Essay: Don't Blame The Eater

Kevin Holloway

Warning Labels

If you have ever eaten a burger from Mcdonalds or Jack In The Box, question: should there be a warning label on the bag? Really, a label stating the negative effects of eating one of their burgers. There are a bunch of unspoken dangers that come from fast food. The lack of personal responsibility in fast food consumers is an overall contributing factor leading to childhood obesity.

In David Zinczenko’s article “Don’t Blame The Eater” he talks about how provision from fast food places contribute to obesity, some fault on the children consuming it and some fault on the parents allowing them. Zinczenko’s theory of both parents and children being at fault is extremely useful because it sheds light on the problem of lack of personal responsibility. Zinczenko speaks on the thousands of fast food places across America and slim options for alternative places to eat. Zinczenko brings up points about how kids are in a jam when it comes to options for everyday food selection.

    Most of the time bad eating habits start in childhood no matter the weight. Some things that allow us to eat so irresponsibility is our busy lifestyles. Fast food is right in our faces on t.v, on the radio, and even on our way to work or school. Fast food is quick and affordable, which fits perfect for the kinds of busy lives we are living. In “Don’t Blame The Eater”, Zinczenko partly points the finger toward the fast food companies for our heavy fast food consumption. It seems we as people are so busy that we can’t focus enough time to think of sustainable healthy choices other than Jack In The Box. Fast food is whispering in our ears all the time through sales, deals, catchy slogans, and it’s simple convenience. We have deadened our thinking because of fast food’s onslaught of advertising and our constant consumption of the fast food.

    Are we so busy and personally irresponsible that we forget how bad fast food is for us? Do people remember words like regulation or standards in today’s society? Everyone should be aware of the caloric intake of the food they eat, especially fast food. For example the U.S government recommends a daily calorie intake of 2,000. Though it is just a recommendation it is a standard we should hold ourselves to. As human beings we must be aware of the effects of our food on us, David Zinczenko thinks similarly. He writes, “Shouldn’t we know better than to eat two meals a day in fast food restaurants”. Zinczenko suggests that our time in fast food restaurants is to blame for a high overweight rank in America. When a person eats a typical meal from Mcdonalds or Burger King they are consuming half or more of the recommended daily caloric intake according to the U.S Government. There is possibly a great number of people who consume fast food and do not realize the mind and body effects they are inducing on themselves each time they eat it. People at such a loss of personal responsibility disregard reason and initiative for eating different and more healthy foods. Throughout our lives as busy fast food consumers it is imperative that we be more aware about what we are putting into our bodies.

    In today's society reality seems that fast food consumers should be vigilant about finding alternatives for fast food. Though it may seem hard finding more healthy food, it is a challenge people obese and trim must take. Zinczenko himself writes, “ … I guarantee you’ll see one of our country's more than 13,000 McDonald's restaurants. Now drive up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit.”. Even now fast food places seems to be heavily populating our cities. Zinczenko makes an extremely useful point. Even Though you might see “one” of “13,000” fast food places, if being healthy matters enough you can “try” to find alternatives. The first obvious solution is a balanced home cooked meal. Though it is more time consuming and difficult for some people it will pay off later on throughout life. The effects of eating a home cooked meal versus fast food is a excellent choice and much healthier. A second solution is simply setting out and looking for things to eat other than fast food. You can go to supermarkets, farmers markets, shop for fruits and vegetables, or eat at normal non-fast food restaurants; there are many smarter more responsible choices than eating greasy fast food. Also one can set out a goal for themselves to not eat fast food just because. Imagine this, buying Mcdonalds just because it’s around the corner from your house is passive and extremely lazily while other options are out there ready to be discovered.

    Now not to get confused, fast food is unhealthy if eaten constantly, but it is not the most terrible thing in the universe. Fast food is not entirely unhealthy as long as it consumed in moderation. Individuals and especially those with children should view fast food as a type of reward of some sort. There is a family I know who only eats Mcdonald’s once or twice every month, avoiding over consumption of fast food in a responsible way. Fast food once or twice a month, depending on the individual, is a good way to utilize and see constant fast food consumption as something very easy to get attached to.

    Fast food consumers must be more responsible when it comes to eating healthy. Simple things like looking at the calorie count on the Big Mac or Whopper Jr. you’ve ordered or simply changing your thinking, thus leading you to shop and eat from different and more healthy places. Cooked dinner, Jack In The Box every now and again, or a conscious thought about the dangers of mindlessly eating fast food everyday can lead to a major difference in us and our children’s responsible eating habits.