Fast Food: The New Tobacco

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 Is Fast Food the New Tobacco?

    

    Fast food is the new tobacco. People do not even think about ordering out anymore. It comes naturally to them. People lead busy lives and do not have the energy to cook a thirty minute to two hour dinner. In his article, Don't Blame the Eater, David Zinczeko, talks about how in his life his "mom working long hours to make the monthly bills. Lunch and dinner, for me, was a daily choice between McDonalds, Taco Bell…" (391) There are many parents who are going through similar situations. While driving, a person may pass by at least three or four fast food chains on the way to their destinations. Fast food is called fast for a reason. It only takes about five minutes to order food at a drive-thru. Although there are healthy alternatives, it takes too much time to prepare. Healthier alternatives also tend to be more expensive. Therefore, if a person is struggling to make ends meet, fast food is cheap and reliable. They don't have to think of what to make for dinner. Just like picking up a cigarette, a person doesn't think about it, they just take a puff. 


    Maintaining health should be an individual concern. It should not be government regulated. I don't believe the government should be trusted in what classifies as being healthy. Michelle Obama mentions that “obesity is not about how they look, it is about how they feel.” I believe the government would solely base their criteria on generic body standards. This could be damaging for people’s mentalities. In the Netflix documentary, What the Health, Kip Anderson explores all these unhealthy foods that associations are giving the okay to eat when it is proven to be linked to certain health conditions such as liver cancers. One of the people being interviewed stated blankly that the government only cares about making money. In his article, What You Eat is Your Business, Radley Balko brings up a great warning with the government intervening in health care. Instead of preventing obesity, hospital visits would be taken care of by the government. Thus, he asks the question, "What incentive is there for me to put down the cheeseburger?" (397) Instead of preventing the disease, money would go into taking care of it. That is why personal responsibility is key.


Everyone has different circumstances. Even if the government intervened with this health issue, that does not mean everyone would fall in line. Just because products give all the nutritional information, that does not always stop people from buying it. Michelle Obama mentions how kids used to play outside all the time. This is not seen as much anymore and technology has taken the place of babysitters. Nevertheless, nobody is forcing parents to use phones and iPads to entertain their kids. Similarly, nobody is forcing anybody to eat excessive amounts of fast food. The government does not personally know everyone who is trying to be healthy. Why should they care? Radley Balko stresses how "our government ought to be working to offer a sense of responsibility in and ownership of our own health and well-being." Forcing foods down people's throats is taking away their freedoms to choose. In addition, making good choices out of free will creates a bigger sense of accomplishment. There is no greater feeling than reaching a personal goal. 





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Comments

  1. Anjie ParasFebruary 22, 2022 at 2:16 PM

    Hi.
    Nice response, well done with including resources and pictures/videos.

    ReplyDelete

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