Fast food

A traditional restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2011.

 

Are fast food restaurants healthy?

Fast food is obviously one of the best inventions of the 20^th century in the restaurant industry. It offers a number of benefits to people in this age of fast-paced living. It has become successful in terms of financial growth, brand-name recognition and worldwide expansion.  According to the National Restaurant Association, fast food restaurants in the U.S reached $ 142 billion in sales in 2006.
With the ever-growing population in many urban areas, fast food has become an alternative for urban citizens who do not have time to do shopping and cooking. For example, a commuter does not have time to cook because he or she is making long distances journeys every day to go to work. Thus, fast food is the best solution for this category of workers. What’s more, many people who do not know how to cook have found fast food as the solution to their problems. To illustrate, many students buy fast food because they are not good cooks. However, saving time is not the only advantage of fast food.
Fast food is cheaper than food served in traditional restaurants. For example, with seven dollars, one can have lunch or dinner including the dessert. That sum is not sufficient for a dinner in a traditional restaurant. In the cafeteria at the Arkansas union, students can eat everything they like for only eight dollars.
Fast food is also delicious. Common menu items include not only sandwiches, hamburgers, and French fries but also mashed potatoes, fresh salads and fruits. Many children like fast food. Therefore, it has become popular everywhere. Parents, grand-parents, and the whole family can enjoy a meal served in a fast food restaurant.  Even though, some people may say that fast food restaurants are noisy and dirty, and fast food causes obesity, I do not think so. Of course, it is normal for a popular fast food restaurant to be a little bit noisy. Fast food restaurants are not dirty because they are often cleaned. For those who say that fast food can cause obesity, it is not true. It is overeating that can cause obesity, not fast food.
All in all, fast food consumption is growing every day because it is popular, delicious and cheap. As a result of a phenomenally worldwide successful business, many fast food restaurants are today run by multinational corporations.   

Contributing writer

Chami Mouzawar