Download Fast Food Essay

Harold Zarate Diaz
Professor Fink
ENG101
3-7-08
Essay # 1:
Today many people eat fast food instead of homemade food; the reasons are that
fast food is quick, cheap and convenient. At the same time, it is contributing to a big
social problem in the U.S which is obesity. Recently, some people are beginning to sue
the fast food restaurants for causing their obesity. However we must take the
responsibility for our choices given our individual freedom of choice.
The cause of the obesity problem is related to the lifestyle; the responsibility for the
problem should be attributed to individual choice such as what people eat or don't. The
reason is that we have to take responsibility for our choices as a part of our given liberty.
There are many people who eat fast food, but aren't obese. They may do some exercises
for burning calories or try not to eat fast food as much as they can, caring for their health.
Some fast food restaurants serve relatively healthful foods, such as Subway. Even though
people don't have enough money or time to eat anything except for fast food, they can
choose those fast food shops. Therefore, the responsibility of obesity should be taken by
obese people, though fast food restaurants should also take actions to decrease the
number of these people by showing their food's calories, serving healthy food, and giving
more choices. In the case of children, parents must assure responsibility for the choices of
their children. Parents should monitor their children's diet.
In the documentary Super Size Me, by Morgan Spurlock, shows us the
consequences of unhealthy lifestyle. He has to eat three McDonald's meals per day,
(every item on the McDonald's menu) at least once over the course of the 30 days. He can
only ingests items on the menu and attempt to walk about as much as a typical American,
based on a suggested figure of 5,000 steps per day (Super Size Me). Over time, Morgan's
weight dramatically increases, his health weakens and he begins to show signs of
depression. “Morgan at 6 foot 2 inches, 185lbs, and 11% body fat was fit and lean at the
start the month.” “After 30 days Morgan has gained 24.5lbs and increased his body fat by
7%, concluding (Super Size Me). Such an extreme diet really can be dangerous to your
health.
The solution to help these unhealthy people is to replace fast food with healthy
choices. One example is eating whole grains at least 3oz. per day. Sources can be bread,
cereal, rice and pasta. Also should eat a lot of vegetables especially plenty of dark green
and orange veggies, as well as dry beans and peas. Fruit greater emphasis on eating all
varieties of fruit; avoid fruit juices as they usually contain too much sugar. Oils like lean
fats, primarily from fish and nuts, are important; avoid solid fats like butter and
shortening, dairy get plenty of calcium from low- or no-fat milk, cheese, yogurt and
other products and protein eat low-fat and lean poultry, fish, meat and legumes.
To conclude, I think that people shouldn't attribute their obesity problem to fast food
restaurants, even though it provides food which causes negative effects on health. The
most important reason is that obesity is the result of individual choices based on free will.
We must take the responsibility for our choices when given the individual liberty of
choice. The obesity problem in the U.S. is related to life style, not just food consumption.
Work Cited
Greenberg , James . "Super Size Me." This review was written for the festival
screening of "Super Size Me." 01-21-2001 1. 03-15-2008
<http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2
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