Fast food and slow food, vastly different competitors, combat daily in an uneven competition for consumer favouritism influenced by convenience, value for money, and variety, along with nutritional benefits. This essay will explore factors influencing convenience, monetary value, variety, and nutritional benefits, guiding these worthy competitors to the pinnacle position of consumerism. Moreover, this essay will explore whether the competition between fast and slow food product is fought on a level playing field. Fast food offers greater convenience, monetary value, and variety when compared to slow food. Firstly, convenience: Fast food is readily consumable as an alternative to a freshly cooked meal. However, convenience in food products cannot be obtained without copious amounts of additives designed to deliver the illusion of freshness. Therefore, foods produced with convenience in mind is detrimental to consumer health, due to processed, chemically enhanced ingredients, giving the impression the affordable, pre-prepared consumable is a healthy somewhat nutritious meal. Secondly, fast food offers greater perceived monetary value in comparison with slow food products. Fast food, prepared with inexpensive chemical enhancers, gives marketers the advantage of low production costs, and consumers the illusion of monetary value. Additives including artificial colours, flavours, and sweeteners enhance the taste and presentation of food giving the illusion of freshness mimicking flavours, and tastes of fresh products. Furthermore, Preservatives such as Benzoate (BHT, BHA, and TBHQ), Sodium Nitrite, and Nitrate used to preserve colour and flavours, and hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated shortening creates an appealing cost effec... ... middle of paper ... ...portation. However, when considering food miles, bear in mind, transportation of goods only account for 4% of emissions. The main share of emissions tallied as ‘food miles’ actually stems from the production process (CHOICE 2008). Therefore, reducing purchases of fast food for an increase in local, seasonal slow food purchases eases personal and environmental cost. In conclusion, competition between fast and slow food is very real; daily rivalry for consumer favouritism consists of many factors, including convenience, monetary value, variety, health benefits, and lifestyle. However, the competition between fast and slow food is not decided by these factors alone, rather requiring the addition of influences, including quality, freshness, and a return of a slower traditional lifestyle, not dependent on convenient consumerism, only then will the competition be fair.
There has been withstanding controversy about whether fast food is easier on the pocket than eating home-cooked meals. Take McDonald’s for instance, they’re notorious for their convenient and affordable dollar and value menus. Since you can get a burger for just $1.19, feeding a family of four should be inexpensive right? Mark Bittman, author of “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” argues otherwise. He claims that fast food is not at all cheaper than buying a few groceries and cooking at home. He expresses the different myths about fast food like how it is supposedly cheaper than real food when measured by the calorie, the mentality of people that if it isn’t fast food, it has to be costly organic food, and that there just isn’t enough time to cook at home. These myths followed by genuine factors such as addictions and a cultural impact, help Bittman prove his argument’s validity across to his audience. I have to say that Bittman proved his argument’s effectiveness, for he clearly stated his thesis and provided various reliable
In today’s society Americans want everything quick and cheap, so the question stands what is a quick lunch and what is available for an economical price? Americans live in a world that surrounds us with fast food restaurants. Two of the most well known restaurants for fast food restaurants is McDonald 's and Checkers. Far from what we imagined, McDonald 's and Checkers have huge differences. Most people perceive them just as the same fast food restaurant with different names. For this reason, they create debates on which one of them is the superior restaurant and which one is the more economical price. Though neither of these companies provides the healthiest foods for Americans the question stands, which one is for lunch today? Even though,
One of the first arguments that are made in the article by the author is that we, as a society feel that fast food is cheaper vs going to a local supermarket and making a home cooked meal.
The book, “Fast Food Nation”, by Eric Schlosser is all about how eating and food-production have changed since World War II. It also focused on how a small hotdog and hamburger stand in California spread worldwide and turned into a lifestyle of instant food. In the book, the author went into the deepest details about the emergence of fast food industry – from the early pioneers of the business, to the processing of the food, and even to the success of the business.
Food is an important aspect of one’s life. There are various options and places to consume food. Nowadays fast food is caused certain leads to various issues for certain individuals. There is healthy food, unhealthy food, frozen food, and lastly microwaved food. I was once in a stage in my life where I had two years after the age of twelve to make a choice to eat healthier and stop eating processed food. Or else I would’ve been six feet under by now. In discussions these authors David Zinczenko, Tod Marks, and Mark Bittman, have one controversial issue that has been about fast food. On the one hand, Zinczenko argues fast food should warn consumers exactly what they’re consuming. On the other hand, Mark and Bittman contend that fast food companies should be left alone and consumers should adapt and make the choice.
Advertising for fast food disproportionately targets children, obesity rates are going up, there are labs dedicated to creating food flavors, and the cleanliness of the restaurants where the food itself is served is questionable. The negative impacts the fast food industry has on the world have their roots in biology. The taste of the food is engineered to appeal to our taste buds, and after the access to fast food increased, our bodies began to crave it. Clearly, the fast food industry must undergo significant change to ensure its impact on the world is a positive one. It’s imperative that this change must be made within the near future, should the mass consumption of unsanitary food be prevented, and ensure that cheap food is somewhat
Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson’s Chew On This explores the dark secrets of fast food. The authors first describe the background of fast food and their tactics with customers, and then elaborate on the impact of fast food on society today. Their view on fast food is a negative one: through describing various aspects of fast food, the authors ultimately reveal how the greediness of businessmen has caused the loss of individuality and the growth in power of corporations. They explain the effects of fast food on health, traditions, and animals, clearly showing fast food’s negative impact.
Fast food restaurants such as Burger King and McDonald’s, create advertisements where it urges people to consume their product. For example Mcdonald’s created a product where you can get two items such as a mcdouble and a medium fries for three dollars. According to “The battle against fast food begins at home”, by Daniel Weintraub, it shows how companies are intriguing their customers. “ The center blames the problem on the increasing consumption of fast food and soft drinks, larger portion sizes in restaurants and the amount of available on school campuses”(1).For the most part, the Center for Public Health believes that fast food companies are the problem for health
When we speak of McDonald’s, we will consider it as cheap food or Junk food. But if we go back to more than ten years ago, everything is different, Including our impression of McDonald. When I was a kid, I thought McDonald was the best restaurant in the world. If my mom tell me that we are going to eat some hamburger, I would be wonder and happy for whole day. Without paying attention what time, the public blamed McDonald and other similar restaurants for their food. They call it junk food. But because of the low price , good taste and better convenience that those restaurant provide, numerous people in US still prefer those food. Hamburger, pizza, bread, salad and other fast food even establish the American diet style. Mark Bittman,whose “Minimalist” column ran in the Dining section of the New York Times for more than 13 years, is a lead writer for the Time Magazine Dining section. In his “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” published at September 2011, he clarified a public misconception on Junk Food--Junk Food is cheaper than Real food. By comparing both the total price and the net price after measuring by calorie, he proved that real food is cheaper than Junk Food if you cook at home. He also claimed the food that cooking at home was healthier than Junk Food so he asked for political act to persuade home cooking.
McDonalds promotes the construct of “healthiness” as a justification as to why a consumer should purchase their food. This article introduces an interesting viewpoint that despite these claims of “healthiness” or even the inclusion of low calorie options does not ensure that the consumer will not overconsume their food. I will use this source to expand the findings in "Nutritional Quality at Eight U.S. Fast-Food Chains 14-Year Trends” which argues that despite the addition of “healthy” options at fast food restaurants, the overall nutritional quality of the menu remained poor. An analysis of these two sources will be used to help answer my research questions: what consists of healthy food in the McDonalds “Questions” campaign and what are the implications of this definition of healthy food? I will use these sources to support the significance of my claim. Specifically, I will use Downs as evidence for my claim that despite marketing campaigns aimed at redefining McDonald’s as a healthy option, the definition of healthy food that these commercials promote is too limited and ultimately attempts to conform to new definitions of healthy food without actually changing their
Fast food can be just as addictive as drugs and alcohol. Fast food is mass-produced; and provides a convenient food source, but what about nutrients? Many more would agree that the health benefits of a vegetarian diet might substantially reduce health risks. When considering other food related health options, “The Slow Food Movement” encompasses several different aspects regarding the fast food industry and sustainability of food production that applies a cohort mentality. This group of food advocates agrees that, “the Slow Food Movement rejects the notion of compromising nourishment for economic and health related outcomes.” (McCarthy 206) The groups form cohorts of growers, farmers, consumers, and educators to discuss viable options for food production, for sale and for consumption on an international level. McWilliams suggests another way to influence ethical eating: “Unitarian Universalists developed a system of ethically sound practices for production and consumption,” (405) Ethical eating involves the greenhouse effect and leaves behind an ecological footprint. An insightful look at marketing, production, and economy are all related to the ethical standards of eating, which impacts human beings from a global
The demand of processed and fast food has increased throughout the years. Businesses have revolutionized menus into large quantities. The public has influenced a greater demand for oversized drinks and meals. Oversized sugary drinks have caused much controversy and in response many states have banned the enlarged drinks. Many unhealthy products such as fried food have left consumers craving and yearning for more. Fast food companies have targeted high school and college students by offering affordable meals to those who do not have time to prepare food or the financial support to purchase groceries. Jane E. Brody, author of Attac...
Fast food is a term given to food that is very quickly prepared and served. While any meal with low preparation time is considered fast food, the term typically refers to food sold in restaurants or stores with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to customers in a packaged form as a take-out or take-away. Today, most people choose fast foods either as their breakfast, lunch, or dinner because they are cheap and capable of satisfying their rumbling stomach quickly. Everyone, at least once, has eaten fast food in their life, whether it is McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Subway, Taco Bell, Burger King, or many other famous restaurants serving their signature yummy and addicting dishes. Well, the thing is, what makes the food
Burgers, fries, hot dogs, fried chicken and a nice icy milkshake on the side all under 10 dollars! You may be thinking “wow! what a bargain” or something like “all that for only 10 dollars or under?” Of course, when americans hear or see advertisements like that they will head right to the nearest fast food restaurant and order them a nice filling meal. Ever think something is wrong there? Maybe the reason the price is so low, is because the quality is very cheap and bad. Over the years fast food’s quality has gone down hill very much. What if I could tell you after you read this paper you may never purchase fast food again?
It's quick, it's convenient, it's delicious! Fast food is the most popular quick-service nourishment. It plays an important role in the lives of humans so perfectly laid out for ourselves. Why try cooking when you can get food at a much faster rate? For most people, fast food is the answer to all of our problems.