When fast food was first invented it was meant for an occasional dinner away from home, a long travel, or just an“on the go” type of meal. American society has indeed
fashioned itself into a society where “on the go” is all the time. In fact,
rarely do families gather around the table anymore to enjoy a home cooked meal.
Now a day the usual“family meal” is a trip through a drive-thru. More and more
children believe that these fast food meals are a normal diet, and even more
parents believe that their child’s ever increasing waste line is just “baby
fat.”
Obesity in America is an increasing problem. Cases of obesity are being
found all over the United States. Specifically more cases are being found in
children. In most cases people are not compelled to feel sympathy for the adult
cases because of the lack of self-control being shown. But, they feel this
sympathy toward children who have not yet experienced self-control or even know
the concept of it. Furthermore, parents are not giving their children a chance
to decide this for themselves either. Most kids eat whatever is placed in front
of them, and when it’s something fatty and greasy the results won’t be very
healthy. One side argues that fast food is the sole thing that makes children
obese. Most people blame it on the lack of calories placed on the board or the
choices that they allow for children to have. The other side argues that the
main problem is the parent’s lack of control on their child’s diet. Some ask why
parents choose to feed their children fast food, or why is there not healthy
choices being offered to them? Which side is
correct?
Parents have strayed away from sit down family meals. We have busy
schedules and busy lives; we shudder at the thought of sitting down for an hour
of each day with our family to discuss the day. We would rather be up finishing
work or watching T.V. Therefore, cooking in the home is never established. If
most people would take the time to find things to cook or cook healthier meals,
then most kids would be a lot thinner. Thus these children would be avoiding the
risks of being overweight or suffering from type 2 juvenile diabetes. In this
aspect, parents are being extremely selfish. How could they let their child
weigh more than them at age 9? Where does the parenting come in to play?
I’m not saying a parent should cut fast food out of a child’s diet
altogether. It’s a gradual process. I would encourage a parent to cook some more
though. Provide healthier meals and set aside a time to eat dinner. People would
be utterly amazed of how conversation brings a family closer. Also, parents
could provide healthy snacks for their child to munch on, instead of feeding
them sugary things that will make them overly hyper or harmful to their dietary
system. Besides, change always starts small and it can make a world of
difference in these obese children’s lives. Also, parents should guide their
children on the aspects of self-control. They need to show their child that eating so much fatty greasy fast food is not healthy for them. Although some parents might argue that they do not have the time or money to feed their children healthy alternatives. I would say that a person can make time to do things but they simply choose not to. Parents
choose fast food out of convenience mostly rather than having to. I understand
that healthy food isn’t always cheap, but your body isn’t either. If we set a
pattern for children on the importance of eating healthy then it becomes a
normal thing to do.
So in closing I blame the parents. Without them fast food wouldn’t have
any control over our children or their weight. Instead of providing a fully nutritional
meal for their child they take them to get a Big Mac at McDonalds. When is
enough, enough? When do we let the children decide for themselves or provide
healthy alternatives? When do we stop our busy schedules to sit down with our
family and enjoy a home cooked meal? It’s scary to think that fast food is
getting worse and moreover parents are feeding it to their children mindlessly.
So, if you give a child a Big Mac… they just get bigger.
fashioned itself into a society where “on the go” is all the time. In fact,
rarely do families gather around the table anymore to enjoy a home cooked meal.
Now a day the usual“family meal” is a trip through a drive-thru. More and more
children believe that these fast food meals are a normal diet, and even more
parents believe that their child’s ever increasing waste line is just “baby
fat.”
Obesity in America is an increasing problem. Cases of obesity are being
found all over the United States. Specifically more cases are being found in
children. In most cases people are not compelled to feel sympathy for the adult
cases because of the lack of self-control being shown. But, they feel this
sympathy toward children who have not yet experienced self-control or even know
the concept of it. Furthermore, parents are not giving their children a chance
to decide this for themselves either. Most kids eat whatever is placed in front
of them, and when it’s something fatty and greasy the results won’t be very
healthy. One side argues that fast food is the sole thing that makes children
obese. Most people blame it on the lack of calories placed on the board or the
choices that they allow for children to have. The other side argues that the
main problem is the parent’s lack of control on their child’s diet. Some ask why
parents choose to feed their children fast food, or why is there not healthy
choices being offered to them? Which side is
correct?
Parents have strayed away from sit down family meals. We have busy
schedules and busy lives; we shudder at the thought of sitting down for an hour
of each day with our family to discuss the day. We would rather be up finishing
work or watching T.V. Therefore, cooking in the home is never established. If
most people would take the time to find things to cook or cook healthier meals,
then most kids would be a lot thinner. Thus these children would be avoiding the
risks of being overweight or suffering from type 2 juvenile diabetes. In this
aspect, parents are being extremely selfish. How could they let their child
weigh more than them at age 9? Where does the parenting come in to play?
I’m not saying a parent should cut fast food out of a child’s diet
altogether. It’s a gradual process. I would encourage a parent to cook some more
though. Provide healthier meals and set aside a time to eat dinner. People would
be utterly amazed of how conversation brings a family closer. Also, parents
could provide healthy snacks for their child to munch on, instead of feeding
them sugary things that will make them overly hyper or harmful to their dietary
system. Besides, change always starts small and it can make a world of
difference in these obese children’s lives. Also, parents should guide their
children on the aspects of self-control. They need to show their child that eating so much fatty greasy fast food is not healthy for them. Although some parents might argue that they do not have the time or money to feed their children healthy alternatives. I would say that a person can make time to do things but they simply choose not to. Parents
choose fast food out of convenience mostly rather than having to. I understand
that healthy food isn’t always cheap, but your body isn’t either. If we set a
pattern for children on the importance of eating healthy then it becomes a
normal thing to do.
So in closing I blame the parents. Without them fast food wouldn’t have
any control over our children or their weight. Instead of providing a fully nutritional
meal for their child they take them to get a Big Mac at McDonalds. When is
enough, enough? When do we let the children decide for themselves or provide
healthy alternatives? When do we stop our busy schedules to sit down with our
family and enjoy a home cooked meal? It’s scary to think that fast food is
getting worse and moreover parents are feeding it to their children mindlessly.
So, if you give a child a Big Mac… they just get bigger.