America’s Dangerous Addiction
The burger sizzles on the grill. Lunch hour is at its briskest point, and you’re almost out of yesterday’s pre-prepared burgers. A glance over says the overweight Oberwatts are here, just like every Wednesday at lunch. No orders are needed, since they come every week. Have you seen this before? In America, this type of scene is all too common. America has literally become addicted to fast-food. This addiction has not come without a price though; adults and children are becoming obese at a rapid rate. But who do we point fingers at? The people who choose to purchase the food or those who prepare it? Most importantly what solutions can we find? I’ll give you all three, so you and your kids can have a better quality of living.
“Mommy! Mommy!” The little girl cries. “I want to go get chicken from McDonald’s!” Her mother looks tired, and looks like she’ll do anything to keep her daughter happy. After a moment’s hesitation she gives in.
“Ok honey, we’ll go to McDonald’s.” Her mother complies. How many times have you heard this exchange? Probably fairly frequently, because today children are being exposed to fast-food at very early ages, just like that little girl above. Children today develop a liking for fast-food at very early ages, and that affects their eating habits forever. Maybe the mother of the little girl thinks, “Oh, one time won’t hurt her.” But one time will hurt her, because fast-food is made to keep people coming back again and again. Fast- food is made like a drug; it has meat, cheese, and salt. All are highly addictive supplements that attract people to their favorite foods. That’s what keeps you coming back, that oozing cheese and salty meat guarantees lifelong loyal customers. During the film Super-Size Me Morgan Spurlock commented during his diet of only eating food from McDonalds for 30 days “I feel depressed, except when I’m eating.” Later in the movie, his physician told him that was the same reaction drug users have while taking drugs. So, by feeding your child fast-food you’re setting them up for a lifetime of fast-food addiction. Is that good parenting?

The fault of children eating unhealthily food doesn’t just rest on the parents though. Corporate responsibility also plays a huge role in America’s obesity problems. Look at school lunches. In my school we have different types of fast-food every day, and most of the grade buys their lunches too. Lots of kids don’t want to pack their lunches or don’t have the time and/or money, and end up eating cheap, unhealthy cafeteria food instead. Even if kids who buy don’t want unhealthy food, there are no other options. It may be the parents fault for allowing their children to eat this food, but the schools are also responsible because they encourage kids to eat fast-food by serving it in the cafeteria.

Maybe fast-food is easy to bring home, and the kids love it, but that’s not the only option. There are many foods to eat that are just as easy, tasty, and healthier to boot. Buy a pre-packaged fruit salad, or rotisserie chicken already prepared on grocery shopping day. If your struggling for time, by a crock pot. They cook while you work, and it’s easy to disguise the healthy components in it. Working parents struggle to provide quick and healthy dinners, but they don’t have to worry anymore, because of pre-packaged fresh food and the wonderful all-American crock pot.
In conclusion, fast-food is just not worth it. A cheap, delicious meal is not worth the addiction and long term health problems. As the saying goes, do not waste a minute that will affect you for a week. Eating fast-food is that minute, and the week is all of the consequences that follow. So, don’t buy it. As aforementioned, there are plenty of other options for meals that don’t involve fast-food. “Every dollar is a vote, so think wisely about who you vote for.” (Chew on This) Buying from fast-food companies only encourages the epidemic of obesity, but if we boycott them, major changes to the food would be essential to business. Some fast-food chains already have these types of changes. Burger Ville and In-and-Out burger use healthier supplements in their food, and it doesn’t drastically affect the cost either. The most expensive item on the menu is $2.50, which is actually less than most drinks at McDonalds. If we don’t buy from fast-food restaurants, then they will have to change to healthier supplements in their food. Imagine how drastic that change would be. Think on that.

Works Cited

Schlosser, Eric, and Charles Wilson. Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know about

Fast Food. Boston [Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.

Morgan Spurlock. Super Size Me. 21 May. 2004: Film