FAST FOOD – pros and cons

What is fast-food?

1. Fast-food is food from a take-out restaurant that is quick, convinient and usually very cheap.
2. Fast-food is usually high in fat, cholesterol and sodium.
3. Fast-food refers to food that can be prepared and served very quickly.

Is it bad? Is it good? Is it healthier? Lets begin From the history of fast-food

One of the great pioneers of the fast food industry was a man named Carl Karcher. He was a farm boy who grew up in Ohio, but at the age of 24, he moved to California, to work at his uncle’s factory. Like most Americans, he wanted “the American Dream” -- to work hard, be prosperous and have a great life. So in 1939, Carl bought a hot dog cart and began his “curb service” of selling hot dogs on the street to customers as they drove up in their cars. People did not want to get out of their cars to eat and Carl’s business flourished. His first restaurant was called “Carl’s Drive-In Barbeque”.

At this same time, this new way of eating in your car was becoming the biggest thing ever. Waitresses known as “carhops” usually dressed very attractively delivered the food to each car. For teenagers, this was the place to be, especially for guys -- late night food, girls and cool cars.

Another man is Jesse G. Kirby, the founder of an early drive-in restaurant chain named “Pig Stand” in Texas, said “People with cars are so lazy they don’t want to get out of them to eat. Only it was a seasonal thing for many states due to the cold weather in the winter. So in wintrer it is not so popular.

Of course, you know «McDonalds»

Ray Kroc was the owner of McDonald’s and he made the restaurant known not only within the United States but also all over the world

Fast food means big business, with hamburgers and pizzas leading the way.

What fast-food do people usually eat?

Of course, it is a hamburger.

The term "burger" is associated with many different types of sandwiches similar to a hamburger, using different meats, such as a buffalo burger, turkey burger, elk burger or even a veggie burger

A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat) usually placed inside a sliced bread roll. Hamburgers are often served with lettuce, bacon, tomato, onion, pickles, cheese and condiments such as mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup.

Another famous thing is hot dogs.

The term "dog" has been used as a synonym for sausage since 1884. In the early 20th century, eating  of dog meat in Germany was common. The thoughts  that sausages contained dog meat sometimes were true.

The word frankfurter comes from Frankfurt, Germany, where pork sausages served in a bun similar to hot dogs originated. These sausages, were known since the 13th century and given to the people on the event of imperial coronations, starting with the coronation of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor as King

Common hot dog ingredients include

1. Meat trimmings and fat
2. Flavorings, such as salt, garlic, and paprika

One more thing is fries.

The expression "French Fried Potatoes" first occurs in print in English in the 1856 work Cookery for Maids of All Work by E. Warren: "French Fried Potatoes. The recipe was: Cut new potatoes in thin slices, put them in boiling fat, and a little salt; fry both sides of a light golden brown colour; drain." In the early 20th century, the term "French fried" was being used in the sense of "deep-fried", for other foods such as onion rings or chicken.

There are variants of French fries "thick-cut fries", "steak fries", "curly fries", "tornado fries" and many others. Some restaurants and groceries in North America offer French fries made from sweet potatoes instead of traditional white potatoes.                                  

But what about fish and chips?

In 1860, the first fish and chip shop was opened in London by Joseph Malin. In chip shops in the United Kingdom, salt and vinegar is traditionally sprinkled over fish and chips at the time it is served.  A portion of mushy peas is a popular side dish.In table-service restaurants and pubs, the dish is usually served with a slice of lemon and without any sauces with salt, vinegar and sauces available .

Fish and chips are a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It typically consists of battered fish which is deep-fried and accompanied by chips. British chips are thicker than the American.

What is the difference between chips and fries?  Chips also require a somewhat longer cooking time than fries.

   You must remember that Fast Food is bad for you

By fast food, I'm not just talking about products that are processed and pre-prepared so that they can be cooked fast and handed over to the customer within a matter of minutes.  Burger and fries restaurants are advertised on TV all the time. I'm also including a lot of stuff that you buy at the supermarket that you pop into the microwave and have a ready meal for the family in a matter of minutes.

Convenience foods, or foods that require no preparation or traditional cooking by busy are equally as unhealthy and unwholesome as the burgers and pizzas you get from fast food restaurants.

Unfortunately, fewer and fewer families rely on someone doing any conventional cooking using fresh food ingredients. Far too many households feed themselves on a constant, daily diet of microwaved ready meals with very little or zero fresh fruit or vegetables. Then they "treat" themselves to a meal out, by visiting a burger or pizza restaurant, or if they're feeling in need of a healthy meal, a steak and fries restaurant!

How does it harm?

When your diet is lacking in fresh fruit and vegetables, you may have different symptoms of dangerous diseases. By replacing fresh food with processed, you do the following things to your body:

1. Raise your blood pressure;
2. Increase the levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol;
3. Retard your metabolic rate Weaken your immune system;
4. Destabilize your blood sugar levels;
5. Reduce the ability of your colon to function properly.

What all this does to your body is it increases your fat storage, especially if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. If you sit a lot!

It places you at risk of strokes from high blood pressure, type II diabetes from irregular blood sugar levels, heart attacks from raised bad  cholesterol levels, cancer of the colon because it cannot process the waste products properly, more frequent illness as your immune system is compromised and a greater chance of contracting other cancers as your levels of antioxidants is so low.

It increases your chances of contracting arthritis and other inflammatory diseases at an younger age.

It also leads to weight gain and obesity, further increasing the likelihood of strokes and heart attacks. All in all, it paints a pretty gloomy picture.

BMI

Severely underweight         less than 16.0         

Underweight         from 16.0 to 18.5

Normal         from 18.5 to 25         

Overweight         from 25 to 30         

Obese Class I         from 30 to 35         

Obese Class II         from 35 to 40         

Obese Class III         over 40 Conclusion

Tips for making healthy choices at fast food restaurants

1. Make careful menu selections –Dishes labeled deep-fried, pan-fried, creamy, crispy,  or in cream sauce are usually high in calories, unhealthy fats, or sodium. Order items with more vegetables and choose leaner meats.
2. Drink water with your meal. Soda is a huge source of hidden calories. One 32-oz Big Gulp of regular cola packs about 425 calories, which can quickly gulp up a big portion of your daily calorie intake. Try adding a little lemon to your water or ordering unsweetened iced tea.
3. “Undress” your food. When choosing items, be aware of calorie- and fat-packed salad dressings, spreads, cheese, sour cream, etc. For example, ask for a grilled chicken sandwich without the mayonnaise. You can ask for a packet of ketchup or mustard and add it yourself, controlling how much you put on your sandwich.
4. Eat mindfully. Pay attention to what you eat and savor each bite. Chew your food more thoroughly and avoid eating on the run. Being mindful also means stopping before you are full. It takes time for your body to register that you have eaten. Mindful eating relaxes you, so you digest better, and makes you feel more satisfied.

So what can you do to redress the balance?

You need to cut out most of the fast, processed food from you. Replace it with traditional, home cooked meals prepared and made from fresh vegetables, meat and fish. You should include fresh fruits and berries. Switch to wholemeal bread and pasta.

Its never too late, unless you're about to check out of the hospital in a wooden box. So don't let it come to that and make the change now!

If you don't care about doing it for yourself, at least do it for your children.