Fast food... it's convenient, it's easy, it's everywhere around you. As soon as you leave your home or as soon as you get walking or driving to work, you'll surely be exposed to some sort of advertising for a fast food or restaurant meal. 2 for 1 lunches, buffets, 1/2 off Tuesdays, happy hour... Have you been so easily manipulated by this "money saving" or "value" meal that you've forgotten about the actual nutrition value of the meal? We all have likely have fallen for such marketing strategies, I know I've purchased at least 1 Groupon for a 50% off restaurant meal over the last month.
But do these companies care about your health? No, not necessarily. What they do care about is money, and how you spend yours. So my next question is who cares about your health? If they don't and you don't, what's happening to you body? Your blood pressure? Your heart? Your blood sugar? What is in the food you eat? Do you know? Do you ever ask? So again, if they don't care about your health, and you don't, who is taking responsibility of your health and your choices?
I encourage you to take control. Eat out and enjoy it, but know what is in your food. Ask the waitress how your meal is cooked, in what type of oil? What type of seasonings are used? How is the sauce prepared? Can you have your sauce on the side? Is there a whole wheat or whole grain option instead of a white flour based option? Is your coffee made with whole milk? Can you have skim milk? Ask for the nutrition facts. "The what" you say? The nutrition facts! Most fast food chains have paper copies of the nutrition information of their meals available and many restaurants also offer this information if you ask for it. This information is rarely voluntarily offered, so know that you can ask! Many restaurants and fast food chains also provide detailed nutrition information online; checking this out before you meet your friends for supper may decrease any social awkwardness you may feel if asking questions about your meal.
However, my next question is: why should we feel awkward about wanting to know more about our food? Did you know that most fast food meals have over 1000mg of sodium and 22% of restaurant meals have more than 2300mg of sodium; Between the ages of 9-50 years old, we only need 1500-2200mg per day. Long-term high sodium intake can increase risks of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, heart attack and stroke. In addition to high sodium, fast food is often high in saturated fat. This fat can increase our LDL or "bad" cholesterol and increase risks of heart attack and stroke. So I ask, is it worth not knowing what is in your food because it seems inconvenient or it may feel awkward asking a few questions?
The choice is always yours. I encourage you to empower, educate, and care for yourself. Ask questions, share the answers with your loved ones, and make positive choices for yourself and your family.
Information Sources:
http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/article/view/3683
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