Are we(America) a fast food nation?

Question

I read that 1 out 8 Americans will work at Mcdonald's once in their lifetime.The average American will eat three hamburgers and four orders of fries this week. 90% of American children between ages three and nine will stop at a McDonald's this month. 12% of American workers have gotten a paycheck from McDonald's.

10 percent of the American boy's calories come out of a soda can. If you can say "two all-beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun," and most of us can, you know how the selling of fast food has become part of the culture.

But did you know that the beef flavor comes from a chemical factory in New Jersey? Or that McDonalds, with more than 8000 private playlands, has transformed the art of marketing to children? Fast food has retooled our diets, but also the landscape of ranching and labor relations and real estate development.

You have to be especially careful when you eat in fast food restaurants. As the consumption of unhealthy This year Americans will spend over $110 billion on fast food more than they'll spend on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined.




Every day about one quarter of the U.S. population eats fast food.




Roughly 12% of all American workers have worked at McDonald's.




The golden arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian cross.




Children often recognize the McDonald's logo before they recognize their own name.




American children now get about one quarter of their total vegetable servings in the form of potato chips and French fries.




The typical teenage boy in the United States now gets about 10% of his daily calories from soda.




The rate of obesity among American children has doubled since the late 1970s.




A fast food soda that sells for $1.29 costs the restaurant about ten cents, a markup of more than 1200 percent.




McDonald's is now the nation's largest purchaser of beef, pork, and potatoes. It is the second-largest purchaser of chicken in the U.S.




Hundreds of local slaughterhouses used to supply the United States with beef; today thirteen large slaughterhouses supply most of the nation's beef.




A typical fast food hamburger contains meat from dozens or even hundreds of cattle.




Because fast food is so highly processed, much of its flavor is destroyed, so the tastes of most fast food are manufactured at a series of special chemical plants in New Jersey.




Chicken McNuggets contain beef additives, while McDonalds French fries derive some of their flavor from "animal products."

are we a fast food nation,what is your opinion or thoughts?

Answer 1

As a mother - I dread the thought of feeding my daughter fast food. I am fortunate to have a child who's favorite food is broccoli. We rarely eat fast food, and when we do it usually involves a place that serves fruit instead of fries, juice or milk instead of cokes. Parents need to be parents and do their homework on what they are feeding their children.

As a teacher - I am horrified by what is served in the school cafeteria. It's no better than McDonalds. I teach Nutrition and Culinary Arts. I have warned the principal that the more you educate people the more they question things. My students have already begun to ask why we feed them the things we do.

As a daughter - I am saddened by the fact that my mother always criticized me about my weight, but continued to put potato chips and snack cakes in my lunch box.

As a chef - I cannot believe that people can eat fast food and enjoy it! Do people not know why a homemade hamburger tastes so different from a McDonald's burger???? The french fries are not even good. If you have to eat burgers and fries make your own. At least you'll save a little money and have a much better tasting meal. It will probably be relatively more healthy, too.

As an American - It's sad that people have so little time in their day that they cannot take the time to sit down together at the dinner table and enjoy a good meal together. The chef in me argues with the teacher/mom in me and sometimes we eat healthy and sometimes we don't, but we sit down together every night - yes, every night - and talk about the day, what needs to be done later, etc. People rush around and fill their day with too many things and then forget about what's really important - the kids.

I live in a town of less than 3000 people. There are 4 pizza places, 4 hamburger joints (3 fast food), 1 Mexican place, 1 Italian place, 2 doughnut shops and NO grocery store. Are we a fast food nation? Absolutely.

Answer 2

I, for one, do not eat at MacDonalds or any kind of hamburgers. However, I do not, have a vegetable garden or fruit trees for fresh produce.

And any yards in my neighborhood where the people inherited fruit trees let the fruit drop and work its way into the ground.

Not just a fast food nation (we live so fast paced that the choice is made) but a wasteful one.

Sad

Answer 3

I am a vegetarian. I do not eat at fast food restaurants. People today are so lazy, they cannot take the time to make their own food. I do think the United States is a fast food nation. It destroys the Earth and life. I believe America is disgusting and is on the road to destruction.

Answer 4

Im pretty sure that if you look it up America comes from the greek word fast-food... or was it fat, hmmm, anyway yes were a fast food nation and we always will be because we work and eat and that IS the american dream.

Our fast-paced life leads us to a fat-faced habbit

Answer 5

Wow I did not know all of this, but I did see that documentary Super Size me. I dont like fast food, its nasty, greasy, and above all fatining. You'll be full for two seconds when you eat that junk. Although I do like Mcdonald's approach to offering healthier options. Good post!

Answer 6

go to taco bell and get a bean burrito or the 7 layer job.
Wendys has a vegetable salad that is real good.
Sometimes I get the taco salad I say make it with refied beans and cheese and leave out the meat. It is a good salad.

Answer 7

yes we are a fast food nation it's sad really/ i thought that was obvious though
i don't eat McDonalds on a reg basis

Answer 8

from those facts, yes. yes we are. personally, i hate McDonald's. it's all greasy and yucky, and all them animals killed. disgusting. all my little sister wants to eat is McDonald's and i know that's all her friends want to eat too when they come over the play. We are defintley a fast food nation.

Answer 9

yup

Answer 10

yes we definitely are.