Morgan Traver English 15 (sec. 300) Mrs. Morgan 20 October 2012 The Downward Spiral of American Eating Habits In today’s society everyone is looking for inexpensive and creative ways to buy and eat food. The economy is though and therefore, people are apt to try and get creative with the eating habits they have acquired. Americans are constantly consuming chemically altered food products. We have the notion to be skinny, healthy and feel good about what we eat, but in reality, it is almost exactly the opposite.
However due to sales, deals, catchy slogans, and it’s simple convenience, we are forced into making the decision of getting fast food without realizing it thus displaying lack of personal responsibility. People who believe blame resides in companies often say the damage is near reversible, however this could not be more wrong. Fast food consumers must be more responsible when it comes to eating healthy. Simple things like looking at the calorie count on the Big Mac
Many American eat such an unhealthy diet because American’s society is so fast paced, these days that it makes it difficult to cook one’s own meals, causing people to resort to buying fast food, which has little to no nutritional values. Fast food itself isn’t typically unhealthy when eating in moderation. The reason why so many Americans gain weight is, because they don’t do something after eating they eat large quantities of food. There several reason why Americans eat unhealthy diet. Average person determine what majority eat, they not concerned with their outward appearance and the companies.
Declaring my Independence from junk food Do you like to eat junk food? If you are like me, then you like all kinds junk foods rather its candy, chips, soft drinks or even going out to eat. Most of these examples are very tasty and are really hard to resist. Eating too much junk food can turn into a bad habit at a young age, that you should really get rid of as soon as possible. We look at these types of foods for pleasure, taste or even confront for some people, but this can lead to an addiction.
Any nutritious substance that is consumed or absorbed in order to maintain life and growth is considered food. From an early age, we try eating all sorts of edible substances and seem to only like the ones that are not as healthy for us. The more unhealthy it is, the more humans seem to like it. The more we eat these addictive foods, the more we search for remedies to lose the physical damage it carries on our bodies. Can these delicious canned soups or conveniently packaged frozen meals or sugary boxed cereals truly help us grow in the best of ways?
I’m aware of this based on nutrition fats which I have come to see on the food I’ve been eating. Michael Pollan states “Because most of what we’re consuming today is not food, and how we’re consuming it-in the car, in front of the TV, and increasingly alone-is not really eating. Instead of food, we’re consuming “edible foodlike substances”-no longer the products of nature but of food science,” I agree with what he say. We mostly just eat anything when we’re bored or have nothing to do. Drive-throughs are the main concern on why people get fact, every drive through are fatty foods, which a list of them would be Wendy’s, McDonalds, Burger King, etc.
However, after the war, the work made by the Committee on Food Habits ended, but the nutritional advice was kept by the government. The wealth and knowledge about nutritional practices is what America walked out with, but no sense of cultural change to back it up. Cultural change is what offers the best hope for actually changing how Americans eat. “Junking Junk Food” had a reference to how cigarettes are now being portrayed as disgusting and addicting, versus being called cool and sexy, this same exact principal could be put on unhealthy food. Kessler said that it wouldn’t be an easy task
Instead, an easier alternative would be to educate people on the dangers and results of eating unhealthily as well as ensuring the process of making processed foods cost more than the healthier alternatives such as fruit and 100% juice products. The fact that lots of the unhealthy food that the population consumes simply because it is affordable, is one of the main causes for the lack of public health. Government involvement shouldn’t be necessary, but if it is, a plan should be instituted that would allow healthier options to be cheaper than the unhealthier alternatives that are more common. Also, the FDA should take a deeper look into the long lasting affects of the chemicals found in common foods such as soda
That’s why it’s easy to imagine the industry throwing its weight behind a soda tax. School lunch reform would become its cause, too, and in time the industry would come to see that the development of regional food systems, which make fresh produce more available and reduce dependence on heavily processed food from far away, could help prevent chronic disease and reduce their costs. Recently a team of designers from M.I.T. and Columbia was asked by the foundation of the insurer UnitedHealthcare to develop an innovative systems approach to tackling childhood obesity in America. Their conclusion surprised the designers as much as their sponsor: they determined that promoting the concept of a “foodshed” — a diversified, regional food economy — could be the key to improving the American diet.
Many people believe buying fast food when you are busy helps you out. I believe in the long run that eating fast food causes obesity and that scheduling and making time to make healthier foods is a better choice. If you are in a hurry and it isn’t possible to make something health you should stop at a place that sells healthier choices. McDonalds is the choice for many people on the go, but you can go to Panera Bread or Chipotle and get better tasting and healthier choices. Another reason for obesity is that Americans don’t receive the amount of physical activity or exercise their bodies need.