Is fast food REALLY that bad?

[liam88]

I always remain silent when people ramble about the maliciousness of fast food. The truth is, I have never had a problem with fast food, but I do respect those who detest it.

So today, I decided to procrastinate and search on google to see if any written articles resonate my opinions on fast food.. And honestly, there are less articles defending fast food than there are gay people in my family.

So I felt the need to at least express why I think fast food really isn't that evil.

My golden practice is that every time a judgment is made, consider the axioms and premises behind the judgment in order to evaluate on the accuracy and validity of such a judgment.

So here goes

Q: "Why is fast food bad?"
A: "It contains high calories and high fat contents, hence damages health."
Q: "Why would fast food restaurants put so much fat in their food if they know it's going to generate bad publicity?"
A: "Because it's tasty; it gets people to come back."
Q: "So healthier food that you cook at home are not as tasty as fast food?"
A: "Well to me, fast food is disgusting, but to a lot of people, yes fast food is tastier than the food we cook at home with less sediments and flavoring."
Q: "So if I want to eat tasty, but don't want to eat fast food since it's evil, and I decide to add all the sediments and flavoring onto the food I cook at home, would it be better than fast food?"
A: "Well no, it then becomes an equivalent of fast food."
Q: "Ah! So it's not fast food that is bad, it's the food with lots of flavoring and sediments which are much more tastier that are bad!"
A: "Correct, why would someone want to taste something good now and end up in the hospital?"
Q: "So if I were to tell you that even without all the fast food restaurants, these people who would prefer tasty food, end up cooking food with all those flavoring at home, would you agree with me that it is not the fast food restaurants that are evil, it is just that some people are willing to sacrifice health for taste."
A: "But that doesn't make sense! The only reason why people like those food is because fast food restaurants sell it to them. If all those restaurants are gone, then nobody would eat unhealthy food."
Q: "Right, so if I were to take away all the clothing shops, you would not make your own clothes but instead walk down the street naked?"

THE POINT IS, economics is beautiful! When no one wants it, then you won't see any of it in the market! You can't just blame the provider, when it is the demanders who want the product!!! Taking away something forcefully from someone won't solve the problem!! If you can educate everyone in the world to willingly eat healthy, then Amen.. But if not, stop putting the blame at fast food restaurants as if they are the devil!

It's time humanity stopped blaming others and start blaming thyself!

 

[Redambrose48]

When you talk about putting sediments on fast food do you really mean condiments?

 

[LatinoSTAR]

fast food is just fine in moderation.

almost everything we put into our bodies can have damaging effects to our health, healthy food or not, its just that some need more moderation than others.

 

[liam88]

When you talk about putting sediments on fast food do you really mean condiments?

OUCH.. I didn't know where my head was....

 

[Smitho]

In moderation fast food I agree is fine, and I also agree that it is the excess of the customers that causes the problems. I disagree that it is tastier than what I can cook at home, and that it is the addatives that make all food tasty, freshly cooked food tastes better, with no addatives, but to make fast food, from very cheap ingredients taste good, it need a lot of additves. Fast food is also super convinient, and very often the reason I will eat it rather then the taste, lots of people are lazy, and don't want to take the 40min it may take to prepare a tasty / healtier meal at home.

I agree FF chains are not the devil and only filling a demand, but they do have some questionable practices, such as directly advertising to children, their unhealty high fat foods, with the use of toy promotions and kids film tie ins. This I think is wrong.

 

[The Warmth]

Taco Bell is the best for the times one is strapped for cash. Just dig into your change holder for pennies and get a Cheesy Double Beef Burrito. Nngh, they are divine.

 

[rareboy]

The worst part about fast food may be the msg they put in everything.

It is a drug and affects the pancreas.

But fast food is okay in moderation. Just balance it with healthy choices, like a salad instead of fries or rings. And better to have a double fatburger than two singles.

 

[gsdx]

Apparently you haven't checked the sodium levels in that stuff. The recommended daily intake for a healthy adult ranges anywhere from 1500 to 2400 mg.

A single Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald's contains 1240 mg of sodium.

I remembered this thread posted by Quanchi over a year ago and found it in a search. This is scary stuff. Take a look at some of these figures and let is know if you still think fast food is good for you.

(Copied from the original thread.)

20: Worst fast-food chicken meal
Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips from McDonald's (5 pieces) with creamy ranch sauce

830 calories
55 grams (g) fat (4.5 g trans fat)
48 g carbohydrates

The only thing "premium" about these strips is the caloric price you pay. Add a large fries and regular soda and this seemingly innocuous chicken meal tops out at 1,710 calories.

19: Worst drink
Jamba Juice Chocolate Moo'd Power Smoothie (30 fl oz)

900 calories
10 g fat
183 g carbs (166 g sugar)

Jamba Juice calls it a smoothie; we call it a milk shake. In fact, this beverage contains as much sugar as 2 pints of Ben & Jerry's butter pecan ice cream.

18: Worst supermarket meal
Pepperidge Farm Roasted Chicken Pot Pie (whole pie)

1,020 calories
64 g fat
86 g carbs

The label may say this pie serves two, but who ever divided a small pot pie in half? The sad truth is, once you crack the crust, there will be no stopping -- which makes this 300 calories worse than anything else you'll find in the freezer case.

17: Worst 'healthy' burger
Ruby Tuesday Bella Turkey Burger

1,145 calories
71 g fat
56 g carbs

We chose this burger for more than its calorie payload: Its name implies that it's healthy.

16: Worst Mexican entree
Chipotle Mexican Grill Chicken Burrito

1,179 calories
47 g fat
125 g carbs
2,656 milligrams (mg) sodium

Despite a reputation for using healthy, fresh ingredients, Chipotle's menu is limited to king-size burritos, overstuffed tacos, and gigantic salads -- all of which lead to a humongous waistline.

15: Worst kids' meal
Macaroni Grill Double Macaroni 'n' Cheese
(It didn't say where it's from)

1,210 calories
62 g fat
3,450 mg sodium

It's like feeding your kid 1 1/2 boxes of Kraft mac 'n' cheese.

14: Worst sandwich
Quiznos Classic Italian (large)

1,528 calories
92 g fat
4,604 mg sodium
110 g carbs

A large homemade sandwich would more likely provide about 500 calories.

13: Worst salad
On the Border Grande Taco Salad with Taco Beef

1,450 calories
102 g fat
78 g carbs
2,410 mg sodium

This isn't an anomaly: Five different On the Border salads on the menu contain more than 1,100 calories each.

12: Worst burger
Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger

1,520 calories
111 g fat

Carl's Jr. brags that it's home to this enormous sandwich, but the restaurant chain also provides convenient nutrition info on its Web site -- so ignorance is no excuse for eating it.

11: Worst steak
Lonestar 20 oz T-bone

1,540 calories
124 g fat

Add a baked potato and Lonestar's Signature Lettuce Wedge, and this is a 2,700-calorie blowout.

10: Worst breakfast
Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Stacked and Stuffed Hotcakes

1,540 calories
77 g fat (9 g trans fat)
198 g carbs (109 g sugar)

Five Egg McMuffins yield the same caloric cost as this stack of sugar-stuffed flapjacks, which is truly a heavy breakfast, weighing in at a hefty pound and a half.

9: Worst dessert
Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

1,600 calories
78 g fat
215 g carbs

Would you eat a Big Mac for dessert? How about three? That's the calorie equivalent of this decadent dish. Clearly, Chili's customers get their money's worth.

8: Worst Chinese entree
P.F. Chang's Pork Lo Mein

1,820 calories
127 g fat
95 g carbs

The fat content in this dish alone provides more than 1,100 calories. And you'd have to eat almost five servings of pasta to match the number of carbohydrates it contains. Now, do you really need five servings of pasta?

7: Worst chicken entree
Chili's Honey Chipotle Crispers with Chipotle Sauce

2,040 calories
99 g fat
240 g carbs

"Crispers" refers to an extra-thick layer of bread crumbs that soaks up oil and adds unnecessary calories and carbs to these glorified chicken strips.

6: Worst fish entree
On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Rice and Beans

2,100 calories
130 g fat
169 g carbs 4,750 mg sodium

Perhaps the most misleadingly named dish in America: A dozen crunchy tacos from Taco Bell will saddle you with fewer calories.

5: Worst pizza
Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza

2,310 calories
162 g fat
123 g carbs
4,470 mg sodium

Downing this "personal" pizza is equivalent to eating 18 slices of Domino's Crunchy Thin Crust cheese pizza.

4: Worst pasta
Macaroni Grill Spaghetti and Meatballs with Meat Sauce
(It didn't say where this is from)

2,430 calories
128 g fat
207 g carbs
5,290 mg sodium

This meal satisfies your calorie requirements for an entire day.

3: Worst nachos
On the Border Stacked Border Nachos

2,740 calories
166 g fat
191 g carbs
5,280 mg sodium

2: Worst starter
Chili's Awesome Blossom

2,710 calories
203 g fat
194 g carbs
6,360 mg sodium

1: The worst food in America
Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing

2,900 calories
182 g fat
240 g carbs​

 

[gsdx]

I had a coworker who couldn't shut up about the dangers of fast food, every day it was the same story.

That's the same thing with virtually every other fanatic, too, isn't it? Eventually they become tiresome and, the more they talk, the less you listen.

 

[thisisinteresting]

What the fuck does people wanting it have to do with whether it's bad or not? Fast food isn't wanted because it's tasty, it's because it's fast and they're addicted. I've been addicted to fast food myself. It has no nutritional value whatsoever - you gain nothing from it. It just fills the hole in your belly.

http://bestwellnessconsultant.com/2...rger-karen-hanrahan-best-of-mother-earth.aspx this is a pretty good example although most people are in denial and think it's fake

mmmmmmm yum

 

[Newbie_69]

Apparently you haven't checked the sodium levels in that stuff. The recommended daily intake for a healthy adult ranges anywhere from 1500 to 2400 mg.

A single Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald's contains 1240 mg of sodium.

I remembered this thread posted by Quanchi over a year ago and found it in a search. This is scary stuff. Take a look at some of these figures and let is know if you still think fast food is good for you.

(Copied from the original thread.)

20: Worst fast-food chicken meal
Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips from McDonald's (5 pieces) with creamy ranch sauce

830 calories
55 grams (g) fat (4.5 g trans fat)
48 g carbohydrates

The only thing "premium" about these strips is the caloric price you pay. Add a large fries and regular soda and this seemingly innocuous chicken meal tops out at 1,710 calories.

19: Worst drink
Jamba Juice Chocolate Moo'd Power Smoothie (30 fl oz)

900 calories
10 g fat
183 g carbs (166 g sugar)

Jamba Juice calls it a smoothie; we call it a milk shake. In fact, this beverage contains as much sugar as 2 pints of Ben & Jerry's butter pecan ice cream.

18: Worst supermarket meal
Pepperidge Farm Roasted Chicken Pot Pie (whole pie)

1,020 calories
64 g fat
86 g carbs

The label may say this pie serves two, but who ever divided a small pot pie in half? The sad truth is, once you crack the crust, there will be no stopping -- which makes this 300 calories worse than anything else you'll find in the freezer case.

17: Worst 'healthy' burger
Ruby Tuesday Bella Turkey Burger

1,145 calories
71 g fat
56 g carbs

We chose this burger for more than its calorie payload: Its name implies that it's healthy.

16: Worst Mexican entree
Chipotle Mexican Grill Chicken Burrito

1,179 calories
47 g fat
125 g carbs
2,656 milligrams (mg) sodium

Despite a reputation for using healthy, fresh ingredients, Chipotle's menu is limited to king-size burritos, overstuffed tacos, and gigantic salads -- all of which lead to a humongous waistline.

15: Worst kids' meal
Macaroni Grill Double Macaroni 'n' Cheese
(It didn't say where it's from)

1,210 calories
62 g fat
3,450 mg sodium

It's like feeding your kid 1 1/2 boxes of Kraft mac 'n' cheese.

14: Worst sandwich
Quiznos Classic Italian (large)

1,528 calories
92 g fat
4,604 mg sodium
110 g carbs

A large homemade sandwich would more likely provide about 500 calories.

13: Worst salad
On the Border Grande Taco Salad with Taco Beef

1,450 calories
102 g fat
78 g carbs
2,410 mg sodium

This isn't an anomaly: Five different On the Border salads on the menu contain more than 1,100 calories each.

12: Worst burger
Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger

1,520 calories
111 g fat

Carl's Jr. brags that it's home to this enormous sandwich, but the restaurant chain also provides convenient nutrition info on its Web site -- so ignorance is no excuse for eating it.

11: Worst steak
Lonestar 20 oz T-bone

1,540 calories
124 g fat

Add a baked potato and Lonestar's Signature Lettuce Wedge, and this is a 2,700-calorie blowout.

10: Worst breakfast
Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Cream Stacked and Stuffed Hotcakes

1,540 calories
77 g fat (9 g trans fat)
198 g carbs (109 g sugar)

Five Egg McMuffins yield the same caloric cost as this stack of sugar-stuffed flapjacks, which is truly a heavy breakfast, weighing in at a hefty pound and a half.

9: Worst dessert
Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

1,600 calories
78 g fat
215 g carbs

Would you eat a Big Mac for dessert? How about three? That's the calorie equivalent of this decadent dish. Clearly, Chili's customers get their money's worth.

8: Worst Chinese entree
P.F. Chang's Pork Lo Mein

1,820 calories
127 g fat
95 g carbs

The fat content in this dish alone provides more than 1,100 calories. And you'd have to eat almost five servings of pasta to match the number of carbohydrates it contains. Now, do you really need five servings of pasta?

7: Worst chicken entree
Chili's Honey Chipotle Crispers with Chipotle Sauce

2,040 calories
99 g fat
240 g carbs

"Crispers" refers to an extra-thick layer of bread crumbs that soaks up oil and adds unnecessary calories and carbs to these glorified chicken strips.

6: Worst fish entree
On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Rice and Beans

2,100 calories
130 g fat
169 g carbs 4,750 mg sodium

Perhaps the most misleadingly named dish in America: A dozen crunchy tacos from Taco Bell will saddle you with fewer calories.

5: Worst pizza
Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza

2,310 calories
162 g fat
123 g carbs
4,470 mg sodium

Downing this "personal" pizza is equivalent to eating 18 slices of Domino's Crunchy Thin Crust cheese pizza.

4: Worst pasta
Macaroni Grill Spaghetti and Meatballs with Meat Sauce
(It didn't say where this is from)

2,430 calories
128 g fat
207 g carbs
5,290 mg sodium

This meal satisfies your calorie requirements for an entire day.

3: Worst nachos
On the Border Stacked Border Nachos

2,740 calories
166 g fat
191 g carbs
5,280 mg sodium

2: Worst starter
Chili's Awesome Blossom

2,710 calories
203 g fat
194 g carbs
6,360 mg sodium

1: The worst food in America
Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing

2,900 calories
182 g fat
240 g carbs
​

"that's it, i'm going for cheese fries" -regina george-

oh wait...

 

[G-Lexington]

It's not that bad.

It's actually much worse.

Lex

 

[cklover]

As in all things moderation is the key. I don't eat fast food everyday. I will have it once in a while and what I do eat is not going to kill me. I really hate the constant whining and preaching that fast food is the root of all evil. For those that don't like fast food then don't eat it and quit your whining, moanin, and bitching about those of us that do eat it.

 

[Lube]

http://bestwellnessconsultant.com/2...rger-karen-hanrahan-best-of-mother-earth.aspx this is a pretty good example although most people are in denial and think it's fake

mmmmmmm yum

OMG, that is bizarre.


What people don't realize is that it's not just fast food that's a problem. It's all processed food. Now, I'm not saying that you need to be a Raw Food freak or anything, but think about the ingredients in the food you buy. Even "good" food like yogurt.

I made a yogurt smoothie for my bf and me this morning. He thought it was delicious and asked what I flavored it with. "A banana and some fresh strawberries," I said. He asked how much sugar. "None," I said. None?! He was flabbergasted.

Ripe, fresh fruit has a ton of sugar. You should never need to add sugar or other flavorings to yogurt or smoothies.

Compare that to your average flavored yogurt in the supermarket. Look at the ingredients. Why do they have to add sugar? How little (or how low quality) is the fruit that they have to add sugar?! Or flavoring (even if it's "natural")? I didn't add any flavoring (natural or otherwise) to my smoothie, and it was delicious!

Even worse, I've seen blueberry yogurt where they add natural coloring. Coloring? Do you realize one lonely little blueberry can color an entire 6 oz serving of yogurt? What kind of crappy fruit are they using that they have to add coloring to blueberry yogurt?!

 

[The Yattering]

I have no moral qualms concerning fast food; I simply dislike it because the melange of unbelievably horrible tastes, textures and stenches puts me off. I walk past a McDonalds, I smell something like decade old fat fomenting in the sun; I walk past Sub Way, I smell something akin to a dumpster in the back alley of clinic that specialises in colonic irrigation.

 

[asian87]

The only sort of fast food I found HEALTHY was "Subway" in Australia and I loved it.

Fresh food only in bread.

 

[EthanStorm]

I love fast food, can't help it.

 

[JustMe891]

I always remain silent when people ramble about the maliciousness of fast food. The truth is, I have never had a problem with fast food, but I do respect those who detest it.

So today, I decided to procrastinate and search on google to see if any written articles resonate my opinions on fast food.. And honestly, there are less articles defending fast food than there are gay people in my family.

So I felt the need to at least express why I think fast food really isn't that evil.

My golden practice is that every time a judgment is made, consider the axioms and premises behind the judgment in order to evaluate on the accuracy and validity of such a judgment.

So here goes

Q: "Why is fast food bad?"
A: "It contains high calories and high fat contents, hence damages health."
Q: "Why would fast food restaurants put so much fat in their food if they know it's going to generate bad publicity?"
A: "Because it's tasty; it gets people to come back."
Q: "So healthier food that you cook at home are not as tasty as fast food?"
A: "Well to me, fast food is disgusting, but to a lot of people, yes fast food is tastier than the food we cook at home with less sediments and flavoring."
Q: "So if I want to eat tasty, but don't want to eat fast food since it's evil, and I decide to add all the sediments and flavoring onto the food I cook at home, would it be better than fast food?"
A: "Well no, it then becomes an equivalent of fast food."
Q: "Ah! So it's not fast food that is bad, it's the food with lots of flavoring and sediments which are much more tastier that are bad!"
A: "Correct, why would someone want to taste something good now and end up in the hospital?"
Q: "So if I were to tell you that even without all the fast food restaurants, these people who would prefer tasty food, end up cooking food with all those flavoring at home, would you agree with me that it is not the fast food restaurants that are evil, it is just that some people are willing to sacrifice health for taste."
A: "But that doesn't make sense! The only reason why people like those food is because fast food restaurants sell it to them. If all those restaurants are gone, then nobody would eat unhealthy food."
Q: "Right, so if I were to take away all the clothing shops, you would not make your own clothes but instead walk down the street naked?"

THE POINT IS, economics is beautiful! When no one wants it, then you won't see any of it in the market! You can't just blame the provider, when it is the demanders who want the product!!! Taking away something forcefully from someone won't solve the problem!! If you can educate everyone in the world to willingly eat healthy, then Amen.. But if not, stop putting the blame at fast food restaurants as if they are the devil!

It's time humanity stopped blaming others and start blaming thyself!

It just tast's like crap, I always feel like I've eaten junk 10 minutes after I've downed the good old Big Mac

 

[EthanStorm]

Mcdonalds is absolutely the worst. In health and in taste. Their stuff doesn't even taste like food so I don't get the fascination.

 

[codeerror]

Here's how to eat junk-food the "healthy" way (if you have to):

Sandwiches:
Always Chicken, tuna, turkey or roastbeef. NEVER salami, or other meat containing nitrates. Whole-grain or no bread at all.

Burgers:
No mayo or ketchup (sugar). If there's sauce involved, ask to have it served on the side. Ask for more salad or tomatoes. Say something like "The doctor said..", and it shouldn't be a problem. Avoid "light" products, it's mostly sugar replacing the fat.

Avoid:

-Mexican food
-Pizza-restaurants
-Icecream bars
-Bakeries




Ps: A country where even the poor people are obese is seriously fucked up.