would be wiser. The typical American citizen has to fight a mental battle on deciding where they should take their health and how it will benefit them in the long run. Though most individuals who visit these fast food establishments can care less about the nutrition value behind their favorite meals, it is an important component to consider when buying at these places. With working from nine to five and coming home with the potential to eat everything in sight, if it
Healthy food should be accessible to everyone. If healthy food isn’t available for everyone all it’s going to do is cause more and more health problems. If we made healthy organic food the same price as cheap unhealthy food there would be a big difference in the health of our country. It’s completely unfair to make healthy food too expensive for other people to buy, which causes them to buy cheap unhealthy food, like off a dollar menu at a fast food restaurant. This issue needs to be put to an end.
Close your eyes and picture the inside of your refrigerator. You might find some eggs, milk, leftovers, frozen meats, vegetables, etc. . But none of that sounds truly good to the ears does it? No, of course not. What you really want is something good and readily available, like that juicy Big Mac with the fries and large coke that you saw on a billboard outside or on the television earlier. Luckily for you, there's about five McDonald's or other fast-food restaurants within minutes of your home. Unfortunately for you, while these fast-food places advertise the tastiness of their food, they tend to leave out the negatives of buying it. In an attempt to inform the public more of what eating out can do to you, David Zinczenko and Radley Balko
When something is detrimental to our health, we strive to avoid it whenever possible to extend our lives. We know that exposure to known cancer causing agents such as asbestos and lead paint is harmful; therefore, we do not expose ourselves to the risk and we certainly do not eat it. This seems simple; however, what do we do when that harmful vice is food? We cannot stop eating; instead, we must closely examine what we are putting into our bodies. When faced with the choice of a burger or grilled vegetables, most would choose the burger. These choices have lead us down a path littered with food related diseases, illnesses and rising healthcare costs. The state of Americans health is declining due to increasing obesity, diabetes and
Looking at a McDonald’s dollar menu, an average American could easily be swayed to indulge in the greasy pleasure, as opposed to driving five miles down the road to buy expensive meats and vegetables, proceed to drive back to their home neighborhood, then utilize complicated and expensive appliance to prepare a “healthy” meal. So why is it cheaper and easier in this country to acquire fat-enriched and “better tasting” food rather than the food that is nutritious and “bland”? Americans’ pricing on food is primarily causing the following; impulse to consume low-quality food rather than high-quality food, the lower price greatly effects the appeal to those that are financially unstable and even to those that are stable because after all money
Exercise and eating healthy are two of the most important things you need to do to take care of your body properly. Both exercise, and eating healthy, have many advantages and benefits. They help with multiple things needed throughout your life. These things include growing physically, mentally, and if you are religious, spiritually as well. All of this adds up to your body functioning in the highest and best way possible. People that has unhealthy eating habits, is at severe risk for obesity, diabetes and possible stroke. Unhealthy eating habits have a harmful effect on the body.
Have you ever seen “Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate” (Figure. 2) growing out of the ground? Today's society offers new options for meals every day. From fondue to fast food, there are new options everywhere you go. To clear up any curiosity, sodium stearoyl lactylate is a chemical added to Twinkies to make its processed ingredients more tolerable to the human body. Companies like Hostess and Kellogg’s are scientifically manipulating the human body, tricking them into being able to digest their chemical makeup of the ingredients. The true challenge when finding a place to eat is not only considering its availability, but also deciding which choice is most health conscious. Processed foods may taste good going down, but they actually contain many unnatural ingredients, if that is even their appropriate name, that can lead to obesity and health problems throughout one’s life. Many of these processed foods are, unfortunately, the most readily available. The debate of processed versus organic foods is a common conflict in society today. Whether it is due to lack of income, or pure laziness, people choose every day to put toxic, unnatural foods in their body. Some foods that appear to be healthy may not be; the real trick to healthy food is being as earth-centered as possible. Organic means coming from living matter--food in its purest form. Living an organic lifestyle is, most importantly, a better decision regarding the health and wellbeing of the