Food Can Change Our Mood

• Fruits and vegetables contain important vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals. They also contain fibre.
• There are many varieties of fruit and vegetables available and many ways to prepare, cook and serve them.
• A diet high in fruit and vegetables can help protect you against cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
• Eat 5 kinds of vegetable and 2 kinds of fruit every day for good health.
• Most Australians do not eat enough fruit and vegetables.
• When buying and serving fruit and vegetables, aim for variety to get the most nutrients and appeal

ecause of how busy the modern lifestyle happens to be in the developed world, many families find themselves taking a trip to their favorite fast food restaurant more often than they would care to admit. According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 45% of a family’s food budget goes toward eating out somewhere. In 1977, that rate was at just 38%. That means the average household is spending upwards of $6,000 per year just to eat outside of the home.

Although the occasional evening of fast food products will not adversely impact your health, having a habit where you eat burgers and fries constantly can be problematic in a very short period. People who eat fast food products regularly often suffer from headaches, experience dental distress, carry extra weight, and have high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

There are also issues of insulin resistance, blood sugar spikes, and high salt intake that can become problematic when embracing the offerings of the fast food industry. That’s not to say that every product offered by a restaurant is bad for you. It just means that the individuals who tend to eat items made by this industry consume about 190 calories more than those who do not.

There are several advantages and disadvantages of fast food to consider if you need to have a quick meal. These are the key points to consider.

List of the Advantages of Fast Food

1. Fast food gives you the option to eat something instead of skipping a meal.
Although intermittent fasting has become a popular way to manage a person’s weight in recent years, skipping meals is rarely a good idea unless you have a specific purpose in doing so. According to NHS UK, the best way to lose weight and then keep it off is to reduce the number of calories you consume while increasing the number that you burn through exercise. Skipping a meal can cause fatigue, end it may mean that you lose some essential nutrients.

Choosing a healthy fast food meal that includes no fried foods, fruits, and vegetables can help you to gain what you need to finish your day without snacking on high-sugar or high-fat foods to satisfy your cravings in the future.

2. Eating fast food items helps you to manage a schedule more effectively.
The average family in the United States is spending about two hours in the evening managing their afterschool activities. That means there could be very little time to cook at home. Because the fast food industry is available in almost every community, you have the option to manage your schedule without going hungry in the process. Choosing a meal like this takes 50% less time than it would if you were to try to make lunch or dinner at home. It may not seem like much, but 15-30 extra minutes in a tight schedule can be quite valuable.

3. Fast food products make it easier to reduce hunger problems in the community.
Fast food items are one of the most affordable food products that you can find in the world today when you compare its cost to the number of calories that you receive. Although you wouldn’t want to eat three fast food meals every day, having a couple of bucks can get you enough food in one meal that your body can use to produce energy. Most fast food restaurants average about 300 calories for every $1 spent in the U.S. on food items.

That rate is four times higher than what you would find with healthy grab-and-go items at the grocery store. If you were to stick to organic and fresh produce for your calories, then it could be ten times higher in price when compared to fast food. For a family living paycheck to paycheck, eating out really could be the cheapest option.

4. You can have an expectation of excellent service with every order.
When you choose to eat at a fast food restaurant, then you have an expectation of familiarity with the products that are on the menu. Although there are some regional and international variations that you will find with global chains like McDonald’s, you can also expect to find specific items on the menu at every location. That means you know what your food should look like when served, how it will taste, and what your expenses will be.

Fast food restaurants often work with the same vendors across their entire chain of restaurants, including franchises, so that you are essentially eating the same item. That means it can be easier to manage food allergies, expenses, and hunger expectations.

5. The fast food industry provides you with the nutritional information of each item.
One of the most significant complaints about the fast food industry is that the menu items they serve are high in calories. Although there is some truth to this issue, most restaurants offer a clear calorie count on their foods so that you can make a smart decision about what you choose to eat. The entire catalog of nutritional information is available to you upon request as well. Most providers also publish this data online for you to review at any time.

That means you have access to all of the information needed to make a good choice about what you choose to order from the fast food industry.

6. There are more healthy choices at fast food restaurants today than ever before.
You don’t need to go on a calorie binge if you decide that a fast food meal is your best choice today. There are several restaurants which provide you with healthy options on the menu so that you can meet your health and wellness expectations. Good Housekeeping reviewed all menu items from 2018 to list the best 31 items that you can order from American restaurants, with these choices as their top options.

• The Chicken Cool Wrap from Chick-Fil-A contains 360 calories and 13g of fat, giving you lettuce, red cabbage, carrots, chicken, and cheese in a flaxseed flour flatbread.
• Papa John’s offers a Mediterranean veggie pizza that comes in at 180 calories and 7g of fat per slice, featuring black olives, onions, mushrooms, and banana peppers.
• Denny’s provides a loaded veggie omelet if you want more of a sit-down experience, giving you 490 calories for breakfast with 14g of fat with an English muffin and fruit.
• Burger King’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich without mayonnaise gives you 360 calories, 7g of fat, and 26g of protein without breaking the bank.

7. You can order a complete meal with smart choices for less than $10 each.
The problem with fast food ordering is that many people tend to go with the cheapest or easiest option because of the demands of their schedule. If you take the time to plan your order in advance, then you can make smart choices that are still very affordable, including premium or custom food items. Remember to order sandwiches without mayo and take away the processed cheese for the best benefits here.

If you decide to order from the value menu, then it is possible to come away with a sandwich, a side, and a beverage for under $5.

8. The fast food industry provides a significant economic boost to most communities.
The BBC asks an important question: how could a fast food chain ever make money from a burger that costs $1? When you start looking at the scale of sales for the industry, especially in the United States, then you will see a lot of foot traffic contributing to plenty of service options. If customers buy lots of discounted items, then the sales of add-ons creates a profit margin that wouldn’t be there otherwise.

This advantage can sometimes backfire, as it did for Burger King in 2009. Franchisees sued the company because of a required promotion that forced the independently-owned companies to sell a double cheeseburger for $1 even though it cost $1.10 to make – but the courts ruled in favor of Burger King because of the verbiage in the franchising agreement.

9. It is an affordable way to experience new or different food choices.
When Americans start thinking about fast food options, then they are typically looking at burgers, sandwiches, and fries. Different cultures have a unique perspective on what a quick meal should be. You’ll find noodle dishes, soups, grilled pork, and plenty of other food options to consider if you explore the various quick-service restaurant options in each community. You will find Chinese, Mexican, and Italian items are routinely available at the same speed that a burger joint offers.