Fast Food Essay Example for Free

Fast Food Essay ? A fast food restaurant is on every corner, but is actually good for you? Fast food became popular in the early 1900’s but it didn’t just take off. Fast food has made quite a journey in its development opening opportunities along the way. It has its advantages and disadvantages but being aware of them is very important. Fast food has made a huge impact on our nation’s health and economy. How was fast food developed? Burgers made at fairs, carnivals, and events were known as low quality. It took America a while to warm up to the idea of fast food. Many people mistakenly assume McDonalds was the first fast food chain but it was not. In the 18th century the convenience of eating away from home was becoming popular. As a result, White Castle was the first chain beginning in Wichita, Kansas. To make the idea of eating away from home more appealing they built their restaurants to show the customers the food being prepared. White Castle’s reputation for well-cooked burgers spread nationwide, making it easier for other fast food restaurants to move in. The McDonald brothers opened their redesigned restaurant in 1948. Soon after, Taco Bell and Burger King opened in the 1950’s and Wendy’s in 1969. Even though McDonalds is the name of fast food it has made a bad reputation in other countries because of its exaggerated marketing to children and unhealthy ingredients. Obviously, it took time for the United States to begin trusting fast food. Fast food can be hurtful to our bodies and the environment. The effects impact both children and adults. Within the food, the lack of some nutrients like Vitamin B and Omega 3 Fatty-Acids causes a person to become unhappy. This unhappiness leads to further problems like depression. Another major problem is the fatty foods sold in fast food restaurants cause a higher risk for Alzheimer’s. In 2009 the University of Berkley did a study that stated that the closer you live to fast food the higher the risk of problems with obesity. Obesity has swept this nation strongly and is one of the most impactful health problems today. Fast foods campaign directly towards children and tempt them with toys and playgrounds. Children obesity rate has tripled in the last 30 years alone as a result. Fast food has also contributed to our planet in a negative way. Livestrong. com states â€Å"To make 1 lb. of hamburger, for example, it takes 16 lbs. of grains and up to 2,500 gallons of water. † The New Community Project says if the people of the world ate more plant-based food we would be able to give food and clean water to the people who don’t have access now. Eating fast food often can be hurtful towards the body and the environment. After many complaints, the fast food industry is finally addressing the health problems. In 1965, the first Subway store was opened with its original title Pete’s Subway. Subway has addressed the issues of unhealthy living with their new spokesperson Jared Fogle who lost 245 lbs. after eating subway for a year. He began being shown in commercials and ads telling people his story. Subway then started adding the amount of calories in specific ingredients to the menu. They also started a new list to the menu called Fresh Fit that includes healthy options for every meal. Many fast food chains caught on to this idea and started showing healthier options and adding calorie counts to their menus. The fast food industry has only begun creating a healthier lifestyle option for people. The fast food industry hit this nation by storm. It has its advantages but do they outweigh the consequences? People of this nation need to watch how much fast food one consumes. Fast food can be good or bad, it all depends on what people choose. Cites Disadvantages of Fast Foods. LIVESTRONG. COM. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. How Fast Food Works. HowStuffWorks. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. Ashley Bruce 9/12/13.