Bad Food? Tax It Subsidize Vegetables

“Don’t Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko is an article that argues that the fast-food industry is at fault for the rising rates of obesity and health care, not the consumers because they advertise and market cheap meals without mentioning the negative nutrition information. It is in some ways no different than the tobacco industry, in which they sell cheap and unhealthy food without offering information that is easy to read and comprehend. Zinczenko claims that “Fast-food companies are marketing to children a product with proven health hazards and no warning labels” (464). The author insists that the fast-food industry is primarily at fault for the health problems related to obesity in the United States. This assertion seems legitimate and

The life pursued by the average young person in America is fast paced and scheduled to the point of breaking. As time has progressed this time stretched life style has impacted the need for food that isn’t cooked at home or even at restaurants that cook with traditional methods. This coupled with the swelling number of households with either a single parent or two working parents has increased the reliance on the fast food industry and in turn increased the overweight and obesity rates in the country. In his article “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko addresses this topic and places the blame not on those partaking in these delectable dinners, but in the hands of the fast food industry and their lack of understandable labeling. Zinczenko’s argument is valid and strong due to his equal use of ethos, logos and pathos.

America is one of the most obese countries in the world, known for apple pie and an excessive amount of McDonald’s. As a culture, there is a lack of self control when it comes to the foods we consume. People often over consume and over indulge, which has wreaked havoc on the health and well being of those who give in to these temptations. The issue is that large corporations and even our own government play a role in helping feed the problem; they care more about profitability and benefiting the business than the health of the consumer. The health of Americans is declining and more chronic diseases and health problems are appearing as a result of unhealthy diets, but there are many different methods that can help fix this issue.

In David Freedman’s essay How Junk food Can End Obesity, Freedman makes the claim to policy arguing that instead of demonizing processed foods, Americans should instead support the idea and production of healthier processed and junk foods. He calls on the public to recognize that while many products on the market these days are labeled as “wholesome” and “healthy”, consumers should learn to become aware of the fat and calorie content in these products because many times they have the same- if not more- fat and calorie contents as that of a typical Big Mac or Whopper. In his essay, Freedman primarily places blame on the media and the wholesome food movement for the condemnation of the fast and processed food industries saying, “An enormous amount of media space has been dedicated to promoting the notion that all processed food, and only processed food, us making us sickly and overweight” (Freedman), he further expresses that this portrayal of the

Look back at what you ate at school and ask yourself if it is healthy. Is there healthy alternatives to school lunch? Is there a variety of choices to choose from? Are there any vegetarian choices for the students? These are just some of the basic questions you would ask yourself when thinking about the risks of school lunches.

The main contributor, widely reported by top experts, is the consumption of cheap, and convenient foods such as fast food and the myriad of boxed foods available in the supermarket. Diane Brady asserts in her essay, “The Employer-Friendly Case for Pricer Big Macs” that “Of all the reasons why a third of U.S. adults are obese, the lure of cheap, unhealthy food ranks near the top” (519). With continual attention being given to the effects of unhealthy foods on adults and especially young people, one would think that America would wise up and stop consuming it at such an alarming rate. Again, Brady points out that, “Fast food chains have raised their game with healthier menu offerings and support for programs that encourage physical activity, but they continue to thrive by selling high-calorie food. McDonald’s salads, introduced in 1987, make up just 2 percent to 3 percent of U.S. sales” (520).

In “How Junk Food Can End Obesity” David Freedman argues that ending processed food is not going to help solve obesity problems. He knows that “Junk food is bad for you because it’s full of fats and problems carb” (Freedman 515). Freedman believe that we should use technology to improve fast-food by taking out the unhealthy products in it, instead of getting rid of fast-food entirely. He also talks about his experiences with food between wholesome food and McDonald’s. He discusses how McDonald’s smoothies have the lowest calories and are cheapest out of all other smoothies he had.

A recent study found that children who regularly ateschool lunches were 29 percent more likely to beobese than their peers who brought lunch fromhome. Health science has advanced greatly since theinception of the National School Lunch Program in1946. When a 2008 Institute of Medicine committeecomprising 14 child-nutrition experts examined dataon the content of school lunches in the UnitedStates, its findings were stark. The updated standards aligned school meals withthe 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans byincreasing quantities of fruits, vegetables, andwhole grains; establishing calorie ranges; andlimiting trans fats and sodium. Children consume almost half of their total caloriesat school, and the National School Lunch Programprovides

Some people need the fattening foods to do sports or to gain muscle. It is not fair that teachers get to eat whatever they want and

When the school had change the cafeteria menu to a healthier menu I was mad because the healthier food taste nasty ,and I barley ate which mean I was getting dizzy at practice because I didn't eat a lot in school. Schools shouldn't change the cafeteria menu because kids will bring their own lunch to school instead of buying it, some kids will protest on the change of the school menu, they will be very cranky if they don't eat and might pass out. The fist reason why schools shouldn't change the cafeteria menu is because kids will start bringing their own lunch to school. If the kids start bringing their own lunch, the school will have less money to do stuff.

As fifth-graders, they consumed 33 percent less fruit, 42 percent less vegetables, and 35 percent less milk than they did the previous year as fourth-graders” (Harkin). This shows the drastic change in children's diets when exposed to unhealthier food options. Also, most schools claim the food they serve and prepare is made from scratch but that is not the case. An example of this, “...she retrieved several five-pound bags of ‘beef crumbles,’ grayish-brown bits of extruded meat and soy protein, from a walk-in freezer and loaded them into a commercial steamer” is shown by this quote stating the beef that goes into the food into school lunches is bagged up and heavily processed (Bruske). Many students suffer from mental disabilities that are only more severe when they consume unhealthy food, like school lunch.

Junk food is responsible for the growing rate of obesity. This is outlined by David freedman in his article of “How junk food can end obesity.” David Freedman has credited the “health-food” motion, and followers of it along with Michel Pollan. Freedman claims that if the America desires to stop the obesity epidemic, or at least reduce its effects, they must shift to the fast meals and processed meals enterprise for assist, now not the “health-food” movement.

Today life is on the fast track. People are always on the go and don’t have time to properly take care of themselves or their families. For most Americans, fast food and junk food are ready to grab for a snack or a quick dinner. They don’t slow down to think about how the foods they are eating effect their long term health. Fewer and fewer families take the time to prepare a nutritious meal and are passing down bad habits to their children.

Imagine if you ate fast food 5 days a week for lunch. How do you think that would affect your health and your wallet? Studies show that fast food joints within walking distance of schools show gain more profit from students than the surrounding community (Miura). Today I am going to show you the health risks an open campus lunch poses, the threat of schools losing money, and the dangers to the community that it can cause.

Eating unhealthy can also lead to diabetes and obesity. According to Colorado State University, kids who are overweight have higher risks of developing health problems, like diabetes, hypertension, and becoming obese adults. Healthy lunches with proper amounts can help create a healthy