Fast Food vs. Home Cooked PDF

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Research essay comparing the pros and the cons between the ideas of having a home cooked meal vs the idea of having fast food...

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Fast Food vs. Home-Cooked Meals The popularity of the fast food industry has spread throughout the last couple of years, and not just with the United States, but throughout the world. Most restaurants can now be found within a mile away from one’s location making it so much easier for an individual to stop by and get a meal before getting home rather than making something. Although fast food restaurants can be convenient time savers, home-cooked meals can be financially beneficial, and are considered a healthier alternative. Eating out at a fast food restaurant may be convenient, but what some need to understand is it may not always be the healthier choice. Having a home cooked meal can surely give one the choice of how healthy a meal can be, while a meal at a fast food restaurant won’t. Places like McDonald’s and Burger King for example contain add-ons which aren’t necessary but give it the taste that people seem to crave. Although, it may sometimes contain some proteins and vitamins the body needs, it really doesn’t do much due to what other ingredients they add. For example, looking at a nutrition table comparing a McDonald’s burger and a home cooked burger, we would see that while a burger cooked at home only contains about 230 calories, a burger from McDonalds may contain up to 540. Comparing those two, that is nearly more than double the calories a home cooked burger contains. In the documentary Super-Size Me, Morgan Spurlock goes through a challenge in which he only ate McDonald’s three times a day for a whole month causing him to gain 24 pounds within that time period. Throughout the process, Spurlock began noticing effects given to him from the McDonalds diet. He began to receive mood swings, sexual dysfunctions and a rise in his cholesterol, which were all caused by consuming nothing but McDonalds. After getting a physical, the doctor confirmed issues with his health. As a result to his actions, it took him months for him to finally regain control of his health. Due to the spread

of the fast food industry, studies now show that the United States is considered to be one of the most fattening places in the world. Having a home-cooked meal can be benefiting for oneself and their families. Although buying fast food may sound cheaper than having to buy everything needed to cook at home, it may somehow be equivalent. Having a home cooked meal gives one the freedom to pick and choose on what to eat. For example, rather than having a burger with all these add-ons, one can cook a veggie burger which is healthier than a regular burger. This can include low-fat cheese, and cook the patties any way. This gives choices on how healthy a meal should come out, and even gives the option on how much to make. Picking the price range of a meal is also always an option. It can be financially benefiting because in most cases, it can cost little more but it will last longer because it can either be saved for the next meal and the ingredients that weren’t used can be used for the next home-cooked meal. For instance, one can spend 15 dollars for either a home cooked meal or for fast food, but it’s beneficial because of the options. However, many people have jobs and attend other activities and some may not always have the time to cook at home. Due to not having the time to do so, they usually depend on fast food restaurants. Although, that may be a good solution, there can be healthier restaurants that aren’t considered as fattening as a fast food restaurant but may still be convenient and time savers. For example, rather than going to McDonalds or Burger King, one can go to Panera Bread, or any sort of delis. Research also shows that chipotle falls in the category of the top healthiest fast food restaurants. Although the majority of these may seem a bit more pricy than having a burger from your favorite restaurant, it is considered a healthier alternative. It’s just a matter of taking the time to look around for a healthier alternative.

In conclusion, while having a meal from a fast food restaurant may be the easier and faster solution, one must acknowledge that a home-cooked meal can be wiser. It can be much healthier, and it can save someone more money than someone who would eat at a restaurant on a daily basis. It is understandable that some may not always have the time to get home and cook, but when it comes to health, time should always be made to assure that one gets the nutrients the body deserves....