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Fast Food
"When we go into a fast food restaurant, we usually smell the appealing aroma and we immediately crave something."
By Genysys Sanchez
Health is something very important in our everyday lives. We often ignore the importance of it because of our busy schedules. When we’re hungry and we’re on the run, we often choose foods that might not be healthy for us- and in many cases it’s fast food.
Fast food is very appetizing to many people because it tastes good, it’s cheap, and it’s fast. However, there are a lot of hidden health risks that come along with consuming fast food. These risks include obesity and diabetes type 2. The worst part is that teenagers are the main people consuming fast food.
I think one of the main reasons why a lot of teenagers consume fast food is because fast food restaurants have become part of a social scene. This is especially true for students that attend schools that have off-campus lunch. I’m a student at Berkeley High School and we only get about forty minutes to leave school, go somewhere, order something, and come back. A lot of time, people don’t even get a chance to eat their food. So, it’s not about what you eat, but where you eat.
I’ve noticed that most people go off to lunch with a group of friends or even a random group of people, just so they don’t have to stay on campus- even if this means going to a fast food restaurant. And most of the time, people go to places that are familiar to them, like McDonald’s or Round Table Pizza, because it’s close to school and they know the restaurant. Also since it’s a familiar place, it’s more likely for them to see people they know there, so it creates a social atmosphere.
Part of the familiarity of these fast food restaurants have to do with the advertisements we see on TV. If you really analyze the commercials, you will notice that the people are young, in good shape and having a good time.
They make the atmosphere a place where teenagers would hang out; and they use popular music to catch the attention of the viewer. Also, teenagers are targets for advertising because the fact is, most of us don't know how to cook; and even if we did, we don't really have the time. I know how to cook, but I'm never home. I'm sure this is the same story for a lot of teenagers, since most of us are on the run and we want something fast, cheap, and easy.
Another reason why teenagers consume a lot of fast food is because we never really take the time to think about what is really in our food. When we go into a fast food restaurant, we usually smell the appealing aroma and we immediately crave something. Once we begin to eat it, we are too deceived by its taste to take the time to think about what we might be eating. It is said that most fast food chains use artificial flavoring to make their food more appetizing. And, there are many speculations about the issue of hygiene in slaughterhouses and the living conditions of the cattle. All of these factors affect the food we eat, but we don’t ever really think about it like that.
I'm not blaming fast food chains for everything that has happened to people who eat their food. I know they are just trying to make money like anyone else; and they’ve made many changes to make their menus healthier. Also, dining at a fast food restaurant has just become part of the teenage social culture because of its convenience and popularity. But, it is up to us to make healthier choices and watch what we eat. I think most people have a good idea of what is healthy and what is not, but it is up to them to take care of themselves and their health. Don’t get me wrong, I'm not against fast food because I do have it sometimes, but I’m not really for it either. I'm just aware of its risks and what it actually contains.
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