The pace of modern life is fast, and nowhere is it faster than in America.

We wa
nt fast transportation, fast communication, fast computers, fast photos, fast mu
sic, fast repairs, and fast service from the businesses we patronize. It is from
the last of these that we got fast food.
At first, it was a matter of fast service. Fountain and Fast Food Service was th
e title of a trade magazine, which published statements like this from 1951: "Th
e partners have become old hands at spotting the type of conventioneer that will
patronize their fast food service." Gradually service disappeared, and in 1954
we find fast food by itself in the title "Fountain and Fast Food." Incidentally,
the trade magazine renamed itself Fast Food by 1960. In February of that year,
the magazine noted, "Delicate scallops are really fast food...because they come
ready to cook." And in July it remarked, "Fast food type restaurants do the lion
's share of business for breakfast and noon meals eaten out."
The fast food revolution was a quick success throughout the land, and two decade
s later it was conquering the world. "The U.S. outcry against infiltration from
the south is matched in vehemence by our neighbors' outcry against fast-food imp
erialism and the gradual Americanization of their own societies." noted the Chri
stian Science Monitor in 1982.
Thanks to fast food, families that formerly ate home cooking now eat out or brin
g back take-home fast food in record numbers. Its virtue is speed, not quality.
Its less than ideal nutritional value may have influenced the coining of another
term twenty years later, one that also puts a four-letter epithet in front of f
ood: junk food (1973).

Fast foods are convenience foods that can be prepared and served very quickly. O
n average, one-fifth of the population of the USA (45 million people) eat in a f
ast-food restaurant each day. Although it is possible to eat nutritious fast foo
ds, menus tend to be stacked with items high on most dietitians' Avoid! lists.
Fast foods include salty french fries, beefburgers, fried chicken, and pizzas wi
th a thick cheese covering. These appeal to the Western palate by being fatty, l
ow in fibre and nutrients, but high in salt (one beefburger can contain more tha
n 1000 milligrams of sodium). To make matters worse, they are often served with
sugar-laden soft drinks or creamy milkshakes full of empty calories or fat.
Those who regularly eat fast foods should be particularly selective, moderating
the intake of unhealthy options and choosing healthy options, such as salads wit
h low-fat dressings, wholegrain buns, and skimmed milk. See also junk food.

Fast foods are relatively inexpensive foods that are prepared and served quickly
. The fast-food industry had its beginnings around the mid-twentieth century, an
d it grew tremendously during the last three decades of the twentieth century. G
rowth of the fast-food industry is projected to be even greater outside the Unit
ed States during the twenty-first century.
The most common type of U.S. fast-food restaurant specializes in a meal consisti
ng of a hamburger, French fries, and a beverage. Examples include McDonald's, Bu
rger King, and Wendy's. Some, such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, specialize in chic
ken; some, such as Subway, provide sandwiches; and others, such as Taco Bell, pr
ovide Americanized ethnic foods. Outside of the United States, these fast-food e
ateries serve some of the standard American dishes, such as hamburgers, but they
may also serve regionally popular items. There are also fast-food restaurants i
n other countries that specialize in providing ethnic foods, such as soups in Ja
pan or crepes in France.
Nutritional Issues
Many fast foods are fried (which facilitates quick preparation), high in fat and
sodium, and low in fiber, vitamins, and some minerals. The "added value" option
, whereby customers can order larger sizes for a minimal additional charge, adds
to the total calorie and fat intake. Many of these eateries now offer salads, l
ow-calorie or fat-free dressings, low-fat ice cream, and plain, broiled chicken
sandwiches or other foods low in fat and/or calories. Menu options will probably
continue to increase in response to health concerns and changing demographics.

Advantages of Fast Food

The most evident advantage of fast food is that it saves time. In today's fast-p
aced life, there is nothing better than getting a ready meal. No matter how much
the chefs praise the benefits of fresh food, at the end of a hard working day,
when one returns home all tired and hungry, a pizza or a burger can be godsend.
Besides the time an individual has to spend in the kitchen, cooking a meal also
requires one to make a trip to the supermarket to buy the ingredients for the di
sh. Then there is the added effort and time consumed in washing and peeling the
vegetables. All this makes eating fast food score more preferably over cooking a
meal for a busy individual.
Besides time, cost saving gives fast food an edge over the meal prepared in the
kitchen. If one lives alone, then it is cheaper to buy a meal at the supermarket
instead of cooking it at home. Also certain fast foods like fries and burgers c
ome pretty cheap.
Fast food does raise health concerns. However, if careful, you can find some opt
ions on the menu of a fast food restaurant that could be healthier. Salads are a
smart choice. Go for bread products that are made from wheat bread. Opt for lea
n meat. If you could choose between the fried and boiled options, order the boil
ed preparation. Avoid ordering carbonic drinks when you are thirsty. Go for frui
t juices, low-fat milk, diet soda. Is there anything better than plain water to
quench your thirst? You could always resort to the 'make to order' option that c
ertain fast food outlets offer, where you could restrict the use of ingredients
that are not healthy.
Disadvantages of Fast Food
The greatest disadvantage of fast food is the adverse effect that it has on one'
s health. It is a fact that fast food is more unhealthy than home-cooked meals,
as they contain higher amounts of salt, fats and calories. Fast food is an impor
tant contributor to obesity in the American population. Obesity in children is o
n the rise and a direct link is being cited between fast food and obesity in chi
ldren. Given the sedentary lifestyle that we lead today, the excess fats and cal
ories that we take in with fast food is not used up completely. The result is th
at these accumulate in our body as fat deposits that cause complications like ca
rdiovascular diseases and other related diseases of the heart. With obesity come
other problems like high blood pressure and diseases of the joints. It is like
a chain reaction set off by fast food and carried forward by our unhealthy lifes
tyle. In fact, a recent study has shown that people who live within walking dist
ance of a fast food restaurant are at 13% higher risk of suffering from strokes
than those who live a considerable distance away.
The greater the number of people at a meal in a fast food restaurant, the larger
is the bill. Eating at fast food outlets is economical only for a single person
. Going out to a fast food eating joint with family once in a while won't matter
much. However, frequent visits to such restaurants with one's family can become
quite an expensive affair, besides being unhealthy.
Fast food joints are also being seen as a factor that is making a number of fami
lies spend less and less time together. Family meal time is something that is co
nsidered as an opportunity for all the members to come together and share their
experiences. However, the fast food centers are quickly eating into this quality
time. This is especially true about youngsters for whom a fast food center is a
good place to hangout with friends and peers.
Fast food is an invention of the modern times. Ready-made food being served fast
and right in front of us is like a blessing after a hard day's work. However, l
ike everything, it has its own pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages of fa
st food also exist. Citing a few points about the advantages of fast food does n
ot mean that I am denying its drawbacks. However, by making some smart choices w
hile placing the order and also resorting to an active lifestyle, we can definit
ely minimize the drawbacks of fast food.

Why Fast Food is Dangerous To Your Health

Fast food success has drawn much attention to the industry and the food itself.
Animal rights advocates and health buffs alike criticize fast food on its effect
on the health of its customers and the health of the globe. Not only is fast fo
od proven to be bad for the health because of its high fat content and the proba
ble health hazards fast food chains are prone to, but also its effect on employm
ent and agricultural concerns.
Fast food = Bad Eating Habits
Fast food affinity is equated with bad eating habits. A typical meal from a fast
food restaurant, say a serving of fries and a cheeseburger, amount to about 1,0
00 calories. This is about half of the recommended dietary allowance. This is ma
inly because of the large portions that fast foods are accustomed to serving. Th
e tendency is for people to enlarge their appetites by eating beyond their limit
, because of being afraid for the food to go to waste.
Fast food is everywhere. It is available from main commercial blocks to gas serv
ice stations. In short, it is available and accessible. This partnered with the
biological propensity towards food high in fat and sugar, leads to widespread ob
esity.
A particular man filed a lawsuit in the United States against four fast food cha
ins because, according to him, the fast foods greasy and salty food led him to be
ing obese and unhealthy. Magnifying this issue, a documentary titled Supersize Me
was created. This showed the life of a man who dined on fast food for an entire
month. The result was tens of pounds gained.
Ultimately, dining regularly or almost totally on fast food will pose serious ri
sks to one s health. But it cannot be totally blamed for health problems. Mainly b
ecause it still rests on the person s choice. There are plenty of fast food diners
in perfect shape. The key is in moderation and smart choice.
Another issue in the fast food industry is the health hazards that fast food cha
ins are prone to. A particular hazard is the E-coli bacteria that meat products
are susceptible to. Because of the long supply chain through which fast food cha
ins operate in, the handling and sourcing of the meat is very hard to monitor. T
his issue remains unsolved.
Employment and Agriculture Implications
Employment issues are also abundant in the fast food industry. Mainly because wo
rking in a fast food does not require a college diploma or reasonable career exp
erience, fast foods employ teenagers as part-time crew and unskilled adults that
 accept low pay. There are widespread cases wherein workers were forced to work
longer hours without pay.
The agriculture industry also suffers because of fast food chains. It has led to
mass slaughters of cattle. Because fast food chains require so much meat and po
ultry, their demand leads them to make deals with large slaughter corporations.
These deals and practices crowd out smaller businesses.
Fast food domination has several implications both for the health of individuals
and for the health of the entire globe. Ultimately, people can exercise their p
ower of choice responsibly. Be more conscious with what they eat and where their
food came from. This is the starting point for a healthier lifestyle.