The Economics of Eating

The grim truth is that the marketers for the major fast food chains are not just good, but great at what they do. They know who their target market is; they know how to look at a demographic map and pick out the gold mines; they know how to grab the target's attention; and oh by the way, they know how to make money while doing it. I would whole-heartedly agree on putting calorie, fat, and more importantly sodium counts in a very redable fashion on over-head menus. The Weight Watchers of the world know what that burger with extra cheese is going to cost them (a lot, relatively). They also know that it isn't a heck of a lot different than loading that freshly made sandwich with a pound of dressing either and extra cheese slices. The fact remains that until an individual or company can come along and match the convenience and price of the traditional burger joint style establishments, America's going to keep plodding its way to the drive-thru window at every hour of the day.

It may well be preventable, yes. We run into cutting personal choice and freedoms if we take obesity prevention too far--so far, education does not work. They ought to promote weight loss as an incentive to those folks and then cut benefits/treatments to people who choose to remain overweight and obese.

If you work at it, we'll cover you--if not, your loss. That way, we don't absorb the costs. It's on them--and still their fat, their business and no longer will they have "excuses" to continue to eat garbage.

So from what lily is saying, I ought to own a fast food restaurant and a weight loss clinic! Americans will buy into both!

America has the highest percentage in obesity. Now the economic is in recession, this even makes this number become higher. Fast food restaurant provide consumer a toxic food environment. They offer unhealthy food to young children leading children into obesity stage. Adults are suffering from the four leading causes of death linked to unhealthy diet: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. For the many older Americans who live with diet-related diseases, having information on the saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and caloric content of the food they eat is absolutely necessary. Moreover, healthy people want nutritional information to reduce their risk of developing diseases. Nutritional labeling is an important tool for consumer to make informed choices. People who are cautious about nutritional information are more likely to have a diet lower in fat and cholesterol and higher in Vitamin C. In addition, hiding nutritional information provides consumer the assumption of a good environment in a fast food restaurant. Fast-food restaurants give consumer a false healthy feeling by not showing the nutritional information on wrappers. Also, the money used on treating weight-related health problems should be used for people that are in poverty stage that are in needs of food. The billions of dollar used for treating obesity and health problems due to unhealthy food should be used for more important situations.

I can't say that McDonald's is that incredibly inexpensive. If seriously looking for a wallet-friendly alternative, one would surely simply go to a grocery store and by a few store brand items to snack on. $6 for a meal at McDonald's is unquestionably better than a visit to The Keg but it is neither healthy physically, nor healthy monetarily.

Its sad how people defend their choices to be fat and unhealthy but dont see who picks up the cost of that.Where are MY choices not to fund the lazy low expectaion people in this society.If you want to kill yourself then do it on your own dime.Pay for your health 100% and stay OUT of my wallet!!! Where is my reward for GOOD behavior? Oh thats right it goes to the people with BAD behavior!!

If people dont know what the body needs to be healthy by now and act on it THEY should be paying 100% out of pocket expenses for health care and stay out of MY WALLET!!!!! A treadmill wouldny hurt either!

It's just an excuse, and I don't buy it. If people REALLY want to eat healthy and be responsible for their well-being, they will make a little extra effort to eat healthy. For Pete's sake, even McDonald's now offers a variety of healthier options. Clearly, many people want to eat nasty junk food, they want to smoke, they want to avoid exercise at all costs and they will always have excuses. I just wish the rest of us didn't have to pay for it with ridiculous health care premiums anymore.

I believe it all has to do with education. By all means, if you want a hamburger, eat a darn hamburger. But know what it is that you are actually consuming. Part of the problem is with the food labels - few people take the time to read them, and fewer understand what all those ingredients are - msg, modified corn starch, hfcs, aspartame, splenda, the list goes on and on. It does take time to cook and eat healthy, but only if you're used to preparing, cooking, eating and cleaning up within 30 minutes. Learning the secrets to make it easier and a part of your life takes time and effort - much more than we are usually willing or able to give. It now takes me 10 minutes to buy a loaf of bread - after reading which brand has more fiber, whole grains, no hfcs, no modified anything, etc. I stopped trusting the government about safety, did my own research, made up my own mind about what I thought was healthy, and I'm continually researching my decisions. But I still eat junk food occasionally, and not everyone has the time or inclination to do the research. And edisonkenevil, my dad died of lung cancer after 3 years at the age of 65. I saw the medical bills. My grandfather is 92 and healthy and just moved into an assisted living facility. His healthcare costs no more than the 3 years of my dad's cancer. Old doesn't have to mean unhealthy or costly. It simply means "been around for awhile."

There is a saying for healthy living "pay more, eat less". In the end the cost will equal out. Your health is the most important aspect of your life. With good health you sleep better, feel better, think better, have better relationships and will live better with a much fuller life. It truly in not expensive to eat fresh, great, healthy food if planned properly. The combination of healthy eating and physical activities will create a life worth living, it just needs to be made a priority. Everyone can have very good health even if they do or don's have a job or health insurance. www.familyeats.net

There is a saying "pay more and eat less" for your health. The cost will average out. Just remember, your health is the most important thing. Important in enjoying all aspects of life with those most important to you. By being healthy you will sleep better, think better, live longer, be more productive, have better relationships, on and on. The data is there, everyone just needs to apply it and make it a priority. You can eat great, fresh and healthy food with out breaking the bank. And the combination of healthy eating and physical activity is the road map to a healthy and fulfilled life. No matter if you do or don't have a job or health insurance. www.familyeats.net

Only in America would poor people suffer from obesity! For the love of Mike, if you're short of money EAT LESS!!!

I will tell you a better way to eat healthy. Buy some carrots, nuts and a fruit and chew on that for your lunch. You want a good salad, mix an avocato with tomatoes and make a vinagrette.. Geezz... You don't have to eat junk food to eat cheap ! eat a lots of vegetable, nuts, fruits... I garranty, you will loose your weight. I spent 25 years in the usa, ate only 1 hamberger in all these years... I don't know how anybody can eat that trash and it smells so so bad ! I hated the food in America. I am glad I am back where we have the best food in the world. France. I still have the same weight as I had when I was in my 20s.... Think, people, you are what you eat ! What's more important but eating healthy foods ?

I'll never understand this. One of the cheapest and healthiest things you could do would be to buy a bag of beans and a bag of rice and cook them up. All you have to add is water! Throw in some celery, onions, & bell pepper for your veggies. My wife and I do it all the time, lean times or not. For less than 10 bucks you can get several meals out of this. I hope that this helps some folks out!

I'll never understand this. One of the cheapest and healthiest things you could do would be to buy a bag of beans and a bag of rice and cook them up. All you have to add is water! Throw in some celery, onions, & bell pepper for your veggies. My wife and I do it all the time, lean times or not. For less than 10 bucks you can get several meals out of this.

I'm sorry, but even on-the-go busy families with not enough time to fix a proper meal, could buy whole wheat or 7-grain bread, some lean turkey, ham, or chicken breast, mustard and toppings and make a sandwich. That's healthy and quick. There's always something to be thrown in the crockpot, and even if you insist on buying processed foods, stock your fridge with lean pockets, low-fat frozen dinners, and lots of fresh food! If you can wait in the fast food drive-thru for 15 minutes, you can spend 30-45 minutes shopping, and that food will last you at least 2 weeks! Be realistic.