Durbin: Fast food is only convenient in the short run
It’s easy to go on a burger, pizza or taco run, but you’ll regret it later on
Monday, November 12th, 2007
It’s a Thursday night and hunger is calling. Like an earthquake, your stomach ruptures with the need for food.
At first you think about making something from your kitchen. Ramen noodles, PB&J, leftover spaghetti from a week ago. But none of these options sound appealing, so you do what a majority of college students do. You go for fast food.
Fast food is everywhere. It’s available from the main corners of a busy street to the luxury of your own home. Fast food has become as American as a baseball game, and the effects are quickly catching up with us. The nation has become a culture of fast food eating and on-the-go living, ultimately creating “fat” America. However, as it turns out, fast food has some advantages in the short term. In all reality, people like the fact that it’s “fast” and “convenient.”
There is no other food that you can go out, pick up and have ready in a moment’s notice. Ultimately, you don’t have to cook, shop or even wash dishes. All you have to do is eat and throw away the trash. In the end, you are saving an immense amount of time. Nevertheless, there seems to be a direct link to obesity in America and fast food. A typical meal from a fast food restaurant, say a serving of fries and a cheeseburger, adds up to over 1,000 calories per serving. This is about half the recommended dietary allowance for an individual per day.
In 2006, obesity levels of the average American had risen 25 percent since 2004. About one-third of all Americans over the age of 20 are considered obese. The risks involved with developing obesity are the main concern when looking at this problem spreading through our nation. Premature death resulting from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, fatty liver disease or cancer are all risks involved with becoming obese. However, being consciously aware of this problem is the first step in conquering the link to obesity and fast food.
Being a college student, I know how easy it is to grab something on the go and to fulfill the hunger need. I have fallen victim countless times to the world of fast food, because time between work, school and a life doesn’t always supply enough to cook a meal. Fortunately, fast food has begun to add new items to value meals or other side items to encourage healthy eating habits.
Side salads, grilled chicken, fruit cups, yogurt and milk have all been added to menus as options for alternative eating. Consciously choosing healthier options at fast food restaurants only benefits your health in the long run, but just because these options exist does not make fast food a healthy diet. Loading on additional sides or adding lots of dressing to that salad only makes the calorie count go back up. Understanding that the decisions we make now will ultimately affect our future is something we must be aware of. If time is on your side, go home and make yourself dinner. If it’s not, choose wisely when dining out. Your body will thank you in the future.
Durbin is a Hays junior in journalism and English.
Discussion
All comments are moderated by Kansan.com staff. For our full user policy, click here.
Share your 2¢
Requires free registration.