Obesity and the current economic depression are definitely two
of America’s more prominent issues. Researchers from the UCS (Union of
Concerned Scientists) found that by simply eating more fruits and vegetables we
could actually save billions of dollars. The amount of fast food consumed by
Americans daily is literally deadly. Statistics from 2010 showed that the costs
of just strokes and heart disease reached $94 billion, and that cost could
triple by 2030. A large portion of these health disorders stem from an
unhealthy lifestyle, such as eating fast food. However, there is some positive
news! If people followed the USDA recommended amount of fruits and vegetables consumed
we could save over 17 billion dollars and even more important 127,000 lives. People
would not only be healthier, they would save money on health bills and
stimulate the economy as well. As to how to persuade people to consume fruits
and vegetables the UCS recommends that production of these foods increase. This
solution, like most, comes along with multiple hurdles. Currently there are several
policies that discourage farmers from growing fruits and vegetables. For
example, farmers growing crops such as corn and soy are not qualified for support
if they also grow fruits and vegetables on the same land. Eliminating limits
like the example above would be a healthy start.
Coming from a person who eats fruits and vegetables almost
every meal I really wish others would do the same. It’s almost as if people don’t
realize how good they taste, not many people take advantage of healthy eating.
Farmers growing healthy foods should be rewarded rather than penalized with
restrictions. It seems as if that’s the first step to solving the problem. Also,
if schools began to include more nutritious foods on their menu it would
stimulate the economy and allow the future of America to grow up much
healthier. Schools would allow for a substantial boost in fruit and vegetable
sales giving farmers a reason to produce many more crops.
As a fellow fruit-lover, I completely agree with you. Why are farmers being so restricted anyways? Is it an issue of keeping the soil fertile? Also, it's amazing how much damage fast food causes in one year alone! However, I have noticed that they are starting to get healthier. I work at Wendy's and we include the option to have apples instead of fries with kids meals and side salads instead of fries for normal combos. We also have a kids meal grilled chicken wrap, which is a lot healthier than the nuggets or the cheeseburger. I just wish these options were promoted more!
ReplyDeleteAlso, according to this website (http://www.southcarolinaradionetwork.com/2010/12/07/new-law-would-require-healthier-food-in-schools/), a new law was enacted a few years ago to require South Carolina schools to offer healthier lunches in order to require additional funding. I thought this was a great idea and I have a feeling this was part of the reason we had a deli line! Then again, it might have also contributed to that short time period where we had no fries, which were the only edible source of food in the normal lunch line.... Anyways, I hope America eats healthier and saves money!
I agree with you because people should eat more fruits and vegetables so they can live longer by being healthier. I also think that fast food restaurants distract kids (the people most effected by unhealthy eating) from choosing healthier foods instead of a tempting hamburger. At a health center I went to they had vending machines that had healthy alternatives to things like Cheetos, potato chips, and candy. If schools started putting vending machines like the ones in the health center I think that obesity in children would be challenged without kids felling that anything is being taking away. I know at Clover High that a lot of student’s lunch comes from the vending machines because they do not eat the schools lunches and get full off chips and candy bars. A big reason for that is that the quality of the school’s lunches is poor and students can see that. The only thing that tastes good to students are the fries which are high in fat because of all the grease that they are fried in and the vegetable and fruit choices are not very appealing because the look like they came out of a can and are not very fresh. Sometimes those fries are the only thing that some students eat because of that. The elementary and middle schools face the same problem. In Clover Middle School I know a cafeteria lady who would not eat the food the school gives the students and her job is to prepare it. There are healthier food programs that the school could use that won’t compromise on taste. The clover school distract just needs to embrace them.
ReplyDeleteIt is proven that by eating right it is much harder to gain weight than when you eat fast food every day of your life you do gain weight. Fruits and vegetables are much better for you and not only do they taste better they are way better for you. Obesity has such a high rate in the United States and it could be so preventable, not only that put you would have a lot of extra money in your pocket to spend if people didn’t spend it all of nasty processed foods. I know that I live a lifestyle to where I have the choice on whether to eat good or not and sometimes it is not easy. You just have to realize that your health is way more important to eat right and save right. There are so many diet plans that are cheap to and will keep you from eating nasty fast foods, because who knows where that meat came from… I really hope Americans will see if from a different point of view that first of all eating healthy is better for you and second it will save you money!
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to agree with all the comments above! I myself am a fruit and vegetable lover and I simply find it horrifying how Americans can scarf down fast food so easily! Do they not realize the deadly effects of such foods? Fast food chains such as McDonalds make billions by luring in customers with quick, easily made, no-need-to-cook food. I, however, like taking a little more time and effort into cooking vegetables and other healthy foods. I hope one day, people will realize how much damage these foods can cause to their bodies. If health disorders are put into the question, shouldn't it be common sense to cut back? It also seems reasonable if schools cut back on their unhealthy foods and start serving healthier dishes. While students may not be pleased right away, they will realize later in life that they made the right decision by not picking up a side dish of fries. People will live longer, healthier, and richer; what else is there to ask for?
ReplyDeletenice post about saving money by eating right, i learnt from it today
ReplyDeleteI also love the style of blogging here on apenviroclass.blogspot.com
you see, there are 2 blogs that i've found so far to be very helpful and have something interesting for me whenever i visit, this one and http://danieluyi.com
Keep up the good work you're doing here.
I most definitely agree with all of the comments. Fast food is so incredibly unhealthy and it is sickening to me. The affects of having such an unhealthy diet is so expensive, due to the medical bills people are basically asking for. Many sicknesses are caused because of an unhealthy diet, whereas eating healthy promotes better chances of becoming ill. People need to realize that the body they have needs to be taken with much care.
ReplyDelete