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Fast food is okay to eat once in awhile, but it too easily becomes a bad habit, and therefore a real health danger.
Even though many fast food franchises are at long last making efforts to provide "healthier" alternatives, the preparation fundamentals of their approach make this difficult, if not impossible.
A recent study of young Americans (aged 4 to 19) found that one-third of them eat fast food at least once daily. This translates to approximately six pounds of unnecessary additional weight every year.
The study's lead author, Dr. David Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children's Hospital in Boston, said these results are not a surprise, "since billions of dollars are spent each year on fast-food advertising directed at kids.
The negative effects of too much fast food are cumulative. Seeds of future illness-negatively impacting the length and quality of a life-are being planted.
Children-and parents-are not able to perceive immediate negative effects. Negative health consequences are invisible-for a while.
The power of advertising, the lure of toys and other prizes, and the convenience of the drive-through window combine to make fast food an easy choice for a busy family.
But parents trying to do the right thing for children must realize and meet a basic responsibility. The child is learning how and what to eat. It's important to find and plan healthy meal alternatives that minimize a child's fast food experience. I don't say never, but keep it to a rare occasion, rather than a regular event.
Use your thinking rights! When your children clamor for fast food, it may seem easier to say yes. But no is usually the better answer.
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