Mirage...

For over 60 years McDonald's has ruled as a tycoon in the fast food nation, conquering the hearts and stomachs of millions of people around the world. Creating witty cartoon characters, toys, playgrounds and dollars menus, McDonald's has managed to attract from the youngest to the oldest member of any household and community. But in reality, the witty cartoons have become characters children recognize over the president of the United States and even Jesus. The toys and playgrounds have become a must have for kids, who would have tantrums if those are not provided by parents. And the dollars menus have enslaved a generation of Americans and people all over the world to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic obesity. As McDonald's continues to grow bigger and “better”, the health of and entire generation diminishes at an alarming rate.

Regular size por me, please!!!!

The movie Super Size Me was informative, gruesome and funny. A real eye opener fro those who like to indulge in the “Bliss” of eating fast foods, like McDonalds, ignoring the serious direct results to their health. Seeing how and individual can go from having a perfect bill of health to having a high risk of liver failure from just eating McDonalds seems almost unreal. I mean, I worked at a McDonalds for a year and ate everything on the menu five days out of the week and I felt fine. No hypertension, high blood pressure nor high cholesterol. Actually, I felt great. The food was free for employees. We could create any type of monster combos. I had my very own, The Pitto Deluxe. It was a double quarter pound with a crispy chicken patty between the two beef patties with bacon and lots of cheese. The veggies were optional. To top the Pitto Deluxe, I would have a few apple pies and a home made concoction of HI-C orange soda and orange juice in the biggest cup possible. After having these scrumptious meals, I was still a scrawny teenager. I wasn’t over weight regardless of the insane amount of calories that I would in take on an almost daily basis. Nevertheless, it is no secret that we should stay away from McDonald’s menu. I love the fact that in the movie Morgan talked about how McDonalds lures in children with their “must have” toys, cartoon shows and playgrounds. Instead of giving in into the tantrums kids’ throw in order to get happy meals, parents should inform their children what are some of the serious health risks eating McDonalds at such an early age can be. Another great point made by Morgan Spurlock’s experiment/documentary was that after eating McDonalds for a few days, it can become an addictive vice. The body craves the “junk” as bad and as much as if it was real junk (get it?). In one of the scenes, Morgan describes feeling sluggish, out of it and even depressed. Also, how after having McDonalds (his fix) he felt at “100%” again. This movie came out over six years ago presenting an issue that till today affects human beings world wide. This movie has shown us an open door which leads to a world filled with more health conditions than I can count with my fingers and toes. It is up to us to close it, lock it and burry the key in Davey Jones locker (pirate joke).

Revision.

After reviewing my research paper, which was based on McDonald’s cheeseburgers, I realized I can further develop my three main points. I will further discuss with detailed information where exactly Lopez Foods Inc. get their meat supply from, the process the meat goes through and the distribution method. On my second paragraph I will get more details on how the meat gets stored, cooked, what are the temperatures and how it gets assembled. Also, I will broaden the nutrition facts. Lastly, I will go more in depth on what are the medical conditions and consequences of consuming McDonalds and talk about possible solutions to prevent them as well. It won’t be an easy task to accomplish but it isn’t impossible either.

revision.

Spectacles, vegetables and watered dowm facts!!!

Hello every one! My quest is to find out how is it possible to make and sell a cheeseburger for a dollar when we all know it takes more than that to make a cheeseburger. Here are a few sites that may help us understand why. And even though these sites don't provide a straight forward answer as to why, they have some interesting facts. Also, amongst the sites, i found a video for a 4 year old cheeseburger. now that's a trip. If anybody has any suggestions or information that may assist me in finding out a probable answer to my enigma, feel free to contact me through the blog or in class. thanks in advance!

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fast-foods-generic/8049/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGtDPG4UfI

http://www.mcspotlight.org/case/pretrial/factsheet.html

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/12/does-cooking-at-home-really-beat-the-mcdonalds-1-double-cheeseburger/

http://www.helium.com/items/560203-is-the-cost-of-fast-food-more-than-a-financial-cost

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUE/is_14_140/ai_n25386242/

Food Fight !... the Prequel

Dear Mr. President,



Diabetes and child obesity are two conditions amongst kids and teenagers growing at an alarming rate. Aware of how kids and teenagers in public schools are exposed to high fat, high salt and high sugar foods due to limited choices of healthier, wholesome foods, I believe it is of the essence to make radical changes in the diet provided to them in schools; changes that are vital to eradicate said conditions from their learning environment.

First, most kids and teenagers in public schools are not getting the most out of the nourishment provided by the school cafeterias. Cheeseburgers, French fires, pizza, beef patties and cold cut sandwiches are at the top of meal choices when recess time comes around. In addition to the perfect recipe for clogged arteries just mentioned, a lot of public school are now equipped with state of the art vending machines that facilitate right of entry to a variety of corn based-sugared up choices. From potato chips (which are deep fried), corn chips, Snickers, Butterfingers, Twix, Milky Way, buttered popcorn to a wide diversity of sodas and “tropical juices” (the only tropical thing in them being the picture of a palm tree and a beach ball on the container). All of these “appealing” choices are just ways to increase the risk for these kids to become a part of the growing percentage of the already diabetic and obese kids. To prevent kids from such a perilous fate, the meals at the cafeteria can be replaced by fresh, low salt, low sugar organic home cooked-like meals that include more veggies, protein and high in fiber. Another way to promote healthy nutrition amongst these young adults would be to replace all the “appealing” choices from the vending machines with fruit trail mixes, granola bars, mixed nuts, baked potato chips and fresh tuna and turkey sandwiches on whole wheat toast. As far as the beverages go, sodas can be replaced with water, green tea (Arizona is the best) and sports drinks such as Gatorade.

Students spend an immense quantity of time in school, from the first grade to the twelve grade. And as the saying goes, “ignorance is bliss” a great amount of kids and teenagers go through most of their scholastic lives being badly informed about the ingredients their foods contain and how eating poorly can affect their health and lifestyles. Thus, leading to an early start in what can be a life conflicted with a lot of food related illnesses (kids diagnosed with diabetes can start using insulin every day as young as 5 years of age). It is of the utmost importance to offer them limitless choices of healthy, organic foods as well as it is to inform them as early as possible in their academic lives the consequences of what not eating healthy are. It isn’t enough just to give them, the right most balanced nourishment physically, but also mentally. And in doing so, creating school programs, seminar and even classes (for both, students and parents) that can distill deep a sense and need for better nutrition and living

Lastly, after being in school, eating “gourmet meals” and being surrounded by vending machines filled with salty snacks and fructose based beverages for 6 to 7 hours a day and only spending an average of 45 minutes in physical ed (some schools do it one to three times a week), the average student goes home to plop in the couch, plays video games, watches T.V. and probably continues to consume more unhealthy goods (get it?). According to a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention posted on USA TODAY in August 21, 2005; about 31% of children ages 6 to 19 are overweight or at risk of becoming so. On top of changing the food given in schools and adding more self aware classes and programs about having a good sustenance, it is also fundamental for these kids and teenagers to receive a better quality of physical education, creating a well structured set of diverse activities to better meet the needs of the students into leading healthier lives. It will be the school’s compliment to a great, physical education. Also, parents should partake in encouraging their offsprings into joining after school activities and sport. Maybe, instead of getting their children the latest game console or video game, they should look into getting them different kind of devices, ones that will have persuade them move other part of their bodies, not just their thumb.

It is not secret that eating healthy is a key element in having a healthy lasting life. So let’s etch this knowledge into the mind of our young by providing them with better, healthier choices food and better education about the food they eat as well as a more active curriculum. Like Desiderius Erasmus said “In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king” as long as one can see, one can lead the rest.

Whopper whit cheese.....NOT!

Whoa!!! I don’t want to be the biggest hypocrite in the classroom; because I love to have me a big, fat juicy whopper cheeseburger with the fries and coke every now and then, but after watching FOOD, INC., I have definitely put my whole nourishment intake in perspective, especially when it comes to my whopper. Seeing how corporate America has been able to fool the everyday consumer with an imitation of what may appear to be safe, economical wholesome food is scary. I mean, we all know that fast food restaurant such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc…are not exactly the best source of sustenance in the food pyramid, but after seeing the ordeal both the animals (cattle, chicken and even fish) and the farmers have to undergo to supply said restaurants with their demands, it takes away the “Beer goggles” I have been wearing all these years which made that poor excuse of a meal pass for a scrumptious feast. For those of us who go to school and work, we often find ourselves caught in a bit of a pickle when it comes to getting our daily rations. The ones who don’t bring food from their homes (like me) resort to getting it elsewhere. Like many others. I have satisfied my hunger countless times at a fast food restaurant such as the ones stated earlier without any concern for what it may cause to my health or body. Who would think that it can take just a cheeseburger to end a life? Not me, not in a million years. These titans of the fast food world are like “drug dealers” keeping Americans “junkies” addicted to their manufactured brand of “drug”. It may sound like a silly comparison, but it is true. And as long as we stay dumb, deaf and blind to the truth they will continue keep doing so. Hence forward, I have opted to scrutinize my nourishment by carefully watching what I ingest, not so much about the calories but by making sure it is a healthy intake of food. I guess I’ll have to find a new reason as to why I became known as “The Whopper”.