Is Junk Food Really Cheaper By Mark Bittman

Alexander Guzman
Dylan Altman
English 101
12 July 2023
Fast Food Epidemic Fast food is an American staple and has influence all over the world. We all have tried it and is something we love. It is known for being cheap and reliable. Many find it as an alternative to cooking at home. Although it may be in the best interest of us to stop by for some fast food it isn’t always the best choices. Many Americans suffer from obesity due to excess fast-food consumption. In fact, it is estimated that around 40% of adults in the U.S. are obese. Obesity can lead to other health complications as well which is another problem on its own. I have fallen victim to eating excess fast food, at times it’s too good to resist. The popularity of fast food creates

More money is being wasted on junk food when it could be going into a nutritious meal. In “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” by Mark Bittman, he explores how a healthy diet would overall be cheaper. Many Americans put the blame that food is too expensive as an excuse to eat their favorite food. As Bittman argues “The core problem is that cooking is defined as work, and fast food is both a pleasure and a crutch” (1). Nowadays Americans live a very busy lifestyle with most working a 9 to 5. Cooking after a busy day creates more work and fast food, is an easy solution to cooking. At times cooking can take anytime from 30 to upwards of 6o minutes. This is why it’s so popular and coinvent individuals don’t just favor the food but the quick service that comes with it. My family and I have fell victims to this many times. On the weekends my mom doesn’t really like to cook and prefers to go out and eat. From talking to other’s their family is the same and prefer to save their time and energy. Furthermore, prioritizing healthier diet can go a long way. “The cultural lies in celebrating real food; raising our children in homes that don’t program them for fast-produced, eaten-on-the-run, high-calorie, low-nutrition junk; giving them the gift of appreciating the pleasures of nourishing one another and enjoying that nourishment together” (Bittman 1). Most

We know that America has an obesity problem, but what other problems come with eating junk food? In “This is Your Body on Fast Food” by Christy Brissette lists the long-term consequences of consuming fast food. “Eating a poor quality diet high in junk food is linked to a higher risk of obesity, depression, digestive issues, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and early death” (Brissette 1). With all these health concerns listed, why is it that so many Americans ignore the health recommendations. Before reading this article, I had no idea fast food/junk food was this unhealthy on the body. It really makes me rethink twice about going out to eat now. I understand that fast food is cheap and addictive but, who is to blame for this problem? In my opinion it is only our fault for the lack of self-control that we have. We are the ones making choices for ourselves good or bad. Lack of self-control leads to excesses consumption and is worse in families as the children have no choice but to eat what their parents would like. Furthermore, eating junk food changes your body in ways you may have not known, “single fast food meal can narrow your arteries, leading to an increase in blood pressure” (2). The meal that you bought to enjoy is doing you more harm than